The Road To Inspiration — Peter Link and Julia Wade

This article has been reprinted from an article first appearing in the Principia Purpose, Peter’s High School and College Alumni Magazine in December of 2010.

Interview with Composer Robert Collister – Part 2

Soli Deo Gloria:
An Interview with Composer Robert Collister
Part 2

In Part 1, Watchfire Music Composer Robert Collister shared with us his early influences that led him to writing for the musical theatre.  He has to date written 4 musicals and continues to be prolific in several genres of music. On writing music, Robert says, “I don’t like to take credit for what I write since I feel that I am just a vehicle from which music passes through. Bach would write on many of his compositions, ‘Soli Deo Gloria,’ — ‘To God Alone the Glory.’ I take the same position.”

Read Part 1 of the Collister Interview

In Part 2, Robert shares more about his process, inspiration and talks about his sacred and inspirational compositions.  Let’s continue the conversation:

Interview with Composer Robert Collister – Part 1

Soli Deo Gloria:
An Interview with Composer Robert Collister
Part 1

Composer Robert Collister was raised in Rochester, New York. He says, “I attended public school, and I was always playing baseball or riding my bike somewhere. In high school I played in the band and orchestra. I played baseball and tennis and also was in the drama club. I guess you could say I was just an average kid.”

Well, this “average kid” went on to become a versatile and prolific composer, musician, performer, and educator. Robert is a Watchfire Music composer with an extensive and beautiful catalog of Inspirational church solos. Very soon, WFM will be releasing a whole set of Robert’s choral songs on Watchfiremusic.com. Read Part 2 of the Collister Interview.

On writing music, Robert says “I don’t like to take credit for what I write since I feel that I am just a vehicle from which music passes through. Bach would write on many of his compositions, “Soli Deo Gloria,” — “To God Alone the Glory.” I take the same position.”

Please join me as Robert shares with us with rich stories and inspiring thoughts on his lifelong experience with music.

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Songs For A Summer Sunday

“Spring being a tough act to follow,
God created June.”
- Al Bernstein

Here are some June offerings from the Digital Sheet Music (DSM) store
on Watchfire Music.  Discover these beautiful
Inspirational Sheet Music titles… Songs for a Summer Sunday!

A Song Of Freedom by Carolyn Kardinal
Blessed, Blessed by Carolyn Kardinal
Bread Of Heaven by Frank La Forge
Christ Is Risen by Collister, Robert Music:
The Christ Lives On by Peter Link
Come Thou by Robert Collister

How’s Your Garden of Songs?

“‘Tis like the birthday of the world,
When earth was born in bloom;
The light is made of many dyes,
The air is all perfume:
There’s crimson buds, and white and blue
The very rainbow showers,
Have turned to blossoms where they fell,
And sown the earth with flowers.”
– Thomas Hood

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How’s your garden of songs? Here are some May offerings from the Digital Sheet Music store on watchfiremusic.com.  Sow these titles and reap the beauty of Inspirational Music for your church and worship services!  Happy Gardening!

Apple of My Eye by Deborah Offenhauser
As a Little Child – by Desiree Goyette
Gift of Gratitude – by Andrew D. Brewis

Songs of Spring — An 11th Hour Addition!

Hi Folks,

After I posted “Songs of Spring” — a list of Easter and Spring solos, Watchfire Music composer Carolyn Kardinal sent a brand new Easter solo, “Rabboni, Rabboni” to be added to her WFM web page.  It’s now available.

If you are still searching for that last minute gem of a piece for your worship service — this may be just the answer!

Enjoy exploring this beautiful new solo hot off the press! Click here for more info.

Songs of Spring

Hello, my fellow friends in hibernation!  Can you feel it?  You know, that subtle little thing in the air — riding  just behind the final March rains and snows — telling us that indeed, the winter is over.

Ah!  I am so ready for fragrant warm breezes, sunshine days, green trees, fields of flowers and birds singing in the air.  Here in New York City, all that translates to walks in Central Park and long hikes and runs along the Hudson River Park.  Those are my two nature options living in NYC, and let me tell you, I am grateful for them!

Springtime New York Style (from nylacoast2coast.wordpress.com)

I can’t wait to get outside again!  It has been a long and most definitely indoor winter for me.  Time to break out!  For me, Easter always heralds this breaking out,  and it’s just around the corner again… in a couple of weeks!

So let me get to the point:  While dreaming of the flowers and fresh air to come, this blog post is really a last-minute list of some great Easter and springtime sacred music available on watchfiremusic.com.   For you singers still seeking that perfect Easter Solo for your church’s worship services, check out these songs!  Enjoy!!

