Pachelbel’s Canon in D Meets Psalm 19

March 13, 2015 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Click above to listen to Across the Skies (featuring Canon in D) from the album A Thousand Years as you read. If you enjoy, consider ordering the CD or MP3 Album, or Sheet Music (the song is also on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora, and more).

What is your favorite classical or hymn melody?

This question was my challenge in creating my 7th album A Thousand Years, which features original composing interwoven with six world renown classical melodies and seven great hymn melodies. One of these is Johann Pachelbel’s famous Canon in D. Since this is so often included in wedding ceremonies, it an interesting that when Pachelbel wrote this in 1694 it may have been for Johann Christoph Bach’s wedding, who was Johann Sebastian Bach’s oldest brother.

Since I was a little boy I have marveled at the skies. Maybe this is why I loved climbing trees so much in my childhood. Maybe this is why Psalm 19 is one of my favorites. Across the Skies opens with two phrases of my simple arrangement of Canon in D, then here is what happens…

An original melody appears for a new variation. The piano is “singing” word for word, “In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun” (verse 4). Then the Pachelbel arrangement expands with new variations, answered by some new variations on the original melody. This “meeting” of classical and original continues to build, then concludes with the simplest Pachelbel to take us off into the sunset after these moments of musical “sky gazing.”

What is your favorite memory of a beautiful sky?

Psalm 19 (NIV) for Meditation while Listening…

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

A Music Video for Counting Life’s Blessings

March 10, 2015 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

This post was designed for taking a few minutes to pause, watch, and listen…to count life’s blessings. Take a deep breath and soak in the Rivers of Light music video filmed in the north Georgia mountains. You can reflect on the verses underneath if you like.

The first verse, which is lyrical, meaning the piano is actually singing these words, is from Isaiah 65:24: “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” When a friend introduced this verse to me, I was blown away. God knows the prayers in my heart before I even call to Him. And He hears my prayers before I am finished speaking to Him. Wow. Take a moment to pause and open your heart to Him, to speak with Him, to listen for His answer.

The second verse is the overall theme for this song, and encourages me to count life’s blessings. “Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light.” (James 1:17) This was captured in the Unveiled CD liner notes: “Desirable and beneficial gifts from heaven are painted in this song as rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light.” Take a moment to pause and give thanks to God.

What life blessing does this post help you recall?

Finding Hope in Tears of Lament

March 4, 2015 By Stanton Lanier 4 Comments

Click above to listen to the love song Tears of Lament from the album The Voice. If you enjoy, consider ordering the CD or MP3 Album, or Sheet Music (the song is also on iTunes, Amazon , Spotify, Pandora, and more).

How do you deal with tears of grief or sorrow?

I looked up lament in the dictionary and found three primary definitions:

a passionate expression of grief or sorrow
a song, piece of music, or poem expressing sorrow
an expression of regret or disappointment; a complaint

Tears of Lament is a piece of music using a piano-cello duet to express sorrow, with glimpses of hope. After listening while reading the words below, take time to close your eyes and just listen to the music…

Pine trees through rain drops on windshield

It seems like I have had more tears of joy, as well as more tears of sorrow, the more I seek to draw near to God and live by faith. The emotions expressed in the Psalms are pure and real. My tears of joy flow from a deepening sense of gratitude for God’s grace, forgiveness, and blessings. These are awesome. My tears of grief or sorrow — tears of lament — have extended beyond my personal circumstances to stream when I learn of the suffering of others where there is no justice or explanation for their pain.

Here are the liner notes for Tears of Lament from the album The Voice in 2005:
For some time I have anticipated musically exploring the times of sadness and mourning that life brings . . . these moments are often hard to understand. I always think about how much greater the suffering and pain is for so many people in the world versus my own. As I looked back on these experiences in my life this music met me in those places, and played a small part in the healing process of finding hope for the future. “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy . . . my eyes overflow with tears. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.” (Psalm 126:5; Lamentations 1:16, 3:22-23; Psalm 116:8)

Now, as you listen, close your eyes. If tears of joy or sorrow flow, let them be cleansing, hoping in the Lord’s great love and compassion. If you don’t have tears right now…

Who can you pray for who does have tears? How can you love them toward hope?