Categories
Church Congregational Songs Demos Psalms

One Take Terror: The Heavens Tell the Story

Fearful

Update 10/6/20: Sheet music for this song can be downloaded here.

When I worked at Wildwood Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, we did a preaching series on Romans. I committed to studying Romans and writing a new song each week.

No one noticed.

But don’t cry for me, Tallahassee. Some of the songs turned out quite nicely. Two were included in Singing the New Testament: “Faith, First and Last” and “Grace and Peace to You.”

Here’s a third, based on Romans 1:18-32: MP3 (see link above for sheet music)

Categories
Demos Quirky Rock and/or Roll

One Take Terror: There Was Nothing There

Fearful

When I lived in Pittsburgh, I was part of a group called the Rascals, Rogues and Rapscallions. It was a men’s club (not that kind of men’s club) that convened to hear presentations on a variety of arcane topics, after which songs were sung and cigars were smoked. Our summer meetings always centered on a “mass challenge.” Instead of one person presenting in depth, everyone was given the challenge to find “that interesting thing” about XYZ, and give a 5 minute presentation on what they found.

One year, we were given random coordinates on a map and given instructions to bring back a story. I was given coordinates that landed me in the middle of a state forest. All I could bring back was a song, aptly entitled “There Was Nothing There.”

 There Was Nothing There
Latitude 41 44 53
Longitude 79 13 58
June 2, 1995 Greg Scheer

If you look at a map of world
in the center’s the United States
take a right at Chicago, IL
you’ll run right into Warren, PA
In Warren County the heart of it all
Watson Township the crowning jewel lays
like the big empty ring that it is
it runs circles around lots of space.

There is nothing there.
There is nothing there.
Everywhere you look you’ll find
nothing, ‘cause nothing is there.
If you lo œok to the North,
If you look to the South,
Search the East or West
still there’s nothing there

I just had to see for myself
what mysteries this place could hold
I blazed a path to the depth of the woods.
And when I fixed my sore eyes on my goal

There was nothing there…

But in the end I needed some proof
so I went to develop my film
that would show that this journey was no spoof
but what I found in the camera shocks me still.

There was nothing there…

Categories
Demos Rock and/or Roll

One Take Terrors: Walk Away

Fearful

Today begins a series of “One Take Terrors.” These are songs in my back catalog that deserve to be heard, but have never quite fit into a larger recording project. To let them see the light of day, I went through a stack of them all at once, recording them quickly, without any frills and with no overdubs. Just raw songs.

This first one is something of a country ballad. To tell you the truth, I can’t remember what inspired it. I’m not much of a lonesome wanderer, so it’s not biographical. But I guess I tapped into the weariness of a long distance relationship, right at the point you’re wondering how long it can go on.

Listen to “Walk Away.”

There comes a time when I wonder why I’m calling.
You’re on the line, but your voice sounds like it’s miles away–and it is.
How long can I pretend that our love is what it once was?
No matter how hard I try, you’re fading away a little more everyday.
Everyday.

You know if I could, I would stop this foolish wandering.
I’d make up my mind to turn around and make my way back to you.
I’d make my promise good, and we would have all we’ve dreamed of;
but I don’t know how…maybe promises and dreams are all the same in the end.
All the same.

There comes a time to end all my talking.
I hang up the phone, find the road, and walk away…
Walk away.

September, 1990

 

Categories
Congregational Songs

The Greg Scheer Songbook

Where have I been this summer? Indeed.

Sadly, the creation of music is balanced by the business of music. (Anyone interested in becoming my full-time business manager?) One of my goals for the summer is to make my whole back catalog available online. The first, a CD of praise songs that I recorded in 1999, The Greg Scheer Songbook is now available on iTunes, Amazon MP3, Spotify, etc.

Check it out. Write a review. Tell your friends. Kick it old school by purchasing a copy of the CD at www.gregscheer.com or CDBaby.

And stay tuned for more!

