How Firm a Foundation SSATB and SSA - with Organ and Congregation
Although this SSATB arrangement was written by request, I believe I tried to channel the energy of my grandmother Lora Harmon Thompson (1892-1974) to do it. This was her favorite hymn. It was powerfully sung at her funeral by more than 100 of her descendants. Grandma Lora was an amazing singer and missionary. As a child, she entertained people in the Price, Utah area earning money to support her father on his mission. As a teenager, she was called the Carbon County Nightingale, gaining quite a reputation with her elegant operatic voice that spanned more than five octaves. As an eighteen year old, she went to Salt Lake City to study voice and became a soloist with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. That gave her instant credentials when she went on her mission to Kansas City, Missouri, at that time a crossroads of international travel. She had many opportunities to sing for all sorts of visiting dignitaries including kings and queens and visiting politicians of various nations. After she married, she raised a large family of musicians and singers in the barren sage brush of southern Idaho. Her legacy was that her children counted themselves as lifetime missionaries and all of her descendants are fine singers and musicians.
SSA version. This Women's version was requested for the March 17th Anniversary of the founding of the Relief Society. This hymn was sung at that very first meeting and holds a mighty significance to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
SSA version. This Women's version was requested for the March 17th Anniversary of the founding of the Relief Society. This hymn was sung at that very first meeting and holds a mighty significance to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Unsolicited comment a from happy user of this hymn arrangement:
Betsy,
I wanted to share my thoughts and excitement about your "How Firm a Foundation" arrangement. There is so much to love about it, key changes, acapella sections, chromatic harmonies. You would get an A+ in music theory just with this one arrangement. I know when I find a great arrangement: it is when I don't change a note or question the chord progressions in any way. I am enjoying your website and want to thank you for sharing your talents.
----Trevor Armitstead
Betsy,
I wanted to share my thoughts and excitement about your "How Firm a Foundation" arrangement. There is so much to love about it, key changes, acapella sections, chromatic harmonies. You would get an A+ in music theory just with this one arrangement. I know when I find a great arrangement: it is when I don't change a note or question the chord progressions in any way. I am enjoying your website and want to thank you for sharing your talents.
----Trevor Armitstead
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