Stanton Lanier

Scripture inspired piano to refresh your spirit

Breathing Wonder – New Song Story

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The new song Breathing Wonder just released today, June 1st. You can stream everywhere including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and all other music services, or listen below. I would love to hear how this speaks to you. As you listen, scroll down to read some of the story behind this piece…

 

If you have known me or my music for a while, seen me live in concert, or read other blog posts, you know that child-like faith and joy are a vital part of my story. These characteristics were present in life’s early years, but from my late teens into my thirties they were deeper down beneath the surface. I had good intentions about growing in my faith, being a good husband and father, having a successful career, and loving and leading others well. However, I took everything too seriously. These goals became more of a burden, which decreased my sense of child-like wonder, awe, and joy. By God’s grace, and through pursuing Jesus more, my life is being transformed, and I have experienced deeper peace and joy in my heart, life, and music as a result.

Breathing Wonder is filled with child-like faith, wonder, and joy. This composition is my first ever marimba concerto, featuring marimba as the lead instrument, supported by chamber strings and choir. I found the themes on the piano, but wanted to elevate the joy and rhythm. The marimba is like a child skipping through life. The main theme is in 7/8 time, which adds to the adventure. The secondary theme is 4/4 time and breathes more, with choir notes inspired by “they’ll take your breath away.” Some beautiful, wild azaleas became the artwork after their “singing” captured my attention on a spring nature walk.

My hope is for you and everyone who listens to be reminded of moments of joy and wonder from your childhood, and perhaps even a recent memory when you felt a sense of amazement at God’s creation or faithfulness in your life. For me, life is an adventure to live instead of a problem to solve. Adventures with Jesus leading the way are quite breathtaking, and filled with wonder. May His joy and wonder be an invitation and blessing to you today!

All together now—applause for God! Sing songs to the tune of his glory, set glory to the rhythms of his praise. Take a good look at God’s wonders—they’ll take your breath away. He converted sea to dry land; travelers crossed the river on foot. Now isn’t that cause for a song? — Psalm 66:1-2, and 5-6 (MSG)

Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot—come, let us rejoice in him. — Psalm 66:1-2, and 5-6 (NIV)

How does “Breathing Wonder” inspire you?

Circle of Quiet (Solo Piano)

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The new single Circle of Quiet (Solo Piano) just released April 13th and can be enjoyed across all music streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Pandora. The PDF Sheet Music is also available.

This solo piano piece has a simple message. I definitely need a “circle of quiet” in the midst of a busy, hurried, and noisy world, and I am thinking that having a few quiet moments in your life would be a blessing to you as well. Here are a few thoughts I was having as I composed the notes.

The song has four sections with varying lengths, all of which were created to help bring the listener some moments of peace and quiet. Section 1 (0:00 to 0:54) is the opening minute with a gentle introduction and opening verse melody that helps to still our minds and invite us into a “circle of quiet.” Section 2 (0:55 to 1:47) reveals the chorus, which desires to sing a gentle song and rhythm over our lives, helping us to slow down. A higher transition melody answers the chorus to bring us back to the verse melody. Section 3 (1:48 to 2:46) plays the intro verse melodies again, but in a different way, with two lower left hand chords arpeggiating and alternating, then repeating and leading us to anticipate the return of the main theme. Section 4 (2:37 to 4:40) features this chorus, followed by the transition melody being played even higher. Then the chorus repeats once more, taking us, as C.S. Lewis would say, “further up and further in” toward heaven, our true home, the ultimate “circle of quiet” (and source of peace, hope, joy, wonder, etc.). The high transition melody guides us toward a soft ending, which references elements of the notes we have heard along the way. Each section is divided by long rests of 2-3 seconds to help us experience the blessing and refreshment of a “circle of quiet,” which is God’s gift to us when we put our trust and hope in Him.

Psalm 94:12-13 — “How blessed the man you train, God, the woman you instruct in your Word, Providing a circle of quiet within the clamor of evil…”

How does “Circle of Quiet (Solo Piano)” speak to you?

All Around and Deep Within

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The new single All Around and Deep Within released March 23rd and has already been enjoyed in fifty countries, with some of the top listener cities being in Brazil, Australia, Taiwan, Finland, and Spain. You can stream from your favorite music service including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Pandora.