Interview with Musical Duo Pressman & Ponzek

Pressman & Ponzek:
A Natural Collaboration!

Pressman & Ponzek are a musical duo consisting of pianist, vocalist, composer and producer Lisa Pressman and guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist, composer, arranger and producer Tim Ponzek.  Combining their many musical skills and talents, Lisa and Tim have worked together for many years and have created their own unique musical signature style.

Together in their latest recording “Tomorrow the World,” they draw upon their musical kinship and their extensive studies of the Latin, Jazz and Classical repertoire. Lisa’s crystalline piano and pure vocals combine with Tim’s romantic classical guitar to create a delightful, relaxing and even ethereal listening experience on “Tomorrow The World.”  The energy of their dynamic musical interplay can be experienced as well as in Lisa and Tim’s previous release “if the sky was home”.

In addition to their recordings, Lisa and Tim have made their music available in sheet music form for other performers to experience and share:  piano/vocal scores, piano scores, guitar charts and now lead sheets.

Lisa and Tim live in one of my favorite spots on the planet – the desert of Arizona.  In listening to their music,  I feel like their special collaboration of Inspirational music is influenced at least a little by the beauty of the desert — its rhythms, melodies and harmonies played out in sweeping landscapes, plant and animal life.  It turns out that other parts of nature also play a deeply creative role in inspiring their shimmering music.

Find out how this dynamic duo works together and what makes their collaboration so natural.

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Interview with Carolyn Kardinal – Part 2

She Writes Soulful Songs
with Words of Grace
An Interview with
Composer Carolyn Kardinal
Part 2

Read Part 1 of  Carolyn Kardinal’s interview

In Part 1, Carolyn Kardinal shared with us some of her process in writing both original Inspirational lyrics and music for her songs.  She also related how her experiences as a singer and a teacher of children and of voice students have deeply influenced and enriched her work as a composer and lyricist.  So let’s continue with the conversation…

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JW: What inspires you?

CK:  One spring morning I walked outside to smell the freshness after a downpour and at that moment heard a meadowlark sing the most beautiful melody – actually I recognized the motive as something Alexander Dumas had used as a primary melody in his “Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” At first I laughed at the absurdity, but as I have thought about that experience I realize many composers have been sensitive to nature’s sounds and have incorporated them into their own works. So I became a better listener.

Interview with Composer Carolyn Kardinal – Part 1

She Writes Soulful Songs
with Words of Grace
An Interview with
Composer Carolyn Kardinal
Part 1

Read Part 2 of Carolyn’s Interview

Watchfire Music Composer Carolyn Kardinal is a prolific writer of sacred songs that have been sung widely in churches throughout the United States and abroad.  Carolyn is not only a composer, but she is also a truly gifted lyricist.  Her songs possess memorable, “sticky” melodies — they leave you humming the tune long after the song is over — and  Carolyn’s lyrics contain ideas and images that take you on journeys of the soul, bringing healing inspiration.

I have enjoyed my many conversations with Carolyn over the last year since she first brought her sheet music catalogue to Watchfire Music.  Additionally, I have loved the experience of performing Carolyn’s music.  The response to her particular songwriting talent is always immediate and filled with testaments of healing and gratitude.  Enjoy reading on as Carolyn shares with us her wisdom and experience as a creative artist in Inspirational music.

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JW:  What is your earliest impression or memory of music?

CK:  I grew up in Seattle, but both my parents’ families were in Southern California where we spent our holidays. I remember sitting in the back seat of the old Ford, passing those long boring miles by singing.  And on those cold, drizzly, pre-TV, winter nights in Seattle, I recall everyone sitting around listening to classical records.  I’d go dancing around the living room on the fast orchestral pieces, or during those beautiful soprano arias, I would sit staring into the coals of the fireplace.

A New Day at WatchFireMusic.com

Hey all you Watchfire Music Friends, Fans, Customers, Browsers and Newbies!!

We’ve been Very Busy Bees at Watchfire Music. Six months ago, we embarked on a project of immense proportions. We knew it was big, but the more we dug in, somehow, the bigger it became! This project was the updating and rebuilding of watchfiremusic.com. We projected a June 1st launch, then told you all that “good things come to those who wait,” and we kept working…

Well, it’s here at last. On July 8, 2009, we launched the NEW site. We call it Watchfire Music 2.0. Have you seen it yet? If not, please click right here and check it out!