Categories
Arrangement Church Congregational Songs Demos

Come to Me

As you know, I’m a song maven. I search high and low for good songs, and when I find them I make a point of creating accessible arrangements/editions and telling everyone I know about them. Here’s my latest find:

“Come to Me” (PDF, MP3) is a song that began it’s life at the turn of the last century when a woman by the name of Lizzie Akers wrote words for a hymn set to music by J.M. Black (best known for “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder”). 109 years later Michael Bleecker and some folks at The Village Church in Texas wrote new music for Akers’ text and added a chorus.

It’s a simple song, and that’s one of the things I like most about it. Too many modern worship songs are difficult for churches who don’t rely on a praise team exclusively. This one is well-crafted and singable by a wide range of churches. It’s also heartfelt, but substantial. The Church needs more songs that combine the heart and mind.

I arranged the song in a four-part hymn-style. Nothing fancy–just enough to help the song jump the world of chord charts and enter into new church territory.

Categories
Choir Church Congregational Songs Live Psalms

One Generation in Vancouver

My friend Herbert Tsang and the stellar folks at Church Music Ministry of Canada held a Psalmfest in Vancouver late last year which included the orchestrated version of “One Generation Calls to the Next.”

Lucky for us, he recorded it. Check it out: MP3

Categories
Arrangement Church Congregational Songs Finale demo

All of My Heart – piano score

Update 1/15/22: Sheet music for this song is now available at gregscheer.com.

Has it really been a month since I last posted something to my blog? Shame on me!

I hope the slower rhythms of summer soon kick in, but for now all I have time for is a quick post. Follow the link above for a piano accompaniment for “All of My Heart.” I’m really pleased that my congregation loves this song. We’ll be singing it throughout the summer months.

And here is a link to the composers leading the song in Brazil recently: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCQJlrPNeNU

Categories
Art Music Church Finale demo Hallel Psalms

Hallel Postlude

With a Hallel rehearsal looming in my near future, it’s about time I wrapped this thing up. And nothing wraps up a piece of music like a postlude, eh?

MP3, PDF

Categories
Psalms

2013 Spring Cleaning: Psalm 126

Once again, spring cleaning can unveil some ugly dust bunnies.

This version of Psalm 126 isn’t exactly an ugly dust bunny, but as I listen to it I hear a half dozen things I would change if I were doing it today. Okay, a dozen. But what’s done is done. Let me point out the interesting thing about the song: the verse and chorus sound like two different song parts (and they are) but then–voila!–they come together in perfect harmony.

I was quite proud of this contrapuntal trickery at the time, but I remember Dr. Gibbs, my composition teacher, becoming exasperated after seeing minute changes to the song three weeks in a row. He finally told me that we were done with this song and I was to bring in something new the following week.

Take a listen, won’t you?

Categories
Demos Rock and/or Roll

2013 Spring Cleaning: Prayer (God in Heaven Above)

During college, I had a long season of doubt. On Sunday December 6, 1989 at 10:13pm of that season, I wrote this song. What I think is especially interesting in hindsight is that I wrote my song of doubt in the form of a prayer!

Listen to the MP3 while reading the lyrics below:

God in heaven above (or in my heart below)
why keep me waiting for love?

If I were to see you would I know you?
If I were to know you would I love you?
If I were to love you would you love me too?

If I were to strike you woul it hurt you?
If I were to leave you would you follow me?
If I were to hate you what would you do?

God in heaven above (or in my heart below)
why keep me waiting for love?

If you think of me keep me in your prayers —
I need some help with things down here

If you would approach me I’d be listening
When you’re passing by me you can stop with me
When my heart is hungry maybe that is you after all.

If you’re feeling lonely you can talk to me.
I know just how lonesome one can feel.
If you really knew me would you still love me, after the fall?

God in heaven above (or in my heart below)
why keep me waiting for love?

If you think of me keep me in your prayers —
I need some help with things down here.