Holy Holy Holy (real advanced piano solo) is almost complete!  I hope to publish it very soon.

I’m REALLY enjoying the creation of the second collection of Congregational Piano Hymn Arrangements. What’s neat about these collections is they could be used for unison choir arrangements or accompaniment for flute or violin special.  See Congregational Piano Hymn Arrangements Collection One by clicking HERE.

The words of the hymns mean even more to me… in the light of what’s going on around our nation.  My heart is truly being poured out on the pages of this collection. I try to convey the text in the piano accompaniment. What a  comfort the words of these hymns have been to me!

Here’s the list for the ten hymns in this collection:

1. And Can it Be

2. At the Cross

3. Come Thou Fount

4. Heaven Came Down

5. Higher Ground

6. I Shall Know Him

7. It’s Just Like His Great Love

8. My Faith Has Found a Resting Place

9. Near the Cross

10. What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Just came across this piano book, “May Jesus Christ be Praised” with a nice patriotic medley by Marilynn Ham and thought I’d share it.  You can only view the first two pages but it’s a nice looking piece for offertory! I also like the looks of “When Morning Gilds the Skies”.  These are arrangements are for the advanced pianist.

Sheet Music Plus has it on sale right now for $13.59 plus shipping. I’m buying my copy right now 🙂

Not sure how new this book is but I haven’t seen it before.

My dad, Reece Yandle, wrote this patriotic vocal solo at least eight years ago or more. It has been used as the theme song for a teacher’s convention and sung by dad at different meetings.  People have been asking for copies of the song and now it’s possible.

“In God We Trust” as stated on our American currency…takes on a deeper meaning for those who have trusted in Christ as their Saviour.

I have published this prior to Father’s Day as a Father’s Day gift for my Dad 🙂

Listen to the audio sample below as you sing the following words (wait for the introduction)

“In God we trust no matter come what may,

In God we trust though dark and drear the way.

Always trusting in His love and pow’r we must,

This is our cry, “It is in God we trust!”

In God We Trust

Medium range sacred vocal solo; 4 pgs *Great for a patriotic special! *Price covers two copies.

Price: $6.00

I had a nice visit with my parents this past weekend.  I wrote A LOT of music before and after the trip….so much….I forgot that I had already entered the entire  arrangement of “Holy, Holy, Holy” advanced piano solo. I’m allowing some settling time before publishing this one…..which usually means I have several of my piano friends “test drive” it before publishing…especially the real advanced ones like this one.

I also just finished my dad’s patriotic song, “In God We Trust”. I’m awaiting his approval after he proofreads it tonight 🙂 Hope to publish it tomorrow.

Now my attention will focus more on the second congregational notebook.  John W. Peterson Company has given me permission to include “Heaven Came Down” in the next congregational collection. I will have to pay royalties for using this particular hymn since it’s still under copyright… a topic which ALL church pianists need to be briefed on! ( in a later post….I’ve said that at least once before)   😉

Wanted to share a list of patriotic music resources with my church pianist readers before visiting with my parents starting tomorrow through Sunday. I consider this list of songs a treasure find!

1. I Love America by Frank & Flora Jean Garlock

Published by Majesty Music. Available in “Sing Praises Two” book

*Taken from Sing Praises Two (still in print) If you want multiple copies…Majesty Music ask that you own at least four copies of the book Sing Praises Two, then pay $1.00 per copy made of the song. There is a limit of making multiple copies for up to 3 songs per book.

2. We Pledge Allegiance by Shelly Hamilton

Published by Majesty Music. Available in “Sing Praises Two” book

*Same copying instructions from above apply to this song.

3. If My People by Frank & Flora Jean Garlock

Published by Majesty Music. Out of print. Instructions below.

*Majesty Music provides a way to obtain this song through their office. Call customer service department at (1-800-334-1071) to order copies of this song for $.50 per copy (This song is from the book “Choral Arrangements Everybody Can Sing-Volume 1)  *I love the words to this song…very well-written!

4. It’s Time to Pray by John W. Peterson

“It’s Time to Pray”
vocal solo arrangement

I will be providing the cost details on this asap since I have updated this song to a different arrangement.

*Special note: The words to this song call Christians to the important matter of prayer for our country.

5.  We Stand by Niki Lott  *GREAT! for Men’s group or SATB choir

I just purchased a downloadable SATB arrangement of this song  off Niki’s website called Christian Compositions  This is a very moving piece!

You can view a page of the music HERE

Niki also sells a choral arrangement with piano accopmaniment version HERE

You can also view a youtube video of Niki’s husband and friends singing it for special in church HERE

6.  We Pledge Allegiance by Derric Johnson

Published by Derric Johnson. Instructions below.

