Musical Compositions

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

Usage guidelines: All this music is copyrighted by Dwight Gingrich. Use freely for nonprofit purposes only. All other rights reserved. Permission is required before using it for profit, such as in a recording that will be sold.

Isn't God Good?

  • An older sister in our church is a generous soul. When I've expressed my thanks, she's responded by exclaiming, "Isn't God good?" Inspired by that phrase, I added references to my favorite biblical description of God's character, first found in Exodus 34:6-7 ("abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness") and echoed in John's description of Jesus in John 1:14 ("full of grace and truth").

  • Score: I can share a chord sheet upon request. Lyrics are included in the description of the YouTube video below. Feel free to sing by ear for free.

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 (free): 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 (free): 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 (free): 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).

  • Score: Available for purchase.

  • 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 recruited my daughters to help me make this video so we could teach it to our church during coronavirus online church.

  • Score: Available for purchase. (Lyrics are included in the description of the YouTube video below. )

Maybe sometime I’ll add a few more here–such as  “A Fine Summer Day in November,” a Hank Williams-inspired downer I wrote while suffering from a fever.