Category: Church

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Church Congregational Songs Demos Psalms

Psalm 64: I Lift My Voice

A number of months ago, I sent Linda Bonney Olin a list of 40-some Psalms for which I still need to compose music, asking if she would contribute some new Psalm texts. She responded within days, attaching four of her lyrical creations. This is the third song from this recent collaboration, and I think it has turned out swimmingly!

Psalm 64 portrays the author as being hunted down by the wicked. Not only that, the hunters are arrogant, asking themselves, “Who will see it?” The Psalmist assures us that God will see it, and will ultimately punish them for their evil deeds. Now, this kind of final justice makes for exciting movie plots, but doesn’t necessarily sing well. And it isn’t likely to inspire warm spiritual fuzzies.

Linda does a great job of faithfully transforming the Psalm into a modern song. She begins with a cry for refuge–haven’t we all been there?–and ends with praise for God’s unfailing help. In between, she is honest about the damage wicked schemes can do, but she focuses on the ultimate justice and protection God gives us. This is a message we need to hear now more than ever. In a time that we’re all swimming in a sea of lies and malice, it is important to remember that God stills sees our deeds and judges our hearts fairly.

  1. I lift my voice to you, O God.
    My help and refuge be!
    Defend me from the enemies
    who seek to ruin me.
    They wield their tongues like sharpened swords.
    Their words like arrows fly.
    Protect me from their secret plans.
    My God, please hear my cry!
  2. Without a scruple or a fear,
    the wicked ones attack.
    Their ambush falls so swift and sure,
    their prey cannot fight back.
    So cunningly their snares are laid
    to trap the blameless one,
    they boast that none will ever learn
    the vicious things they’ve done.
  3. But God knows all their spiteful thoughts,
    unravels all their schemes.
    The evildoers, God brings down.
    The just ones, God redeems.
    Rejoice in God’s unfailing help,
    you innocent of heart!
    The world will see and be amazed,
    for God will take your part.
Categories
Arrangement Choir Church Commissions Congregational Songs Live

Mary’s Song, live at Baylor University

It’s so much fun to work with friends! In this case, my friend Carlos Colón commissioned me to write an arrangement of “Mary’s Song,” a song written by another friend, Wendell Kimbrough. This beautiful performance was recorded at a rehearsal for a chapel service at Baylor University.

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Arrangement Church Congregational Songs Live

Holy Is Your Name

The Canticle of Mary (the Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55) is one of the most beautiful prayers in the Bible. It has elements of meekness, joy, obedience, wonder, and even some revolutionary overtones. It is no surprise that every music setting brings out different aspects of the text.

This anonymous text and Scottish folk tune pair beautifully to show a young girl whose hope has been steeped in the prophecies long enough that she believes the angel’s surprising message.

This arrangement for voice, guitar, and strings was written for a service at Rosewood Church that focused on Mary. With a melody this lovely and honest, the best thing you can do is avoid gilding the lily. Hence, a simple arrangement that swells at each chorus and remains understated during the verses.

I will soon write a piano accompaniment and make it available at my website.

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Arrangement Church Live

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Just in time for Christmas 2025 is a brand new arrangement of “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.”

First, a disclaimer: this recording is very rough, recorded live in worship after an hour-long rehearsal, direct from the soundboard.

Some songs are blank canvases on which one can paint their own personality. Not so, this carol. The melody dips in and out of a chromatic backdrop, establishing certain non-negotiables for the arranger. And yet, the song is marked by its quiet simplicity. I wanted to retain that serenity in my arrangement.

This arrangement was written for the All Saints Orchestra (guitar and string quintet), but I later added a piano part for churches with more standard instrumentation.

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Church Congregational Songs Demos Psalms

Psalm 72: Hear Our Prayer

If you need a musical setting of Psalm 72, you can’t do much better than Isaac Watts’ “Jesus Shall Reign,” in which he recasts the messianic king of the Psalm in the person of Jesus. What more can be added to his triumphant text set to the fanfaric tune, DUKE STREET?

