Archive for the ‘Special Music’ Category

New Writing Project for Lillenas

Tuesday, November 7th, 2017

large baby-grand-piano

 

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.

Special Music: Song Suggestion

Tuesday, November 7th, 2017

I love finding new songs (new to me).  We’ve used this particular song over the last several years at our church for special music.

“Then Came Jesus” has a great message of salvation.  I also like that there are only two verses which helps my voice not to be worn out! 🙂

We left out the repeated chorus at the end.  Here’s a video of myself and another lady singing “Then Came Jesus” in our church.

The original arrangement is written for a ladies’ trio.   I’ll include another video below ours… of the trio arrangement.
The music can be purchased at: Marshall Music

Special permission given to share this video by:  Rex Nelon Music

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

Sacred Trio Arrangement: Will You Receive His Gift?

Sunday, September 17th, 2017
Click here for sheet music.

Click here for sheet music.

Just sang “Will You Receive His Gift?” in a trio for our recent revival with Dwight Smith.

I enjoyed singing this song about Jesus’ free gift of salvation and how one only needs to believe and receive this wonderful gift. This particular arrangement was easy to learn…great harmony…allowing us to focus on the message. Thank you Niki Lott for writing such a  beautiful song!

 

 

“The Potter’s Hands” Words & Music by Mina Oglesby

Saturday, September 2nd, 2017

Your ladies’ ensemble will love singing this beautiful song by Mina Oglesby.  The text describes how we are just plain old clay and how God is our Potter.  He’s molding our lives to make us vessels of love.

I hope to reunite the ladies’ ensemble I directed years ago that sang this actual arrangement and share it with you all via video.

I do have a youtube video of Mina singing “The Potter’s Hands” and will share below…(THE ACCOMPANIMENT ON THE VIDEO IS NOT MY ARRANGEMENT) *LISTEN TO AUDIO SAMPLE)

The Potter's Hands (duet)
Sacred vocal two part arrangement for ladies' ensemble. Words & music by Mina Oglesby and arranged by Jenifer Cook. *Price covers two or more copies.
You need to have the Audio Player Plugin installed to use this shortcode
Price: $8.00

 

“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

Group-Book-Pic

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

 

Free PDF Hymn! Just When I Need Him Most

Monday, August 14th, 2017

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I never really noticed the time signature change in “Just When I Need Him Most” until today.

We sang this at our church last night for a congregational and the people REALLY enjoyed singing it.  The words are so comforting!

It’s just one of those seasons at our church where there’s a lot of physical needs and such a song reminds us of Jesus’ ever-present help 🙂

We sang this song in a prayerful mood with  a slow walking speed so I had time to add left hand flowing patterns similar to the following free pdf of “Just When I Need Him Most”.

Most importantly, notice the key change at the chorus….but the flow will still be pretty much the same 🙂  I actually changed to 6/8 timing one measure earlier than the hymnal shows… because it felt more natural to not hold as long before entering the chorus.

Maybe this will help a beginning church pianist to see what fill-ins could be used for a slow to medium hymn in 6/8 or 9/8 timing… such as my arrangement of “I Must Tell Jesus”.

Warning: This arrangement is NOT intended for piano solo use… due to missing melody notes at the beginning of the chorus…unless of course you know how to add them in 😉

Click on song title for free download: Just When I Need Him Most