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Stanton Lanier

Scripture inspired piano to refresh your spirit

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I Saw Three Ships

November 15, 2022 By Stanton Lanier 8 Comments

Created with JOY for your holiday season, today is release day for my unique arrangement of I Saw Three Ships. You can stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, YouTube, and all platforms, or click below to listen as you read about this song.

https://www.stantonlanier.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/I-Saw-Three-Ships-Stanton-Lanier-c2022-MTLTW.mp3

 

The 17th century melody I Saw Three Ships is a familiar favorite each holiday season as we give thanks and prepare our hearts for Christmas. This piece came close, but did not make it onto my two Christmas albums December Peace (2009) and December Peace II (2019), even though these projects feature many popular hymns and carols. Christmas 2022 became the time for me to take on the challenge of composing and creating a one-of-a-kind arrangement of I Saw Three Ships. My heart’s desire was to express the Peace, Hope, and Joy we find in Christmas and Jesus our Savior. I hope you enjoy listening and reading the musical inspiration and song lyrics below.

I wanted to create a surprise with the introduction, something unexpected. Perhaps this is symbolic of the King and Creator of the universe being born in a manger. The opening minute features peaceful sonic undertones and alto choir representing God’s presence, with violins and cellos playing beautiful expressions within the key signature scale. The choir swells and brings us to the first playing of the familiar eight measure tune, written over three hundred years ago. The first pass is slow, followed by a second pass with medium tempo. Both are in 4/4 time which is not the traditional time signature. This opening prepares us for the expected meter, which can be in 3/4 or 6/8 time. I chose 6/8 to enhance the musical dance so to speak, and we hear this twice with increasing joy from the piano, strings, and choir. To help us pause and reflect, this is followed by a restful section with original piano, strings, clarinet, and French horn. Then the familiar tune returns and repeats with several joy filled combinations of instruments, before slowing down and returning to the introductory slow tempo, which helps us to reflect on the peace and hope we have in Christ at Christmas time, and for eternity.

Thank you for listening and reading, and I hope this piece “speaks” into your life and faith story! Grace and Peace, Stanton

I SAW THREE SHIPS (17th Century)

I saw three ships come sailing in On Christmas day, on Christmas day; I saw three ships come sailing in On Christmas day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three, On Christmas day, on Christmas day? And what was in those ships all three, On Christmas day in the morning?

Our Saviour Christ and his lady, On Christmas day, on Christmas day; Our Saviour Christ and his lady, On Christmas day in the morning.

Pray whither sailed those ships all three, On Christmas day, on Christmas day? Pray whither sailed those ships all three, On Christmas day in the morning?

O they sailed into Bethlehem, On Christmas day, on Christmas day; O they sailed into Bethlehem, On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring, On Christmas day, on Christmas day; And all the bells on earth shall ring, On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing, On Christmas day, on Christmas day; And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing, On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the Souls on Earth shall sing, On Christmas day, on Christmas day; And all the Souls on Earth shall sing, On Christmas day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice amain, On Christmas day, on Christmas day; Then let us all rejoice amain, On Christmas day in the morning.

 

Filed Under: Inspiration, Music Stories, Spiritual Journey Tagged With: Cello, choir, Christmas, Christmas choir, Christmas orchestra, Christmas Piano, holiday season, i saw three ships, on Christmas day, piano, violin

Day 4 for “31 Days of December Peace” ~ Lord, Make Us Thankful

December 4, 2017 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Click above to listen to Thanksgiving as you read, from December Peace (Best Holiday Album, ZMR Awards). If you enjoy, consider sampling and ordering the CD, MP3 Album or sheet music. You can also listen on Spotify, Pandora Holiday Channel, Apple Music and all other digital streaming services.

This story is from 31 Days of December Peace (soft cover or PDF eBook). Also available from Amazon Kindle, iTunes, and other e-Readers.

Where could you use some “December Peace” today?

Lord, Make Us Thankful ~ by Stanton Lanier (Copyright 2012, not to be re-published without permission)

Frank Stanton Bondurant was his name. My mom called him “Daddy,” but to his grandsons he was known as “Daddy B.” He was born in 1905 and died in 2002, just shy of his 97th birthday. As I reflect on his influence in my life, I am amazed at how many lasting impressions he made. He was quite a storyteller.

