Archive for the ‘Offertories’ Category

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear: Early Advanced Christmas Piano Solo

Saturday, November 11th, 2017

music christmas ornament icon

I had almost forgotten about this early advanced piano solo of “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”.

I actually offered it for “free” back in 2015. This particular Christmas piano arrangement is featured on my “Simply Christmas” CD.

I did this arrangement off the top of my head…so it’s more of a “free style” arrangement.

It’s a challenge for me to transcribe an audio arrangement to paper!

There are a few minor changes that I just HAD to make 😉

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Early advanced sacred piano solo, 4 pgs.
Price: $3.50

 

Hark the Herald Angels Sing: Published!

Saturday, November 11th, 2017

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I just published “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” early advanced piano solo in my online music store.

The lyrics in this Christmas carol depict a celebrative mood..announcing Christ’s birth.  I enjoyed creating a festive  sound throughout this arrangement. The entire arrangement will be published on youtube soon.

 

New Writing Project for Lillenas

Tuesday, November 7th, 2017

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I thoroughly enjoyed the Composer’s Symposium this past July in Atlanta.  I made a connection with someone there (thanks Marty Parks!) who strongly suggested I try submitting “Abide With Me”  via Lloyd Larson of Lillenas Publishing Co.

I finally emailed my arrangement to Lloyd just a couple months ago. He responded by asking me to do an early intermediate piano solo   book instead. Wow!

We’re in the beginning stages of deciding on a book title and song list.  I look forward to this new adventure!  This will be my second book to be published by another company.  My first solo piano book is entitled “Showers of Blessing” (early intermediate) published by Soundforth who is now under Lorenz Publishing Co.

My new book will be published (hopefully) by November of next year.  At my age, a year’s time goes in a flash…especially with many other writing projects at hand!

Thanks for everyone encouraging me to write more!  I plan to!!  I’m living my dream…always wanted to write and share with others.

Audio Highlight from Gesu Bambino

Thursday, October 5th, 2017

glistening blue christmas ornament15Just had to share one of my favorite transitional parts of the “Gesu Bambino” two piano arrangement. I will be entering this arrangement in the Holiday Arranging competition hosted by SMPress.

Meryt Wilson and I will be premiering this piano duo at the upcoming Live Facebook Session for church pianists on October 12 at 8pm EST at the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/thechurchpianist/

Audio sample

 

 

 

Update: Two Piano Christmas Duo!

Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017

glistening blue christmas ornament15

I’m feverishly writing an advanced two piano Christmas duo for another SMPress competition. I have to turn it in by October 10th!
Meryt Wilson and I will be premiering this Christmas piano duo on October 12th at 8pm….live on facebook at the following link…   https://www.facebook.com/thechurchpianist/

Please join us for an evening of fun as other church pianists gather round to learn a few tips on modulation and accompanying 6/8 hymns.

Here’s a sampling of “Gesu Bambino” two piano arrangement (It’s similar to the arrangement on my “Simply Christmas” CD.

GESU BAMBINO

“Nearer My God to Thee” (with added bow & slur marks for violin)

Thursday, August 24th, 2017

I met a nice young lady at the Composer Symposium this past summer who attends the church where my husband and I were married!

She is a great violinist and offered to add the violin bow & slur marks to my arrangement of “Nearer My God to Thee”.  It has taken me a while to finalize the arrangement but now complete and available in our music store.

A big thanks to Abby Phillips for adding the violin markings! See video of Abby below playing her own arrangement of “I’d Rather Have Jesus” in her home church.

Nearer My God to Thee
Sacred violin solo w/ piano accompaniment; 4 pgs. *Price covers two copies. A nice solo piece for any occasion. The beautiful melody of this hymn flows gently back and forth between the piano and violin. *Bowing & slur marks included for violin.
Price: $4.50

Abide With Me (Critiqued Version)

Wednesday, August 23rd, 2017

The critiqued version of Abide With Me is a result of my critique at the Composer’s Symposium this past summer in Atlanta.

Most of the editing was the result of a private lesson with Marty Parks.  Very thankful for his input! He shared a great pointer on how to better communicate rhythmic interpretation in written music.

(Thanks to Robert Sterling and Brad Nix for pointing out the 9 over the tuplets for clarity). I just honestly had shied away from learning how to input tuplets with Finale and FINALLY learned how! 🙂 Thanks to Joseph Martin for his overall encouragement and teaching spirit 🙂 Also, thanks to John Parker for his written comments on the arrangement!

For example, instead of a breath mark (large looking comma)…just insert a rest…makes a clearer statement. Also, NOT to show key change too early which is what I ALWAYS do! 😉 *See key change illustrations below the video.

Due to requests for the critiqued version…there are now two different arrangements of Abide With Me in our music store…the advanced original version & Critiqued version. Those who like a challenge will enjoy playing the critiqued version….which contains minor editing changes…ending with a run up the keyboard.  Listen to the critiqued version below…

 Now to show you the original and new key change correction 🙂

Original key change:

Abide-With-Me-resized-2

The new key change:

Abide-With-Me-new-pg-2

Abide-With-Me-new-pg-3

 

Sacred Piano and Vocal Music for Sale

Thursday, August 17th, 2017

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I periodically downsize my sacred music library and have several sacred piano and vocal books available. Just click on image above for more details.

 

I Must Tell Jesus : New Early Intermediate Piano Solo

Wednesday, July 19th, 2017

One of my former piano students approached me at church a couple months ago and asked if I would write her an offertory arrangement of “I Must Tell Jesus”.

Well…I finally got around to it! 🙂  But what a surprise!  This arrangement just flowed out of my little brain this week and I quickly penned it to paper.   It’s not always that easy for me to arrange a hymn!

I tried to arrange this piano solo well within  her early intermediate level…hoping she could learn it soon.  Even though I’m an advanced pianist…I wouldn’t mind playing this for offertory.

I Must Tell Jesus
Early intermediate sacred piano solo, 2 pgs. Approx. length 1:24
Price: $3.00

 

 

 

New Early Intermediate Piano Solo in the Works! I Must Tell Jesus

Tuesday, July 18th, 2017

So much music is racing through my little brain…can’t get it on paper fast enough!

Just had this one race through my mind this morning of “I Must Tell Jesus”.  I’m writing this for one of my former students who I’m conditioning for church pianist.

I Must Tell Jesus