Stanton Lanier / Sky Whisper Sound, LLC

Scripture inspired piano to refresh your spirit

Open Spaces

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What is your favorite “open space?” Is it the beach or the mountains? Is it an open field or a walk in the woods? “Open space” moments we cherish are often temporary and fleeting. I don’t think it has to be this way. Read on to see what I mean…

Open Spaces, Yosemite National Park

I visited Yosemite National Park for the first time this past spring and was blown away. I learned photographer Ansel Adams first visited Yosemite at age nine. He was so taken by it, he returned every year for the rest of his life, and began photographing it from every possible angle and season. His black and white photos of Yosemite are legendary. I shot the image above from the famous tunnel view, where you are first greeted by the valley. Breathtaking.

Maybe the Yosemite vistas had put “open spaces” into my mind, but I was unaware. A few months later, I started composing a melody and was looking at Psalm 119, where The Message says, “Be generous with me and I’ll live a full life…invigorate me on the pilgrim way…And I’ll stride freely through wide open spaces as I look for your truth and your wisdom…” The music came quickly and became Open Spaces, a new song I hope to release in early 2013.

I don’t think life’s “vista” or “open space” moments have to be short lived. By faith, when God meets me where I am, in spite of my brokenness, fears, and worries, he longs to invigorate me. He wants me to experience striding freely through wide open spaces. Spiritually speaking He offers me the opportunity of daily “open space” moments if I am attuned to the wonder and beauty around me, if I notice the kindness of others toward me, if I seek to love and serve.

So, what is your favorite “open space?” How can the essence of those special “open space” moments ring true in your daily living?

An Evening of Hope

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When I wrote my first song at age 14, and composed my first instrumental melody at age 35, I didn’t know what it would mean. In both cases, and every time in between, I was just led to create, to compose. I wasn’t thinking about who would hear it, or what would happen. Creating gives me hope. Are you creating just because something inside or from above is inspiring you? Does this give you hope?

Over the past ten years, people have shared amazing stories from around the world about my music bringing peace, rest, hope, or healing to their life or health circumstances. I have learned I cannot control what will result from my actions. My small part in a much grander story is to be faithful to my calling and purpose. One day, one step at a time.

When Music to Light the World was founded in early 2004, these were a few things I didn’t know…

  • A co-worker’s daughter would die of leukemia that December
  • I would write a song for her called “Peace,” which would become a listener favorite around the world (inspired by her life and John 14:27)
  • Music to Light the World would begin donating CDs to families who had lost a child to cancer in 2005
  • We would begin calling this program Get Music Give Hope in 2009 (every CD purchase helps one CD be given to a patient or family)
  • One of the daughter’s nurses from 2004 would become Program Director for Beads of Courage, serving 30,000 children and families facing cancer or severe illnesses in the U.S. and overseas
  • In 2012 we would have a goal to donate 30,000 CDs, so every one of these families could be offered hope and healing.

On October 11th, Music to Light the World will host our 2nd annual fundraising dinner and concert, called An Evening of Hope 2012. Whether you are near or far from Atlanta, Georgia, I hope this story has inspired you, and you will consider playing a part in this unique event. If you would like to learn more about how you or someone you know can attend or make a tax-deductible donation to this effort, please visit https://www.stantonlanier.com/10-11-12.php

Are you following those nudges to use your creative gifts? Are you finding hope in the process?

Evening of Hope 2012

 

Ancient Paths – My First MP3 Single

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“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16, about 600 B.C.).

Today – a new MP3 single release. Two months ago – no idea a song would be created that expressed this ancient verse. Here is it how it happened and what it means to me…             ~ photo credits to my gifted friend Craig Corbin – www.craigcorbinphotography.com

In May a couple who has supported Music to Light the World for many years, made it possible for me to replace a 12-year old keyboard (my first 3 of 7 albums were created and recorded on this). I ordered a new Yamaha synthesizer and it arrived about a week later. In the first hour of playing around with the incredible piano sounds and endless mixing combinations, a new song was born (coming later). In the second hour, another new song was born that became Ancient Paths. The melody came quickly, and some surrounding variations surfaced during a few more short sessions at the keyboard. I knew it was complete in early July and was hoping to release my first MP3 single.

