After a two-year hiatus while I worked on other projects, my Holy GhostWriter plunked me back into hymn-writing this year, with an exciting new twist!
Thanks to Facebook groups, YouTube, and the Hymn Society in the US & Canada, I’ve connected with several composers to work on new musical settings for texts I originally published with public domain tunes and for some brand new texts. In addition, I’ve written melodies for a couple of my newest hymns, with harmonization help from Diva Daughter, Theresa Olin (aka The Inexorable Juggernaut of Music Theory).
It’s been quite a roller coaster ride, careening up, down, and around the learning curve of collaboration. I mean, it’s one thing to tweak a hundred-year-old tune written by a guy who is, shall we say, in no position to argue with my choices. It’s quite another to communicate and negotiate with a living composer who brings a different vision and style to my lyrics, and who is as new to the art of collaboration as I am. Fortunately, my HGW has blessed me with partners who possess a gracious heart as well as musical skills.
Our newest pieces are not going public yet, in order to preserve eligibility for competitions and publishers which require unpublished work. Stay tuned for those!
Meanwhile, I hope you’ll enjoy the lovely new setting written by talented young composer Jared Bernotski for my text “How Long Is the Longest Night.” Jared himself sings HLITLN, accompanied by Cade Johnson, in this video. (Lyrics below.)
How long is the longest night?
How distant is the dawn?
It seems that time has ceased its flight
and hope for change is gone.
But wait! My God’s strong hand
rules over time and space!
At just the moment God has planned,
all things move into place!How dark is the darkest day,
how black the shadow’s gloom?
The richest colors fade to gray
when joy gives way to doom.
But wait! My God is light!
More vivid than the sun,
the face of Jesus Christ shines bright
with love for everyone!How deep is the deepest fear?
How far can one soul fall?
The chasm’s edge is oh, so near,
so close to claiming all!
But wait! My God has wings!
The Spirit lifts me high
above the pit of fearsome things
to soar beyond the sky!
I’m also pleased to share pianist Andrew Remillard’s new recording of SPARROW WING, Jared Bernotski’s setting for my text “This Sparrow Has a Broken Wing.” (Lyrics below.)
O God, you keep your loving eye
on every little living thing.
Yes, even sparrows such as I
are cared for by our heav’nly King,
are cared for by our heav’nly King.O you created me to fly
and taught me joyful songs to sing,
but now in pain to you I cry.
This sparrow has a broken wing.
This sparrow has a broken wing.A wounded bird is easy prey,
but helpless I need never be.
For even sparrows trust and say,
“My God is watching over me.
My God is watching over me.”You hold the hungry fox at bay
and tend my hurts so graciously,
until I rise and soar away.
I sing my thanks, alive and free.
I sing my thanks, alive and free.
If you’d like to request a PDF score of either of these hymns, pop me a message via the Contact form here on Faith Songs.
Please drop by with a comment on this post and on YouTube. Don’t forget to give our videos a thumbs-up on YouTube if you enjoy them. For more, check out Andrew Remillard’s Now Sings My Soul playlist and my YouTube channel.
And keep our work in your prayers, friends. Thanks, and God bless!
Linda