Linda Bonney Olin took a very different tack in setting Psalm 72 to verse. Instead of interpreting the royal blessings of “Endow the king with your justice” and “may he defend the afflicted,” as the future deeds of a messianic monarch, she interprets them as acts that all of God’s people can, and should do–right now. And her hymn prays to that effect: “Hear our prayer for the ones you’ve called to rule, to judge, to guard, and to govern. Not to get all political, but I wish today’s leaders–especially the Christian and Jewish ones–would take this to heart. That they would focus on wisdom, mercy, humility, and defending the oppressed.

1. Hear our prayer, O Lord our God,
for the ones you’ve called to rule,
that your power and your wisdom they may share.
As a withered meadow blooms in a sweet, gentle rain,
may your people grow and flourish in their care.
Hear our prayer.

We lift them up to you, O Lord our God.
We lift them up to you.
Hear our prayer.

2. Hear our prayer, O Lord our God,
for the ones you’ve called to judge,
that your righteousness and mercy may prevail.
May they spare the friendless poor and defend the oppressed, weighing justice on a true, impartial scale.
Hear our prayer.

3. Hear our prayer, O Lord our God,
for the ones you’ve called to guard,
who protect the world from enemies of peace.
Give them courage; give them strength to stand up for the weak
till all violence and senseless bloodshed cease.
Hear our prayer.

4. Hear our prayer, O Lord our God,
for all those that you entrust
with authority to govern and to guide.
May they humbly seek to lead in the ways you command,
that your name alone, O God, be glorified.
Hear our prayer.

Categories
Art Music Choir Church Commissions Live Psalms

Let the Peoples Praise You

From 2000 to 2005, I worked at Northwestern College in Iowa, teaching music and worship in the music department, and leading chapel worship and overseeing worship teams for campus ministries.

In my second year there, a new president was inaugurated, and I was commissioned to compose a piece for the ceremony. I hadn’t thought about it much in the few decades since, but I recently found a recording from the inauguration and decided to clean it up and post it here.

I had forgotten how much I like it!

The lyrics are adapted from Psalm 67–a perfect Psalm of thanksgiving for a fall worship ceremony in the heartland of America. The meter is 7/8 throughout. I never strayed from a 2+2+3 rhythm; still, the choir hated me for the odd meter! The rhythmic vitality really drives the piece; it feels exciting and exuberant. The harmonic style is–I don’t know what to call it–pan modal? But I like it. There is a lot of bite in the harmonies, but they’re not so complicated the choir can’t find their notes or it leaves the audience scratching their heads.

It feels like it was an important step forward in my composing.

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Church Congregational Songs Demos Jazz Psalms

Psalm 73: You, O God, Are Mine

I’ve worked with Linda Bonney Olin a number of times before. Her Psalm settings are always singable distillations of the original Psalm–direct and heartfelt. Psalm 73 presented her with significant challenges. It is essentially a Psalm of envy and complaint: “Why do I keep myself pure when I can see the wicked thriving all around me?” The Psalmist answers the question by the end of the Psalm: “My reward is a life spent close to God.” Linda turns this into the repeated refrain: “You, O God, are mine.” Beautiful.

I set the text as a jazz ballad because it felt like jazz’s harmonic tension, coupled with a soothing, introspective rhythm, could hold the tension of bitter thoughts and trust simultaneously. I especially like the lift into a new key half way through, following Linda’s structure of complaint/trust.

While I strive to make my hymns simple enough for the average church, this is right at the edge of what most congregations could sing. Maybe I’ll turn it into a choir anthem!

1. Bitter thoughts once filled my mind,
yet you held my hand.
You, O God, are with me still.
You, O God, are mine.

2. On your counsel I rely.
All your ways are good.
You, O God, will be my guide.
You, O God, are mine.

3. Faithless ones will be destroyed.
But I cling to you—
you, O God, my one desire.
You, O God, are mine.

4. Taking refuge in your arms,
I proclaim your deeds.
You, O God, have rescued me.
You, O God, are mine.

5. Though my body may grow weak,
though my heart may fail,
you, O God, will be my strength.
You, O God, are mine.

6. You my portion here on earth,
you my home in heav’n,
you, O God, are all I need.

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Church Congregational Songs Demos Jazz Psalms

Psalm 75: Your Love Enfolds Each Yearning Heart

I continue to work my way through Michael Morgan’s Psalms, while also building toward a future jazz/gospel Psalm album. Those two things came together in this new song, a warm jazz ballad of Psalm 75.