Today it happened. Here are a few thoughts on what it means to me…

  • Using our creative gifts feeds our heart, which then overflows in service to others
  • Things happen little by little, one step, one day at at a time; have patience; be thankful
  • “Stand at the crossroads and look” What decision are you facing today? The melody opens with a pattern of plodding through life, step by step, looking for the path.
  • “Ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is” The melody sweetens as the good way is revealed with a sense of striding in it. What have you learned from history, from ancient paths, others who have gone before you? King Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:11 that God planted eternity in the human heart. Have you thought of eternity as a “good way” before? What a mystery that we are “wired” to seek eternal life.
  • “and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” The musical combinations have an overriding hope to receive peace and rest. Walking through life, looking, plodding, finding the good way, smiling, striding, glowing.

Augustine wrote around 400 A.D. “God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.” What are you restless about in your life right now? How can you ask where the good way is, and walk in it? This really tests my faith at times. “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8). I love this promise. I need rest for my soul today. How about you?

Thanks for “listening” to some of the depth behind a piano melody that married to its title, Ancient Paths. I would love to hear from you with thoughts on this new piece of music, as well as the questions above. The MP3 is available at stantonlanier.com, and worldwide on iTunes, Amazon and all other digital outlets. Grace and peace until next time…

How the Song Bread of Angels Happened

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The heart of this longer than average post is “Where do you most need provision in your life today?” Whether you are musical, creative, or moved by this question, I hope this inspires your life and spiritual journey… Below are brief highlights from the six months (December 2010 through May 2011) it took Bread of Angels to go from an idea to a recorded song. It became a favorite from the album A Thousand Years, is heard on Sirius-XM Spa, Music Choice Soundscapes, and is a Top 3 iTunes song download from all my albums. It’s a story of amazing provision…

Bread of Angels is on the album A Thousand Years

December, 2010 – At home in Atlanta. A new melody begins with inspiration from Psalm 78. It’s sounding like a good one. No title as of yet. January 6, 2011 – At home in Atlanta. I have been meditating on the psalmist’s words “…he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven. Men ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat.” (Psalm 78:24-25). This reminds me to look back on 2010 with remembrance and gratitude…for provision, blessings, memories and even the struggles. In the first week of 2011 I have been coming to terms with surrendering the New Year. For me, this means deeper trust, child-like anticipation, sometimes running, sometimes walking, sometimes waiting, and replacing self-sufficiency with dependence on God. February-March, 2011 – Atlanta. Lots of piano practice, new composing, and making changes to compositions that I expect to be on the new album A Thousand Years. There is a sense that Bread of Angels will be something very special with Noah Wilding’s vocals. March 18, 2011 – Atlanta. It’s been a busy week with Music to Light the World and family activities. I recorded several demos for the new album A Thousand Years, including new originals Always in Blossom (Psalm 1) and Bread of Angels (Psalm 78:25), as well as original work blended with unique arrangements of Amazing Grace, The Doxology (a piece titled For a Lifetime Blessings Flow), Pachelbel’s Canon in D, and Bach’s Air on G String. Some Oswald Chambers thoughts that really spoke to me this week are, “Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. I must maintain an adventurous attitude toward God, despite any potential personal risk. The secret of walking by faith is showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead.” April 12, 2011 – Imaginary Road Studio Day 2. Started through the Psalms this morning before my first day in the studio. Finished recording three songs today: 1) Always in Blossom (Psalm 1 . . . you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month. Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom), 2) Across the Skies, featuring interpretations on Pachelbel’s Canon in D (Psalm 19 . . . God’s glory is on tour in the skies, His Word vaults across the skies), and 3) Bread of Angels (Psalm 78 . . . They ate the bread of the mighty angels; he sent them all the food they could eat). Tired and ready for rest. Grateful for life’s blessings and looking forward to tomorrow. April 14, 2011 – Imaginary Road Studio Day 4. Today stretched me out of my comfort zone, as producer Will Ackerman and engineer Corin Nelsen challenged and guided me. Two pieces I knew I wanted to record both required more composing in a search of music that would be unique. The first was Chopin’s Prelude in E Minor. This piece expresses the shedding of tears during life’s moments of sadness. It is set between original opening and closing phrases inspired by a passage in the book of Job to represent hope. The second was the hymn Amazing Grace, which is interwoven with an original melody called World of Wonders after Psalm 98:1. It took several hours to discover the final outcome. We finished the day recording the angelic vocal colors of Noah Wilding to accompany World of Wonders as well as Bread of Angels. April 15, 2011 – Imaginary Road Studio Day 5. It was a beautiful clear, cool, blue sky day in Vermont. Today was another new experience, stretching my composing to be more improvisational. This happened with two pieces recorded today…the title track A Thousand Years that interweaves original music inspired by Psalm 90:4 with Mozart’s famous Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star melody and the hymn It Is Well With My Soul, and a unique combination of J.S. Bach’s Air on G with the hymn Holy, Holy, Holy. We also listened back and were powerfully moved by the vocals that are being mixed with Amazing Grace / World of Wonders and Bread of Angels. April 20, 2011 – Imaginary Road Studio Day 9. The 9th and final day of this adventure was spent mixing tracks in the studio. The variety, beauty and emotion of this new music is rich and soothing. I am just beginning to be able to listen from a perspective that is outside the studio, where piano, vocals, English horn and guitar were all recorded. Here are the 12 tentative track names…Across the Skies, World Of Wonders, Vive La Joye, A Thousand Years, Hymn To Bach, Bread of Angels, For A Lifetime Blessings Flow, Always in Blossom, Be Still My Soul, Shedding Tears With Chopin, Prelude in C and Alleluias Dancing. Six of the greatest classical composers and seven famous hymns are represented in the arrangements, which interweave original composing throughout. Next week the CD mastering will be completed, then music samples can be put up on the website while CDs are being manufactured for the May 20th official release.

