We have many days of Patriotic celebrations here in Provo Utah, mostly of the FIREWORKS variety. As much as I love fireworks displays, after three days of the noise until near midnight, I am ready to get on to other avenues of life.
Being a musician, I understand the need to get prepared for upcoming events. That's why it is no stretch to go immediately from the 4th of July Patriotic songs to Christmas Choral music. I am hoping to regroup from months of working on Children's Theater, to getting the inspiration to write some new Choral Music, maybe even something for Christmas. Here is a repost of my experience writing a new Christmas Carol from 2014:
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Being a musician, I understand the need to get prepared for upcoming events. That's why it is no stretch to go immediately from the 4th of July Patriotic songs to Christmas Choral music. I am hoping to regroup from months of working on Children's Theater, to getting the inspiration to write some new Choral Music, maybe even something for Christmas. Here is a repost of my experience writing a new Christmas Carol from 2014:
* * * * * * * * *
Sometimes I wake up with melodic ideas in my head. They dance around in my brain until I finally give up hope of doing anything else than writing them down. The melody forming in my thoughts the other morning was very similar in character to one of the Alfred Burt Carols. I thought I'd better look up those songs' melodies and lyrics to make sure I was not plagiarizing in any way. But, no, my melody was unique enough. But I really did not know which direction to take for the lyric. It could have been a jolly secular Christmas song as easily as it could become a sacred Christmas Carol.
I needed some direction. So, I called my sister and asked if I could play something for her. She is a great sounding board. Come to find out, her husband and daughter, both good singers, were also there. They said that they'd be happy to give their opinions, too. After I finished playing the lines I had ready, they all said that it sounded more like a sacred Christmas Carol to them. "Ah ha! I can do that."
Then came the brainstorming. I knew that I wanted to use the title "Ring Glad Christmas Bells." That would give me plenty of reasons to create parts for handbells. My sister interviewed me as to my ideas for the structure of the piece. "You want an opening that sets the mood and a strong joyful statement. Right? But then, how about a contrasting section where the meat of the message is found?"
Interesting.
We discussed how sometimes songs for Advent (the time leading up to Christmas) have very little in the way of true doctrine. Sometimes the lyrics are mostly fluff. The words might paint a picture of the silent night when Christ was born or Mary with the baby in the manger, or speak of shepherds and wisemen or even the animals in the stable, but never mention the glorious mission of Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer; to save mankind from sin and to give hope of salvation for those who repent. The lyrics might talk of the angels delivering a joyous message, but not say what the message was.
Trial lyrics were bantered around, but I knew that I needed to do some research to help me find the right message. For me, writing by "committee" just doesn't work. After some searching of sacred articles and scriptures, I found words that seemed to fit. But molding the words into a suitable rhyme scheme is difficult for me. Fortunately, I have access to the rhyming dictionary and that helps a lot. Sometimes alternate words actually steer the topic along a sight detour, and the developments can be rather exciting. The new lyrics might actually determine the form of the piece and help uncover hidden patterns. These patterns, repetitions and variations reveal themselves a little at a time until suddenly you realize that the song is finished.
* * * * * * * * * *
Well, that little melody I woke up with so many years ago led me to create a new sacred Christmas Carol. It was first written for SATB, then SAB with Glockenspiel or Handbells, then Flute Quartet with Glock.
The group my daughter plays flute with was looking for a new Christmas piece. My daughter suggested that I arrange it for them, the Flute Flock of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Here is a video of their concert performance. Hope you will enjoy it!
I needed some direction. So, I called my sister and asked if I could play something for her. She is a great sounding board. Come to find out, her husband and daughter, both good singers, were also there. They said that they'd be happy to give their opinions, too. After I finished playing the lines I had ready, they all said that it sounded more like a sacred Christmas Carol to them. "Ah ha! I can do that."
Then came the brainstorming. I knew that I wanted to use the title "Ring Glad Christmas Bells." That would give me plenty of reasons to create parts for handbells. My sister interviewed me as to my ideas for the structure of the piece. "You want an opening that sets the mood and a strong joyful statement. Right? But then, how about a contrasting section where the meat of the message is found?"
Interesting.
We discussed how sometimes songs for Advent (the time leading up to Christmas) have very little in the way of true doctrine. Sometimes the lyrics are mostly fluff. The words might paint a picture of the silent night when Christ was born or Mary with the baby in the manger, or speak of shepherds and wisemen or even the animals in the stable, but never mention the glorious mission of Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer; to save mankind from sin and to give hope of salvation for those who repent. The lyrics might talk of the angels delivering a joyous message, but not say what the message was.
Trial lyrics were bantered around, but I knew that I needed to do some research to help me find the right message. For me, writing by "committee" just doesn't work. After some searching of sacred articles and scriptures, I found words that seemed to fit. But molding the words into a suitable rhyme scheme is difficult for me. Fortunately, I have access to the rhyming dictionary and that helps a lot. Sometimes alternate words actually steer the topic along a sight detour, and the developments can be rather exciting. The new lyrics might actually determine the form of the piece and help uncover hidden patterns. These patterns, repetitions and variations reveal themselves a little at a time until suddenly you realize that the song is finished.
* * * * * * * * * *
Well, that little melody I woke up with so many years ago led me to create a new sacred Christmas Carol. It was first written for SATB, then SAB with Glockenspiel or Handbells, then Flute Quartet with Glock.
The group my daughter plays flute with was looking for a new Christmas piece. My daughter suggested that I arrange it for them, the Flute Flock of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Here is a video of their concert performance. Hope you will enjoy it!
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