Another one-take piano solo from 2012. One of the most complicated pieces I learned toward the end of my time in the US. I loved the challenge and the expressiveness of this piece.
“Notturno” by Edvard Greig
Photo by Neven Krcmarek on Unsplash
Category: Music
Piano Solo – “The Harvest” by Tom Howard
A piano solo I recorded in 2012 (in a one-shot take, mistakes and all). A personal favorite written by the incredible pianist and Christian composer, Tom Howard.
He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
-Luke 10:2 (NIV)
Piano Solo – “Remembering Thomas” by Timothy Brown
When I was younger, my piano teacher knew that I was drawn to achingly sweet, expressive, melodic songs. She found me this piece which became one of my all time favorite songs. Sadly, when I recorded this song over 5 years ago, we only had time to do one take and I performed it rather poorly. However, while I certainly didn’t do this exquisite piece justice, I think you’ll understand (in spite of the wrong notes, hesitation, and mistakes) why I love it so much. There’s such longing in this melody, an sweet yet aching yearning for what was. But there’s joy there too; joy in remembering, but even more, a passionate refusal to forget.
“Remembering Thomas” by Timothy Brown performed by Mina
Trust in You – Lauren Daigle Cover
Hello – A Christian Parody on the Harp
This parody grew from the moment I fell on my knees after far too long away and I could think of nothing else to say but, “Hello.”
And the words started pouring out to the tune… a prayer, not a break-up song. Please forgive the bad sound quality and the mistakes in the video. Lyrics below.
Hello, it’s me.
I was wond-er-ing if after all these months you’d like to meet,
to go over everything.
Feels like the world is on my shoulders,
I got nothing left to bring
Hello, I know you hear me
I got lost in all the dreamin’ about who I’m s’posed be. I didn’t ask you, anything
I’ve forgotten that you are the God with the world down at your feet
There’s such a difference between us
it’s like a million miles.
Hello from the other side, I know you called at thousand times to tell me
you love me, and you want me back home, but when I hear you I just turn and move on.
Hello from the outside, I can’t say that I’ve even tried to tell you
I’m sorry, for breaking your heart, and it really matters
that it didn’t tear me apart. But no more.
Hello, how are you? It’s so typical of me to talk about myself
I’m sorry, I know… that you’re well, you’re Almighty God, my Holy King
Forever and the After
It’s no secret that I
am running out of time
So, hello from the other side, I need to call a thousand times to tell you
I’m sorry, for everything that I’ve done, and now that I’ve sought you, I just wanna come home
Hello from the outside, I can’t say that I’ve tried to tell you
I’m sorry, for breaking your heart, it really matters,
cause it tears me apart more and more.
Ooooohh, no more.
Ooooohh, no more.
Ooooohh, no more.
no more.
Hello from the right side, I know you’ve called a thousand times to tell me
you love me, now I’ve finally come home, and when I hear you I never wanna move on.
Hello from the right side, now I can say that I have tried to tell you
I’m thankful , for being back in your arms, and I’m really trusting,
as I seek out Your heart evermore.
All That I Am – Rend Collective Cover
Rend Collective is my absolute favorite band at the moment. Their folky style tickles my fancy but their lyrics strike deep into the heart:
“Take every treasure, take this life
Everything’s on the altar now
No holding back, no holding out
In view of Your matchless sacrifice
Take every treasure, take this life
“All that I am for all that You are, my Lord
All that I have for all that You are, You’re the
Pearl beyond price, greater than life
All that I am for all that You are
“Selfish ambition and my pride
I’m giving up, I’m letting die
In these empty hands I have it all, have it all
The pure joy of knowing You, my Lord”
-Rend Collective
Watch the original song here.
Road to Zion by Petra – Harp Cover
This enchanting melody rings from the strings of a harp, but the lyrics are also rich and true:
“There is a way that leads to life
The few that find it never die
Past mountain peaks graced white with snow
The way grows brighter as it goes
“Sometimes it’s good to look back down
We’ve come so far – we’ve gained such ground
But joy is not in where we’ve been
Joy is who’s waiting at the end.”
-Petra
See all lyrics here.
Elegy – To a Great Man
One year ago today John Fox Peterson (better know to me as Grandpa) breathed his last just before the stars of the night faded into the reality and radiance of the dawn. He ran into the arms of his beloved Savior to the broken sounds of his family singing praises as their last goodbye. They praised and thanked God for the lives Grandpa had touched, the lives he had changed through the ministries he had been involved in, and through the very person that he was. I can almost hear the echoes of our God saying to him as he kneels before the throne, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
In that darkness before the dawn, silence and hoarse whispers were all that could be heard. Until my soul found expression on the strings of my harp. Sometimes language fails us. Sometimes it is simply insufficient. Sometimes a poem doesn’t need words. Sometimes depth of expression isn’t profound or beautiful, I wouldn’t even call this music. It’s just that: and expression. It’s grief and loss, and pain. Its that viscerally hollow, sick feeling in pit of your stomach. Yet in the bitterness of the moment and the years to come, there also hope that doesn’t disappoint.
There is comfort in the dawn,
In the certainty of its coming
in the confidence that the sun
will burst forth
even after the darkest night,
in the hope that this is not
the end of the story,
that we will see each other again
one day in another,
more glorious sunrise.
el·e·gy
noun
1. a poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead.
synonyms: lament, requiem, dirge