Prayers from me

This is a hymn with multiple levels of meaning that reflects not only on how much time the sun shines throughout our day, but the cycles of time, and also upon how much time we have on this planet. Along with this, times are changing and we will experience increased persecution and limits on our freedoms in the years ahead. It helps us prioritize the importance of the things we do every day. This arrangement is from John Schaum who for many years wrote books for children to learn how to play the piano.

This is a famous hymn that has many arrangements. Whitney Houston sings a version of this for a film called Sparkle, although it is most associated with actress-singer Ethel Waters. Mahalia Jackson's recording of the song received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2010. This gospel hymn was inspired by scriptures in Psalms and Matthew. In Psalms a verse reads, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." In 1904, Civilla Martin was visiting an ill, bedridden friend. Although discouraged and sick, her friend remembered that God was watching over each little sparrow and would certainly watch after her. This is the inspiration as it relates to Matthew. Don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.

This is a request that I got for an ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) 1978 hit. At the time, Jeff Lynne broke out of a creative block and invented a musical superhero that many of us learned to relish and sing along with. It was originally recorded in Munich, Germany and the electric voice of this superhero was inspired by Sparky's Magic Piano, an old children's record. In the original song, Mr. Blue Sky introduces himself in the second bridge, via a vocoder. "Thou shalt not number seven" was the original working title and this song is considered one of the most uplifting or happiest songs ever recorded. It was used in various ads for multiple companies, in movies, and on spacecraft (space shuttle Endeavor & space shuttle Atlantis) as the wakeup call for the astronauts. A piano solo version of this song may not do it justice, but it is a reminder of the original that people enjoy when I play at Mayo clinic.

This is a piece that gets requested a lot. Leonard Cohen was Canadian, and when he wrote this, it initially didn’t have much success. After some following recordings by John Cale, Jeff Buckley and a feature in the movie Shrek, it gained much popularity. Many of us ask ourselves what the meaning of Hallelujah is, but probably every thesis is wrong and right at the same time, since music is subjective and everyone can attribute different meanings to it. Cohen is quoted as saying, “This world is full of conflicts and full of things that cannot be reconciled. But there are moments when we can… reconcile and embrace the whole mess, and that’s what I mean by ‘Hallelujah’. The song explains that many kinds of hallelujahs do exist, and all the perfect and broken hallelujahs have equal value. It’s a desire to affirm my faith in life, not in some formal religious way but with enthusiasm, with emotion.”

I have so much to be thankful for, that I don't know where to start, but maybe I should start with the 5th Commandment, in Exodus 20. "Honor your father and your mother." I'm so grateful that both my parents and grandparents were Christians. In fact, one of my great-grandfathers was miraculously healed of cancer through the prayer of a pastor in Zion, IL. That's why we lived near there.

One day, while playing the piano at Mayo Hospital, a man came up when I finished and thanked me. He also told me that he had gone to Bible school with Dino Kartsonakis, and helped Dino with some of his piano arrangements. Later I learned that the workers at Ravenscroft Pianos, nearby, are building a special piano for Dino. You can hear one of their pianos if you go to my website and click on "Music". I was able to play one for a previous concert I did. They're wonderful pianos! I like this arrangement because it starts with a serious, sad classic and then jumps to a spiritual. The lyrics are so good! How can I not be thankful?

Kurt Kaiser, from Chicago, IL, wrote this piece in about 10 to 15 minutes. It is one that is requested a lot. Kurt is a great musician who would listen to phrases that people said and write them down. Every now and then he would revisit his collection of phrases and came across "Oh how he loves you and me". This triggered the idea of this piece and it all came rushing to him. He originally only wrote one verse, and when he sent it to the Copyright Office in Washington, they said that there was not enough original lyric to warrant the granting of a copyright. Therefore, he wrote a second companion verse and finally it was approved.

I'm dedicating this piece to a couple who live near me. They are going through some tough times as the husband's dad just went on hospice while he is transitioning to a new job and struggling to make ends meet. The wife reached out to me and asked me to pray, as her husband also got news that he needs to have heart surgery because of an enlarged valve. I'm praying for you, Stesha, and hope that your family pulls through all of this. Much love.

