Thursday, October 15, 2009

Will He Heal Me (Cantata for choir and piano, soloists, flute, and cello)

This was the turning point for me writing music. Just before I wrote this, I had never had much success writing anything satisfactory. I had special difficulty coming up with melodies, and then writing out anything else was very arduous. I had majored in choral music education, so I felt I had the knowledge, but the ability to compose evaded me.

I am LDS, and twice a year we have a church-wide general conference, which is broadcast on television. As the conference approached, I began praying earnestly that the Lord might grant me the ability to compose music.  After a spiritually filling Saturday of conference, and my heart full of this prayer, I awoke Sunday morning with a melody and words in my mind. I grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled out the tune and words. It became the them of this cantata, which, in answer to my prayers, I was able to write in about 4 months.

Since that time, I have gone through periods of greater and lesser output, but if I seek out the Lord's help, I am able to write now. It was a great answer to my prayers, and I truly hope those who perform and listen to these songs can feel the same Spirit that touches me as I write.

Will He Heal Me - pdf

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