Silent Night is one of the most popular melodies ever written. It evokes a peaceful scene of the newborn Savior, lying in the manger, being watched over by Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and stable animals. There can be no more humble or lowly scene, and yet the Creator of the world had come to save it.… Read More Silent Night
This is a setting of a hymn tune that is well-loved in my faith. It is sung to the words We Are All Enlisted. I like the lyrics because they speak of several things that my mother taught me when I was growing up: Do not be weary in well doing. We are all enlisted… Read More We Are All Enlisted (Montclair)
Abide With Me has always been one of my favorite hymns. The image it evokes of Christ speaking with his disciples on the road to Emmaus is one of my favorite Bible stories. I wrote this arrangement as a special musical number for a Saturday evening session of stake conference a couple of months ago.… Read More Abide With Me (Eventide)
Today was a Sabbath day unlike any other day I have had in my life. I have always been a faithful member of the Church. I honestly believe that I can count on two hands and two feet the number of times I have not attended church services – and I’m not exactly young any… Read More A Very Different Sabbath
The nation of Wales, part of the United Kingdom, is famous for its love of music. Its music culture has greatly influenced our music as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My wife and I recently visited Wales and heard an excellent Welsh men’s choir perform at a Methodist church. At… Read More Postlude on “Aberystwyth”
Let me make this clear: the organ is my instrument. That being said, I respectfully (and sometimes begrudgingly) acknowledge that other musical genres exist. One of my favorites is the male chorus. The sound of men singing together can be subtle, powerful, and inspirational. As a lover of church history, I value the early converts… Read More Jesus, Once of Humble Birth (Male Chorus)
I have a question for you: Have you received his image in your playing? With this question, paraphrased from the prophet Alma, lies the greatest challenge that faces a Latter-day Saint organist. While we have to be good at what we do, the greater challenge is to do good. As church musicians and especially as… Read More Have We Received His Image In Our Playing?
My wife and I recently went on a wonderful tour to Israel. It was amazing to actually see the places we had only read and heard about in song, scripture and story. A few weeks before the tour the tour director asked me to play a musical number as part of our visit to the… Read More Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee
The Organ Is Praise 