One of the things I love about Michael Morgan’s Psalms is that he doesn’t shy away from difficult sections like, “In the hand of the Lord is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs,” but he somehow finds a way to place it in the context of a tender, loving God who wants the best for us.

Interesting composition story*: I often write a few completely different versions of a song. I write them quickly, without much editing. That allows me some subjectivity and gives me options to choose from as I move forward. In this case, I began by identifying the basic rhythm I heard in the text: 3 unstressed syllables leading to a stressed syllable. (O God, your DEEDS are un-sur-PASSED, etc.)

That led to a first draft in a modal style. It had its charms, but also had some range issues. The second attempt was a pentatonic melody that was lovely, but reminded me of some things I’ve written before. Today I sat down at the piano and this jazz melody poured out almost as fast as I could write it. It combines some of the better features of the earlier tunes, but has a more interesting harmonic structure and satisfying form. Voila! I fired up my musical robots (Band-in-a-Box) and produced this quick demo by the end of the day. Very satisfying.

O God, your deeds are unsurpassed;
no richer grace can earth impart.
Your Name is near; you hold us fast.
Your love enfolds each yearning heart,
your love enfolds each yearning heart.
 
1. Remove our pride lest we must taste
the judgment cup of bitter gall.
Let not our bold ambitions take
the praise from you, who gives us all. Refrain

2. In truth, all judgment comes from you,
whatever earthly courts decree;
the evil by your justice fall;
the righteous through your grace are free. Refrain
 
3. Help us to know humility,
to follow you in all your ways.
From self-conceit, Lord, set us free,
to know ourselves and sing your praise. Refrain

*Let’s be honest: there has never been an interesting composition story.

Categories
Arrangement Choir Church Commissions Congregational Songs

Colón: Prince of Peace

I haven’t posted to my blog in a month, but that doesn’t mean I’ve been slacking off. No, indeed! I’ve been working on some big commissioned projects and soon-to-be-released albums. But here’s a recent arrangement I can share with you.

St. Athanasius

My good friend Carlos Colón wrote a beautiful song based on St. Athanasius’ On the Incarnation, called “Prince of Peace.” He asked me to write strings to go with the choral anthem and then he recorded it with a group of exceptional musicians.

Most of the time, I follow my own artistic impulses, but it is really satisfying to help someone else achieve their musical vision–especially when it turns out so beautifully!

You can request the score at Carlos’ website.

Categories
Church Congregational Songs Demos Jazz Psalms

Psalm 89: The Sky Belongs to You

I wanted to feel like I had accomplished something last week, so Friday afternoon I recorded a quick demo of a new Psalm setting. (And then promptly didn’t have time to post it…)

The lyrics are the work of Michael Morgan and were written for the Timeless Psalter to the tune of TOULON. While that tune’s rugged beauty portrays the regal aspects of Psalm 89:1-8 well, I thought there was room for a more gentle interpretation of the Psalm and Michael’s metrical version of it.

Working in a jazz ballad style allowed the tenderness I was hoping for and also gave me lots of room to move harmonically. I love how the key of C quickly turns into a winding path that eventually leads to a chorus in E. No F#. Wait…Bb? And then back to C. And yet for all the twists and turns, it remains quite singable.

1. For all your loving acts, O Lord, I sing;
my mouth will shout your faithfulness and care;
and heaven’s grateful host will honor bring
to you, who wondrous gifts so freely share.

2. What other god of earth and sky can boast
the great and awesome blessings you afford?
What other mighty one among the host
deserves such praise that we should call him “Lord?”

The sky belongs to you, the earth, and all
that fill its fertile lands from shore to shore.
Your arm with strength will lift us when we fall,
and righteousness endure for evermore.

3. Send down true justice from your lofty throne,
and all-infusive light shine on our ways,
for only by your will such joy we own,
and for your gracious favor give you praise!