Old Quarter, New Quarter, Next Quarter – Another “Bleet!”

Hello Friends!

It’s 2012 and it’s been that way for 2 whole months!  Whew!  So Happy New Year, Happy Valentine’s Day, and Happy President’s Day are greetings already of the past.  AND… I know it’s been too long since I last blogged – October, in the final quarter of 2011, to be exact…

OK, so here’s a quick run down of last quarter 2011, along with this new quarter in 2012 and thoughts on the next quarter coming up.  Ah, yes, it’s another “Bleet” — that series of really short items (mini-blog posts), but longer than tweets — to catch you up!

I left off in October 2011 telling you all about a Kickstarter Campaign to raise funds for Peter Link’s brand new CD Goin’ Home…

November 2, 2011: Hooray!!!  Peter Link met his Kickstarter goal of raising $9500 (he raised even more!) to finish the recording, packaging and releasing of Goin’ Home.  The best way to check out exactly HOW he did that is to visit the Peter Link Goin’ Home Kickstarter Campaign.

Where I’ve Been… Every Day

Dear Friends!

It’s November 7th and its been 2 months and a few hours since I last posted!  I’ve missed writing, but the last couple of months have been filled to the brim with finishing my brand new CD, Every Day, which will be released next week!

It’s been an extraordinary journey getting this baby into the world.  I am so excited to present Every Day and look forward to sharing it with you.  The CD is being finished at the masterer’s as I write.

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 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.

The Kingdom Of God: A Follow Up

Follow up
to
Inspiratus Interview
with Composer Greg Granoff

Read Part 1 of the Greg Granoff Interview
Read Part 2 of the Greg Granoff Interview

By the time I posted the Inspiratus interview with composer Greg Granoff, I had already sung two of his songs at The Mother Church in Boston where I perform each week.  I felt I had a real sense of his music by then, and I had become a true fan!

In his interview, Greg mentioned that his favorite song was “The Kingdom Of God.”

Well, when I first heard this song about a year ago, I was very moved by the beauty of its unique melodic and harmonic structures.  Shifting keys from minor to major and a constant conversation between the voice and keyboard fully engaged me and drew from me an immediate emotional response.  I was excited to explore this piece further, but I had to wait until last Sunday, September 13^th to sing the song in a service.

“The Kingdom Of God” is a dramatic song, and it tells a truly dramatic story.

Interview with Composer Greg Granoff – Part 2

Music Chose Him:
An Interview with
Inspirational Composer Greg Granoff
Part 2

My interview with composer Greg Granoff kicks off a new part of Inspiratus.
It will be featuring interview/conversations with artists of all kinds.
The idea is to explore just how inspiration, creativity, and spirituality all play a role in the development, creation and reception of an artist’s work.

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Read Part One of my interview with Greg Granoff

To continue with our conversation, Watchfire Music Composer Greg Granoff has spoken in depth about his approach to composition and his thoughts on creativity. Greg also mentioned his work in the Music Department at Humbolt State University.

Interview with Composer Greg Granoff – Part 1

Music Chose Him:
An Interview with
Inspirational Composer Greg Granoff
Part 1

My interview with composer Greg Granoff kicks off a new part of Inspiratus.
It will be featuring interview/conversations with artists of all kinds.
The idea is to explore just how inspiration, creativity, and spirituality all play a role in the development, creation and reception of an artist’s work.

===================================

Watchfire Music Composer Greg Granoff writes sacred music with great skill and craftsmanship. In particular, his is a catalogue of beautiful, sophisticated vocal solos scored for both the organ and piano, and composed with a harmonic language uniquely Greg’s own.

Here’s my conversation with Greg Granoff:

JW: What is your earliest memory of music?

GG: I don’t know that I can speak about the earliest one with any certainty; I remember various things, all from my time as a small boy. I have a distinct memory of my earliest piano lessons — I was about 5. I remember very early hearing my father play the piano in the evenings after I was in bed–that had a huge effect on me. I remember the 78 rpm records my father played of Russian and Mexican folk music; I remember my mother strumming the guitar and picking out folk songs; I remember them both listening to the Metropolitan Opera on Sunday afternoons; and I remember being glued to the record player even while others my age were out playing in the street.

I was equally captivated by Burl Ives or a Beethoven symphony. I remember dreaming about music.