The ethereal piano, harp, and symphony orchestra are rich with emotion, expressing the breadth and depth of God’s great love toward us (1 John 4:14-16). This is the overall idea, and down below are more insights into the meaning behind the music. 

There are two themes. At first I thought the opening Theme A was the verse, and Theme B was the chorus. However, during the creative process each section became a chorus of its own. Theme A is the “all around” and Theme B is the “deep within” of God’s love for us.

Theme A symbolizes the time period from eternity past all the way through the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. It begins all the way back in the dark void of the universe, before Creation. Musically God begins to paint His creative “brush strokes” across the universe. He ultimately breathes life into Adam and Eve, who live in the midst of His pure love and presence before they disobeyed and sinned against Him. The big, low bass strings are constant like the “all around” of God’s great love, which has existed all the way from eternity past. The melody on the harp and ethereal piano represent the simplicity and purity of God’s love, and the innocence of Adam and Eve receiving it. Theme A is expressing the “all around” breadth of God’s love surrounding Adam and Eve before the Fall, when their original sin separated them from God.

Theme B’s “deep within” takes us on a journey from the Fall to the end of the Old Testament. The melody is more complex to represent the complications Adam and Eve brought to their relationship with God and His simple love after they first sinned against Him. Their original sin was passed down to us as the Scripture says in Romans 3:23-24, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” There is beauty in Theme B, yet there is tension and complexity. God’s perfect holiness encounters our imperfect brokenness. This tension and complexity is a result of my sin and inconsistency in fully trusting God’s unchanging love, grace, and patience toward me. Ecclesiastes 7:29 says, “God made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated.”

There are three significant musical rests in the piece, with the first one happening after the opening Theme A and Theme B. This long pause symbolizes the four hundred years of God’s silence from the end of the Old Testament (book of Malachi) to the beginning of the New Testament (book of Matthew). Theme A returns with a bigger and more wonderful version of God’s pure love, adding instruments and melodies for the birth of Christ and His gift of salvation through the New Testament up until the book of Revelation. Theme B follows with its grander version, as we receive more of God’s saving and transforming grace during our lives. This carries us from the New Testament until today, with the “all around and deep within” of God’s love through the centuries.

The second rest represents the waiting time between Jesus ascending to heaven (Acts 1:9) and His second coming to take all who have believed and do believe with Him to heaven to be with Him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). In the final, shorter section, Theme A and Theme B interweave and overlap musically to signify our sanctification and unity with God through what Jesus has done for us. The third and final shorter rest happens just before the ending chord of the piece. This symbolizes our waiting for the new heaven and new earth to be fulfilled, and the final chord signifies all who are saved being in fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for eternity.

“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:14-16).

How does “All Around and Deep Within” speak to you?

Quiet Revelation New Song

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The new song Quiet Revelation releases worldwide Tuesday, July 28, 2020. You can listen below, and stream on all major services including Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Music, etc. Scroll down to see some inspirational thoughts…

This new song Quiet Revelation happened within a few days in late June 2020, and was completed much faster than usual. The idea I wanted to express was very clear in my mind, but how would the music take shape? I personally need to invest time regularly to slow down, quiet my mind, be still, and listen. When I compose music there is a sense of the melodies coming down from heaven. It feels like God already knows the tune, and He reveals it to me through quiet revelation. The song name and theme invite you to listen for some kind of quiet revelation you may need in your life and faith right now.

A chamber string orchestra plays beautiful chords and swells as the harmony foundation. The piano carries the melody, and is gradually joined by cello and later French horn as the chorus builds and repeats. A gentle choir and more symphony strings join the chamber orchestra to enrich the harmonies underneath, as verse and chorus melodies build emotionally. All of these musical textures symbolize the wonder and diversity of words God wants to say to us, and songs He wants to sing over us.

Relax, close your eyes, and invite your heart, soul, and mind to be blessed with Quiet Revelation. “I love your clear-cut revelation. You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me.” (Psalm 119:113-114, MSG)

How does “Quiet Revelation” speak to you?

Twenty Years of Composing – Grace and Truth

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It is hard to believe I composed my first instrumental melody twenty years ago (click above to listen with Spotify as you read). In May 2000 I had a new keyboard and basic studio set up. God inspired the idea to use a verse of Scripture as the basis for an instrumental song. The first melody was titled Grace and Truth from John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

This idea leading to my first instrumental has become more and more profound over the years. Below are a few thoughts about this song, and what it has meant to my life and faith journey. I hope these reflections inspire your story.

