Category Archives: Demos

Songs recorded in my home studio (which is actually at my office).

Carry Me

In 2001 a call went out from a new group called Crimson Bridge for songs that would fit their style. I seem to remember them wanting something to the effect of songs from a Christian perspective, but necessarily only for … Continue reading

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Silent Star, featuring the Allegro Quartet

Joni Mitchell wrote the quintessential depressing Christmas song, River. (Also check out this beautiful new rendition by Herbie Hancock and Corinne Bailey Rae.) But there’s always room for one more, right? This is a recording of “Silent Star” from a rehearsal … Continue reading

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Long-weary Earth

I don’t know who Alexandra Fisher Willis is, but she’s written a beautiful Advent text, “Long-weary Earth in Darkness Groans.” From what I gather, she’s in Lester Ruth’s Theology of Songwriting at Duke Divinity, and she wrote this as one … Continue reading

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Psalm 132: Arise, O King of Grace Arise

At Church of the Servant, we’re doing a series on the Psalms of Ascent. That’s the good news. The bad news is that there are certain Ascent Psalms which are slim pickings from a congregational song point of view. Psalm … Continue reading

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A Gluttonous Feast of Rejection, Third Course

Our third course of anticipated rejection is a new tune for “Blest are the Innocents” by Sylvia Dunstan. This text is about the Slaughter of the Innocents, when Herod killed every male under two in the hopes of killing Jesus, … Continue reading

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A Gluttonous Feast of Rejection, Second Course

My second bid for rejection starts with a text by Brian Wren, “We Are Your People.” It’s dense enough of a text that something too groovy wouldn’t fit it comfortably. On the other hand, there’s always a need for tunes … Continue reading

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A Gluttonous Feast of Rejection, First Course

Why am I like this? I’ve been rejected by Faith Alive more times than a bacon salesman at a vegetarian convention, but here I am submitting four more songs to them. It started with an email that read: Calling all … Continue reading

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Budapest

Having just returned from two weeks in Ukraine, with flight arrival and departure from Budapest, Hungary, I thought it would be appropriate to post a recording of a composition inspired by my last visit to Budapest. This is a demo … Continue reading

Posted in Art Music, Demos, Live | 2 Comments

The Allegro Sessions: Palestrina

Yet another composition about composing, this time I’m asking the question “in the face of so many great composers, should a minor talent like me even bother?” It takes the form of an open letter to the Renaissance master Giovanni Pierluigi … Continue reading

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The Allegro Sessions: Have I Gone Too Far?

On day two of our journey into the world of Allegro we arrive at another jazz tune. But this time it’s an intimate ballad with ripe harmonies and melodies that stretch to the point of breaking. “Have I Gone Too … Continue reading

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