Just got off the phone with Derric Johnson. How exciting to have talked with the composer of this well-known tune!  He was very helpful. He said this choral arrangement was available by “print on demand” which means it’s also out of print but you can order a copy of this 14 page arrangement for $5 per copy. I think this arrangement would make a nice mini-patriotic cantata! Here’s my best description of this arrangement:

Chorus (sung twice)

Narration section explains meaning of the flag colors with piano background

Verse of “We Pledge Allegiance” sung slow & reverently by choir

Transitions back into chorus of “We Pledge Allegiance”

Short narration section about heroes/patriots, another song beginning with lyrics “The lawyer came from Georgetown to visit Baltimore….”

Short narration section with choir Ooo’s to transition to next song

Choir begins slow and soft version of The Star-Spangled Banner verse and soars triumphantly into the chorus followed by a majestic ending!

7. In God We Trust by Reece Yandle (my Dad)

*In the works. I will do my best to publish this vocal solo arrangement  by the end of next week.

Lorenz contacted me recently and asked if I would do several sacred piano book reviews for them.  What perfect timing!  I had already spent several hours on their site in the past month…researching their intermediate and advanced sacred piano arrangements. As a church pianist, I’m always looking for fresh arrangements for me or my piano students.

Here’s the first book review of one of my favorite finds!

Get ready to experience a nice variety of arrangements from the following book.  This is a must have for the church pianist!

 “I Know Whom I Have Believed”

Compiled by David Sarandon

Published by Lorenz Publishing Company

  I absolutely LOVE this collection of arrangements by various authors, providing a nice array of styles!  Special note: The arrangements seem more at an early advanced level rather than intermediate. (my opinion)

If you’re like me, you want to utilize the majority of a piano book before investing in it.  I would actually use most of these arrangements!  To me that’s exciting because I don’t come across many books like this.

So, I’m providing audio samples of the arrangements I would use.  “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is one of my favorite ones…simple… yet elegant! (would make an excellent guitar arrangement!)

Contents:

I Know Whom I Have Believed (arr. Lloyd Larson)

*Like this author just not this particular arrangement…it uses a little more syncopation than I’m comfortable with.

I Need Thee Every Hour (arr. Mary McDonald)  INeed

Grace Greater Than Our Sin (arr. Larry Shackley)  Grace Greater

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus (arr. Hugh Livingston, Jr.)  Stand Up

I Surrender All (arr. Lenny Seidel)  I Surrender

To God be the Glory (arr. Martha Kelsey)  To God

Open My Eyes, That I May See (arr. Michael Wilson) Open My Eyes

Sweet Hour of Prayer with Just As I Am (arr. Janet Vogt)    Just As I Am

What a Friend We Have in Jesus (arr. Martha Kelsey)  What a Friend

His Eye is on the Sparrow (arr. Edward Broughton)  His Eye

  (view sample pages here)

Working on several music projects right now:

1. “Holy Holy Holy” very advanced piano solo * Almost finished with handwritten version.

2.  Beginning to compile songs for Piano Hymns Congregational Booklet Two

3. Preparing several book reviews for Lorenz Publishing Corporation.

VERY excited about the arrangements I found in these books!  Most of them are advanced.

Just letting my readers know I’m in the process of posting the individual hymns from the Congregational Booklet One for sale on the Congregational Piano Hymn page of our online music store. (navigation buttons at top of this page)  So far I’ve posted: All Hail the Power, Are You Washed and Blessed Assurance.

Several have requested the Blessed Assurance congregational arrangement after seeing the first sample page of it in an older article.  It’s now sold separately or in the Congregational Booklet One.

Special note: Multiple uses for the church pianist!  The piano accompaniment arrangements from the Congregational Booklet One can also be used to accompany the following:  vocal soloist, flute or violin.

Our ladies’ ensemble LOVES to sing “The Reason I Sing” written by Niki Lott of christiancompositions.com

This arrangement can be purchased at christiancompositions.com as sheet music or in a book collection entitled “The Reason I Sing” two to three part arrangements for ladies.

We chose to sing the verses in unison due to our short practice time and we sang only a portion of the arrangement due to our limited vocal range which we’re working on.

This song is SUCH a blessing to sing and look forward to singing more songs from the book entitled “The Reason I Sing”.  One of the ladies in our church has already sang several of the songs as a solo too.

*Special note: I didn’t strictly follow the written piano accompaniment but the written accompaniment is pretty 🙂

Now for sale: “Id Rather Have Jesus”  Early advanced sacred piano solo

I'd Rather Have Jesus

Early advanced sacred piano solo, 3&1/2 pgs. Approx. 2:06

Price: $3.95

or go to store at this link to see other advanced piano arrangements: MUSIC STORE