Grace and Truth is in the key of C, which made it easier to compose and play. It begins with delicate verse variations to represent how grace is gentle and tender. The chorus is big and bold with low chords to express truth. This is followed by a new grace melody with higher notes flowing down. The truth chorus repeats again. Then the original grace melody returns and ends the song. It became the seventh track on my first album Walk in the Light.

This amazes me how grace comes before truth in this verse. As my desire to study Scripture grew in the 1990s, I didn’t realize my heart was filling with more truth than grace. In the 2000s God began to teach me to have more grace and forgiveness toward people. He was gradually helping me to see every person as He sees them, and to love them with His love, as He first loved us. In my life and faith story grace has been catching up with truth. Today both grace and truth are filling my heart more and more. For many years I lived life with more of an either or perspective, where either grace or truth was the lead story. In my case truth carried more weight than grace. This made me quietly more self righteous and judgmental with regard to others, even though I was just as unrighteous and sinful in God’s eyes. Only Jesus is filled with one hundred percent grace and truth, but He invites us to grow in receiving and sharing both with others through our lives.

The Lord has been so patient with me. His grace is an amazing gift (Ephesians 2:8). His truth is perfect, refreshing my soul (Psalm 19:7). My life and musical journey with grace and truth is woven into all one hundred forty songs I have composed and arranged over the past twenty years. I hope my music and story continue to be a blessing and encouragement to you!

How does the music and inspiration behind Grace and Truth speak to you?

Perfect Peace New Song

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Click below to hear the new song Perfect Peace with beautiful, peace-filled piano and cello (released April 28). Stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon Music, and more. For pianists you can also purchase the PDF Sheet Music.This Swiss Alps photo I took last year is the background for the song artwork. Please see underneath the image to read some inspirational notes…

During these historic and unprecedented weeks of the global coronavirus pandemic, I have been meditating on Isaiah 26:3 which says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (ESV). The Amplified Bible says, “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You–in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]. Meditate on these words as you listen. It is a powerful combination to take in the Scripture inspired piano and Isaiah 26:3 together.

If you are interested in more of the “behind the scenes” story for this song…it took a couple of weeks for God to reveal. The piano begins by slowly singing the notes for “Perfect Peace” two times (each word is two syllables, musically). Then the notes sing “You keep him in perfect peace.” This phrase becomes the verse portion, which appears several times throughout the song. The chorus portion starts with rhythmic notes, and was inspired by the words “whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” The chorus answers the verse as a response to the perfect and constant peace God promises us when we fully trust and take refuge in Him. It was a beautiful blessing from God to finish this song a few days before we remember Jesus’s life and death, and celebrate His resurrection. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is our ultimate Perfect Peace, who saves us from our sin, and gives the gifts of resurrection and eternal life to all who believe.

How does the music and theme of Perfect Peace sing over your life today?

How Thanksgiving Leads to December Peace

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Click above to listen to Thanksgiving with piano and English horn as you read. If you enjoy, listen to this and more music from Best Holiday Album Winner December Peace (ZMR Awards), the just released 2019 Christmas album December Peace II, and check out the 31 Days of December Peace devotional softcover book or e-Book.

How can Thanksgiving lead to December Peace?

My good friend and mentor Ken Boa consistently encourages me to practice two disciplines: Gratitude and Remembrance. As I prepare my heart and attitude for the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., I was reminded of two verses that have transformed my life and faith journey. Here is how I believe these can prepare you and me for December Peace, and even can lead us there…

2015 Dec Peace CollageAs you are listening to Thanksgiving, reflect on these words: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Recorded in Philippians 4, verses 6 and 7 point me toward giving thanks. They focus my heart and mind on gratitude. This prompts me to remember God’s blessings. Then I begin to think about particular times when God has been faithful to provide for me, to see me through a difficult time. For example, when our house was robbed, when there were emergency room visits to the hospital, when I was having fears and doubts about the future, etc. By practicing the thanksgiving in verse 6, this leads to the peace promised in verse 7, which will guard my heart and mind.