This hymn is often called the "National Anthem of Christendom." The lyrics were written by Edward Perronet in 1779 and are based on Philippians 2:11. The song has been set to several tunes. The most popular tune used is "Coronation" (Oliver Holden, 1793). However, it has also been set to "Miles Lane" (William Shrubsole, 1779) and "Diadem" (James Ellor, 1838). This version contains excerpts from the "Hallelujah Chorus" (Handel). A number of modifications have been made from the original text. The original hymn text dates from 1779 and 1780, and was first printed in November 1779 in the Gospel Magazine, a publication by “Rock of Ages” composer Augustus M. Toplady. An eight-stanza version appeared just a year later in the same magazine titled, “On the Resurrection. The Lord is King.” Perronet (1726-1792) was born in Sundridge, England, and died in Canterbury. His family came from the Huguenots of Switzerland, and according to The UM Hymnal editor Carlton Young, “was closely associated with and esteemed by the Wesleys.” Against the desires of John Wesley, Perronet promoted the idea that Methodist preachers should be able to administer the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. In another controversial act, Perronet published a satire on the Church of England, The Mitre, angering the Countess of Huntingdon in whose chapel he served. As a result, he left to become a minister in the independent chapel in Canterbury.

There is history with this hymn that is covered in a magazine called The Church Pianist, "The Pianist's Companion for the Church Year - Larry F. Pugh, Editor", dated July/August 2012. Concerning "Fantasia on Come, Thou Fount" Larry wrote.

With his father dead and his mother unable to discipline him, Robert Robinson's mother sent him to London to learn barbering, where he also learned "the ways of the world." One night, following a disturbing incident with a fortuneteller, Robert went to hear evangelist, George Whitefield, an experience that changed the direction of his life. The transformation took a while, but by the time he was 20 years old he was on his way to becoming a minister. On Pentecost Sunday three years later, the now Rev. Robinson wrote this hymn to go with that day's sermon. The composer of the Nettleton tune is not known, but we do know it was named for another well-known evangelist at the time, Ahasel Nettleton. John Purifoy enhances his stirring arrangement with a succession of fanfares and, as he instructs the pianist, "with great energy."

I previously recorded a Dino Kartsonakis arrangement of this hymn, for Easter. Now I decided to play this Mark Hayes version, because it is enjoyed by many at Mayo Clinic. Some have even stopped what they're doing to clap. One gentleman went so far as to find me on the internet and send me this message...

"I happened to be at Mayo Clinic today because my wife was having an MRI to followup on spine surgery she had there 2 yrs ago. In the past, I waited for her just outside the imaging area but with the pandemic, I had to wait in the lobby. I thoroughly enjoyed your arrangements of music I hadn't heard for years. A lady behind me was humming along with many of the tunes, so maybe she didn't hear that I was humming with them, too. Suddenly you started to play an introduction to something I identified in 3 notes. I worked as a part-time volunteer announcer for Family Life Radio, KFLR, for 11 years and grew up in the Chicago area listening to Moody Radio so I've heard numerous renditions of "How Great Thou Art," but I've never heard it done with a greater sensitivity. You led us in worship and I'm writing to express my sincere thanks."

I am grateful for that. Much love.

This hymn, which had been produced in 1641 and modeled after a love song by Heinrich Albert that began, “Flora, meine Freunde, meiner Seelen Weide,” using the same structure, was first published with six stanzas in Cruger’s Praxis Pietatis Melica, fifth edition, of 1653. The tune comes from a traditional German melody and it was arranged in 1655 by Cruger's friend, Christoph Peter for his Andachts Zymbeln, and further arranged and harmonized in 1723 by Bach.

Dawn, the wife of my latest piano tuner, has told me how much she really enjoys our website, and she told me that her favorite piece is this hymn. I looked in my library and found it in 6 or 8 hymnals and they were all about the same. I didn't have a piano arrangement of it though, so I worked at making my own. I wasn't happy with the arrangement I had made, so I went online and bought this arrangement. It only has one verse, and it's an unusual arrangement, with interesting chord progressions. I hope you enjoy it and I'm thankful for Dawn's husband for helping me sound better when I play!