The Musical Diary of Greg Scheer – Page 88 – This is, literally, my musical diary–notes fresh from my pen and recorded in a few hours. You can find my finished works elsewhere; here, it's all about capturing the moment!

My Arms Are Open Wide

Back in 1990 there was a singer in Pittsburgh whose name I can’t remember who sang a lot of public school assemblies raising awareness about teen suicide. Because she couldn’t present an explicitly Christian message, she was looking for songs that offered a message of hope without being preachy. So I wrote the song My Arms Are Open Wide. 18 years later, I’m still wondering why she didn’t end up using it. This thing is a hit! All it needs now is a hit maker–a singer who can bring it to life. Carrie Underwood, where are you when I need you?

Church Demos

Living Justly

At Church of the Servant the theme verse of this year’s Girls’ Club is Micah 6:8. They found a few songs that worked pretty well (PsH 293, Schmit), but none that fit like a glove. And you know I can’t leave well enough alone, so I took it upon myself to compose my own by the end of the day. I like how it turned out. It’s simple to sing or play, and more importantly it turns the verses into a prayer. Sung justice scriptures often sound so heavy handed, so I like the way these lyrics convey a sense of aspiration rather than obligation. Listen to the MP3 or print off the PDF and take it to the nearest piano for a careful read-through.

Church Demos

I Surrender All to You

Matt Redman, look out! Here’s a heartfelt song of dedication with jangly, open chords, intimate verse and soaring chorus. All it needs now is a good recording by a gifted performer. Matt, let’s talk…

Listen to the MP3 or check out the music at my website.

Choir Church Live

Creator of the Stars of Night

Post author By Greg Scheer
Post date July 21, 2008
1 Comment on Creator of the Stars of Night

Here’s a recording of “Creator of the Stars of Night” from last year’s Lessons and Carols service at Church of the Servant. The choir processed from the back of the sanctuary singing this beautiful 9th century chant, while the strings interjected tropes that I had composed a few weeks before. Now that’s ancient/future!

Art Music

Rhythm Shift

This is one you’ll either love or hate. Rhythm Shift is something I wrote while in grad school at a time when I was studying a lot of minimalism. Like a lot of Steve Reich, two instruments repeat the same motive and slowly move out of phase with one another. In Rhythm Shift, I wanted to see if I could write something simple enough for two musicians to play live. I have fond memories of grabbing unsuspecting pianists, hauling two pianos into the same room, and playing this. No matter what you think of it as a listening experience, it is a ball to play. If there are any marimba duos or piano duos who want to have a mezmerizing musical experience, I’ll get you a score. For those of you who are listening at home, I recommend headphones.

Contests Demos

Money in the bank, part 2

In my ongoing attempt to win enough song contests to retire from my day job, I just completed a new song called “Christ Shall Reign.” This contest is sponsored by the National Federation of Catholic Youth Workers. If my song is chosen it will be the theme song of this year’s National Catholic Youth Conference. You can read the official contest rules if you’re interested. Hey, wait a minute. The rules don’t say anything about money. Drat! I guess this one will just have to be for the love of the game.

As I prepared this blog post I stumbled across another person who is entering a song into the contest. So now, my dear readers, you can judge for yourselves who should win this contest: the gentlemen at Oddwalk, or yours truly (MP3, PDF). May the best man win! (Feel free to inundate my competitor’s blog with smack talk comments.)

Colin Demos Finale demo

This Is the Way

I just finished my 34th song with lyricist Colin Gordon-Farleigh. It’s a ballad called “This Is the Way.” If you know any Broadway musical producers, call them and tell them I’ve got their next hit. Listen to the MP3 or download the PDF file.

Art Music

Jig

Post author By Greg Scheer
Post date May 25, 2008
No Comments on Jig

A while back I posted a recording of the Chagall String Quartet playing the piece they commissioned from me, called “6.” The string quartet that preceded that is a zippy little thing called “Jig.” Whereas 6 explores African rhythms, Jig is a melding of Celtic style and classical string quartet, with a little Bach and Dr. Who thrown in for free. I’m still waiting for the Kronos Quartet to adopt this as an encore piece. If anyone knows them, put in a good word for me…

Church Finale demo

Adopt this tune

I recently composed a new hymn tune using a meter of 11.10.11.10.11.10. The tune has been driving me crazy the last few days. I just can’t get it out of my head. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. In any case, I’m trying to exorcise it from mind by posting it here.

It joins a number of other “orphan tunes” that you can read about at my other website (www.gregscheer.com). Maybe it’s an orphan because it’s written in a meter that narrows it down to about five existing texts. Maybe it’s an orphan because I gave it the tune name “SYCOPHANT.” Maybe it’s an orphan because you haven’t yet written a brilliant new text to go with it. Take a look or a listen. What would be really helpful is if some kind, semi-informed person (David Fuentes, where are you when I need you?) would give me some feedback–is this tune stuck in my head because it’s a perfectly crafted work of miniature genius or because it’s cloying clump of dump detritus?

Colin

Travelling

Last night I finished the first of three new songs with Colin Gordon-Farleigh that will be part of a new country CD. The song is called “Travelling (It’s Been a Long, Long Trail)” and you are hereby invited to listen or look. Willie Nelson, look out!