Stanton-Daddy B Piano-Violin

Daddy B was an only child. His parents both died before their 42nd birthday, so he didn’t think he would live past that age. They both played piano, but he was a gifted violinist. He played high school football when there were no face masks, just a thin leather helmet. He broke both eyebrow bones and both collar bones. He loved to play games and tell jokes. If you said, “Please pass the cereal,” he would throw you the box! He introduced me to fig preserves and Mama B’s blackberry cobbler. He threw baseball with me for hours when I was a Little League pitcher, teaching me how to grip the threads to throw a curve ball, drop ball, fast ball and slider. He played his violin with me when I was playing piano in middle and high school (that’s us in the photo when I was thirteen). When I learned to drive he always reminded me that if an animal ever ran in front of me that I should “go through it,” and not swerve to miss it. He had wrecked his car one time avoiding a dog. His advice probably saved my family’s life when I hit a deer in June 2002 driving sixty miles per hour. I went through it. Incredibly, we were on the way to Daddy B.’s funeral when this happened.

“Lord, make us thankful for these and all our blessings. Pardon our sins for Christ’s sake. Amen.” This was Daddy B’s prayer before every meal whenever we saw him. These are only a few of my memories of this beloved man of character, passion and faith. I loved Daddy B. I will always remember the blessing he was in my life.

Who is your Daddy B? Can you be a “Daddy B” for someone?

Filed Under: Life Stories, Spiritual Journey Tagged With: 31 Days of December Peace, Christmas Piano, December Peace, Grandfather Blessing, Grandfather Memories, grandfathers, Peaceful Piano, Thanksgiving

31 Days of December Peace: Day 4 ~ Lord, Make Us Thankful

December 4, 2014 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

https://www.stantonlanier.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/08-Thanksgiving-StantonLanierc2009.mp3

Click above to listen to the Thanksgiving piano-English horn duet as you read. This track version is from 2009 Best Holiday Album December Peace (ZMR Awards, winning over Enya and Yo-Yo Ma). If you enjoy, please consider sampling and ordering the CD, MP3 Album or sheet music. You can also listen and download on iTunes and all other digital outlets.

This story is from 31 Days of December Peace (soft cover or eBook). Also available from Amazon Kindle, iTunes, and other e-Readers.

Where could you use some “December Peace” today?

Lord, Make Us Thankful ~ by Stanton Lanier (Copyright 2012, not to be re-published without permission)

Frank Stanton Bondurant was his name. My mom called him “Daddy,” but to his grandsons he was known as “Daddy B.” He was born in 1905 and died in 2002, just shy of his 97th birthday. As I reflect on his influence in my life, I am amazed at how many lasting impressions he made. He was quite a storyteller.

Stanton-Daddy B Piano-Violin

Daddy B was an only child. His parents both died before their 42nd birthday, so he didn’t think he would live past that age. They both played piano, but he was a gifted violinist. He played high school football when there were no face masks, just a thin leather helmet. He broke both eyebrow bones and both collar bones. He loved to play games and tell jokes. If you said, “Please pass the cereal,” he would throw you the box! He introduced me to fig preserves and Mama B’s blackberry cobbler. He threw baseball with me for hours when I was a Little League pitcher, teaching me how to grip the threads to throw a curve ball, drop ball, fast ball and slider. He played his violin with me when I was playing piano in middle and high school (that’s us in the photo when I was thirteen). When I learned to drive he always reminded me that if an animal ever ran in front of me that I should “go through it,” and not swerve to miss it. He had wrecked his car one time avoiding a dog. His advice probably saved my family’s life when I hit a deer in June 2002 driving sixty miles per hour. I went through it. Incredibly, we were on the way to Daddy B.’s funeral when this happened.

“Lord, make us thankful for these and all our blessings. Pardon our sins for Christ’s sake. Amen.” This was Daddy B’s prayer before every meal whenever we saw him. These are only a few of my memories of this beloved man of character, passion and faith. I loved Daddy B. I will always remember the blessing he was in my life.

Who is your Daddy B? Can you be a “Daddy B” for someone?

Filed Under: Life Stories, Spiritual Journey Tagged With: 31 Days of December Peace, Christmas Piano, December Peace, Grandfather Blessing, Grandfather Memories, grandfathers, Peaceful Piano, Thanksgiving

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