I’ve enjoyed composing a little music now and then over the years. Here are a few examples for your listening and performing enjoyment.

Usage guidelines: Use these freely for nonprofit purposes. But do claim credit if you make any changes–and I’ve love to know if you use them! Please ask permission before using these for profit, such as in a recording that will be sold. Thank you!

Shout – Psalm 150

• A choral piece first composed for a children’s choir in NYC, then re-scored for adult voices. Performed imperfectly but joyfully here by an amateur choir (Sharon Mennonite Bible Institute, 5th term, 2007), under an amateur director (yours truly).
• Score: Download Adult Choir Score
• Audio: Download Audio
  

The Path of the Righteous

• A praise song that I shared with the church in NYC. The recording here is of the first time we sang it there (2009), so it’s a bit rough (and the words have been revised some since). But I blithely strummed my guitar, the music team bravely attempted some harmony, and the church heating pipes boldly added a polyrhythm percussion. Praise the Lord!
• Score: Download Lead Sheet
• Audio: Download Audio
  

Simple Song

• A (Christian country-pop?) song I wrote kind of last minute because The Gingrichs were headed into the recording studio and we needed another song for our album. It turned out to be perhaps the least-simple song on the album. It sounded a bit too slick and shallow at first to me, so I added an instrumental bridge that explores new chords and rhythms. From the Step Right Up album (2002).
• Score: Lost in the great electronic void
• Audio: Download Audio

We Fix Our Eyes (2 Corinthians 4:18)

• A simple Scripture chorus, this is my first song that really became useful. The text comes directly from 2 Corinthians 4:18 (1984 NIV translation). I had thought of doing it with light acoustic accompaniment, in an old Maranatha Praise style, but we ended up singing it a cappella. The first half works nicely if men lead off and ladies echo. Also from Step Right Up by The Gingrichs.
• Score: Page 1 (unison), Page 1 (parts), Page 2
• Audio: Download Audio
  

Sunday Night Rag

• A little piano piece composed on a whim while I was doodling at the piano one Sunday evening (2014). Performed here by Finale PrintMusic, since I didn’t find time or equipment to do a proper performance myself.
• Score: Download Piano Score
• Audio: Download Audio
  

Before  All Things (Colossians 1:15-20)

• This is a Scripture song that I composed in April, 2020 as our church enjoyed a sermon series from Colossians.
• I didn’t write a score, but lyrics are included on the YouTube description. I recruited my daughters to help me make this video so we could teach it to our church during coronavirus online church.

Maybe sometime I’ll add a few more here–such as  “A Fine Summer Day in November,” a Hank Williams-inspired downer which hasn’t blessed anyone but has provoked a few groans and/or smiles.

Stay tuned for more (pun intended).