Contentment = Peace and Rest

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Half Dome View – Yosemite National Park

In the next few months my song Contentment from The Voice CD will be heard in 13,000 fitness clubs in 70 countries. It will be used for the cool down, deep breathing time at the end, following an intense one-hour workout with instructor and DVD.

This inspired me to write down a few steps to help turn us from discontentment toward contentment:

  • Think about things you don’t have OR focus on giving thanks for things you do have
  • Dream about goals that haven’t happened OR take one positive step to make progress
  • Worry about outcomes you can’t control OR surrender outcomes and serve others well
  • Be frustrated by what hasn’t gone your way OR remember when things turned out okay
  • Let fear and uncertainty cause inertia OR let faith and adventure move you forward
  • Measure where you have less than others OR count life’s blessings that are priceless

Contentment liner notes from The Voice CD: It is so easy for me to be discontent with my circumstances or to worry about the future, even though I know there is so much to be thankful for. I wrote this to slow down my mind from thinking anxious thoughts, and to focus on the things in life that are pure and lovely. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (1 Timothy 6:6, 6:7-8, Philippians 4:11)

How can you learn to be more content today? What areas can you turn from discontentment toward contentment?

Is Your Heart Set Free?

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July 4th, Independence Day, reminds us to give thanks for the freedom we enjoy in the United States. Fireworks shows across the country celebrated this freedom last night. In 2005 I composed Freedom, which is on The Voice CD. Following are the liner notes for this track, which share the inspiration behind the song…

Personal freedom has been a breakthrough experience in my life. For many years I thought I could achieve freedom through success and being in control. Then I discovered that the human spirit finds true freedom through serving others in love. Seeking to grow in a freedom that is centered on others has been an adventure filled with emotion and risk. This song almost became the title track because this truth has been so powerful for me. The notes represent running through life with a heart that is free, pausing to treasure this freedom, and discovering higher levels of giving oneself away. I trust that the music and texts that inspired it will help you experience a freedom that gives you hope . . . makes you come alive . . . sets your heart free . . . “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” (Psalm 119:32; Galatians 5:13; John 8:32)

Where does your heart need to be set free in your life today? How can you serve others today to experience freedom?

First melody May 2000

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I began playing the piano at age 6 and writing songs at age 14, but it wasn’t until I was 35 that I composed my first instrumental melody called “Grace and Truth” in May 2000. With musical influences ranging from Bach to Windham Hill to Billy Joel, and inspiration coming from ancient scriptures, I began creating melodies to help me (and eventually others) slow down and experience a sense of God’s peace and rest in a hurried world.

New Music

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I am always working on new music and had a breakthrough this past Wednesday morning with a new melody that I think will become something very special.  I was meditating on Psalm 19 and the words “in the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun” speaking to the wonder of the heavens and the skies.  This new original work blends in with a world renowned classical melody penned over 300 years ago.  It is very likely to show up on my 7th album which I hope to release in late spring 2011.