I composed the song Thanksgiving from these verses, because I am often tempted to be anxious about everything, not just anything. The music expresses child-like faith, and skipping through life with joy. I wrote the Advent and Christmas season devotional 31 Days of December Peace, to offer real life stories filled with hope and inspiration (from my life and the lives of special friends). Each leads to peace and rest, to gratitude and remembrance, to experiencing “December Peace.” Wishing you and your loved ones a holiday season filled with thanksgiving, peace and joy!

As you prepare for Thanksgiving, and for December, ask yourself these questions:

  • Who are some people you are grateful for?
  • What are some things you are grateful for?
  • What difficult times has God helped you through?
  • When did something amazing and good happen that encouraged you?

SO LOVED Track #12 – Spread Your Wings

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Click above to listen to track #12 Spread Your Wings from the new album So Loved as you read. You can enjoy the CD, MP3 Album, Piano Book and Sheet Music on the So Loved Album Page. You can stream the music on Spotify, iTunes-Apple Music, Amazon MP3, Pandora, and more.

How do the words “spread your wings” inspire your life journey right now?

For much of my life the words “spread your wings” were all about me. As a teenager and younger man I wanted to “spread my wings” — achieve success, have financial security, see the world, live a life of adventure on my own terms, etc. Eventually at age thirty I reached a point of surrender. Instead of “striving to achieve” I slowly began a new journey of “abiding to receive” God’s blessings of life purpose and provision. Little did I know, many years later I would compose an instrumental song titled Spread Your Wings, inspired by the story of Ruth. I hope the melody and these thoughts inspire your life journey today…

As I was creating the album So Loved from selected Bible characters and their stories, Ruth and Boaz were top contenders. The more I read the story and searched for a title (found in the book of Ruth, chapters 2 and 3), the phrase “spread your wings” stood out. Don’t we all aspire to live a “spread your wings” kind of life? And yet, as it was for me at first, doesn’t this make us think of spreading “our” wings to enjoy the freedom and independence this seems to offer? When Ruth said to Boaz, “Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer,” this is a picture for us of how God redeems us by His grace. Boaz was the son of Rahab the prostitute (her story inspired track #10 Scarlet Threads). Boaz and Ruth were great grandparents to Jesus by twenty-eight generations. Through Jesus God spreads His wings over us, covering all of our sins, and completely forgiving us. He offers us the “peace that surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7), and the opportunity to know and trust Jesus as our Savior and Friend. Wow. This is the kind of “spread your wings” life I want to live!

P.S. The opening 1:10 of the song expresses our longing for redemption, and the beauty of receiving God’s gift of salvation through Christ. Then the piano slowly “sings” the phrase “spread your wings over me” four times, followed by “spread your wings, spread your wings, spread your wings, over me” three times. After another verse section variation, beginning at 2:44 the chorus builds even larger all the way to the ending, repeating the above phrases over and over. This allows God to sing His Word over us as we surrender to and trust in His covering. Within the track the words “spread your wings” are played thirty-five times by the piano.

P.S.S. The bird in the photo is an African Darter, which I took in July 2015. Through my music and ministry Music to Light the World, my family and I were invited by Family Legacy to serve orphans in Lusaka, Zambia. We were able to visit Chobe National Park to see amazing wild life along the Chobe River in Botswana.

How can you go deeper in trusting God to spread His wings over you?

SPREAD YOUR WINGS | RUTH
Ruth 2 and 3. “Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” God protects us under His wings when we fully surrender to and trust in Him.

SO LOVED Track #11 – If You Say So

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Click above to listen to track #11 If You Say So from the new album So Loved as you read. You can enjoy the CD, MP3 Album, Piano Book and Sheet Music on the So Loved Album Page. You can stream the music on Spotify, iTunes-Apple Music, Amazon MP3, Pandora, and more.

What “deep water” is God calling you to?

If You Say So is a tribute to Peter’s bold faith. We can relate to his story because, like us, he was longing for spiritual hope and beauty, and yet he was broken and imperfect. His devotion to Jesus led him to proclaim, “Even if everyone else falls to pieces on account of you, I won’t.” And yet, three times he denies ever knowing Jesus. As I composed this song it became a conversation between the piano and cello, with French horn underneath. Here are the two phrases the notes are singing, which we can apply to our life and faith…

If You Say So I will. If you listen for them, you may hear how the piano and cello are singing these words throughout the song. The song opens with “But if you say so, I will” repeated four times. Peter and his co-workers had been fishing hard all night, and had caught nothing. Following this, Jesus told him to push out into deep water and let his nets down for a catch. They caught a huge haul of fish strained the nets to capacity. This story inspires me to ask God two questions: “Do You have something you want to let me know? Is there any deep water you are calling me to?” If we lean in by faith to ask, listen closely, and obey, we can experience God’s faithfulness and fruit in our lives beyond our capacity to comprehend or imagine.

Do You Love Me? The piano and cello notes begin singing this phrase in the middle of the song, and more and more to the very end, where these words shaped the final four notes. After His resurrection Jesus asks Peter this question three times (remember Peter denied knowing Jesus three times before the crucifixion). In our lives, we know Jesus loves us because He says this, and promises this to us, so many times in Scripture. The entire album and title track So Loved are a testimony to His great love for us (John 3:16). The question “Do You Love Me?” has become even more powerful for me. Even though I am (and we are) broken, sinful, and imperfect, Jesus loves us first. He invites us to love Him in response with grateful hearts. When we experience His love and grace more fully in our lives and stories, it overflows from us to people we encounter in God’s “deep water” moments.

How do the music and words offer you hope and beauty today?

IF YOU SAY SO | PETER
Luke 5, John 21. Peter’s bold words “but if you say so I will” and Jesus’ words “Do you love me?” inspire us to know God’s patient tenderness toward us.

PUSH OUT INTO DEEP WATER (LUKE 5:4-11, MSG)
When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, “Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch.” Simon said, “Master, we’ve been fishing hard all night and haven’t caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I will let out the nets.” It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch. Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. “Master, leave. I’m a sinner and can’t handle this holiness. Leave me to myself.” When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. It was the same with James and John, Zebedee’s sons, coworkers with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “There is nothing to fear. From now on you’ll be fishing for men and women.” They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him.

DO YOU LOVE ME? (JOHN 21:15-19)
(This happens following Jesus’ resurrection, right after Peter has a second miraculous catch of fish). After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Master, you know I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me? ” “Yes, Master, you know I love you.” Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.” Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me? ” Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep…”

SO LOVED Track #10 – Scarlet Threads

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Click above to listen to track #10 Scarlet Threads from the new album So Loved as you read. You can enjoy the CD, MP3 Album, Piano Book and Sheet Music on the So Loved Album Page. You can stream the music on Spotify, iTunes-Apple Music, Amazon MP3, Pandora, and more.

Where in your life could you use a ray of hope?

The idea behind Scarlet Threads, inspired by Rahab’s story, was to musically express the tension in our lives between darkness and light. We all are seeking light and hope, yet we don’t always walk in the light, or find a sense of hope. How can Rahab the prostitute offer us a ray of hope? Here are some insights for reflection as you listen to this piece…

The Set Up: Joshua chapters 2 and 6 tell the story of Rahab the prostitute, who showed hospitality to two Israelite spies, and hid them from the king of Jericho. When Jericho fell, she and all her family were the only ones spared because she had helped God’s people. The spies had instructed her to tie a cord of scarlet thread in the window so they could identify her house and rescue her family. Rahab’s name is found in Matthew 1:5 in the Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah (his great, great grandmother by 29 generations). She is also included in the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith” (verse 31) among many great characters of the Bible who exemplified faithfulness and obedience to God. Theologians view the scarlet thread as a symbol of Jesus’ blood shed on the cross for our sin.

The Application: The solo piano sections of Scarlet Threads (there are three) represent God’s grace and forgiveness toward Rahab and each of us. The beauty in the piano melody is a symbol of God singing a beautiful song over Rahab, and over our life as well. God saved Rahab and knew she would be an ancestor to the Messiah, and His salvation is available to us by faith in Jesus. The rhythmic, darker sections of the song represent the sin and scandal in Rahab’s life, as well times in our lives when we wander from God’s ways. Even with our brokenness, God has forever redeemed and saved us when we put our faith and trust in Him. He sees in us and sings over us more beauty, light and hope than we can imagine. Can you hear His song just for you? Will you join me in embracing His promise in John 1:5? The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

What part of the music or words above give you a ray of hope today?

SCARLET THREADS | RAHAB
Joshua 2. “tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window.” God redeems our sins like he saved this prostitute, Jesus’ great grandmother 29 generations earlier.