Stanton Lanier

Scripture inspired piano to refresh your spirit

Sky Whisper – Treasures of Peace II

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The new song Sky Whisper (track 17) and album Treasures of Peace II are available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, and all other music platforms, or you can click below. As you listen, scroll down for the inspiration behind this new song and album.

 

Sky Whisper is the name of my studio which I created in 2016. “Sky” is another word for “God” and “Whisper” is another word for “Voice,” so for me the studio means “God’s Voice.” In my composing and creating I want to surrender every note and song, to glorify God and refresh the souls of people (this is what Johann Sebastian Bach believed the aim and final end of all music should be, to glorify God and refresh the soul). Treasures of Peace II is my second listener favorites collection, featuring seventeen pieces of music created from 2015 (Breathe) to the beginning of 2022 (Sky Whisper). The track selections include favorites from albums Climb to the Sky (2016) and So Loved (2018), as well as many singles released in 2020 and 2021, featuring both piano and orchestral works.

Musically, Sky Whisper is filled with melodies and meaning. The introduction and ending symbolize God’s ever presence, from eternity past to eternity future, with cinematic piano and powerful orchestra string swells. There is tension in learning how to hear God’s voice and and practicing this. The rhythmic cello and high piano represent life’s walk, the search, and the longing for God’s voice. A slower chorus follows representing how we begin to experience God and His voice, and we realize there is more for Him to reveal to us if we continue our pursuit. The music returns to the rhythmic walk but now it is deeper and richer, with more happening musically as God’s voice becomes more familiar. The chorus follows with its melody and the opening melody overlayed, more complex musically, yet more simple and intimate as we grow in hearing and knowing God’s voice. Then we are introduced to a third musical section (we can refer to these sections as theme A rhythmic verse, theme B chorus, and theme C bridge or second chorus). Theme C expresses a deeper knowing and longing, what C.S. Lewis refers to as “further up and further in” as we taste more of heaven on earth, along with the sweetness and beauty of intimacy with God.
 
The song then returns to the familiar early melodies, in a way remembering our past and need for growth in Christ, with new beautiful melodies woven in, symbolizing how God is with us always, even when we don’t feel His presence. The ending revisits the opening. God has been God from eternity past until now, and He will be for all eternity in the future. The rhythmic cello ends hopefully walking with God (in a major key) to the end. This hopeful ending is a shift from earlier in the song, when there is more tension, searching, and a haunting beauty from a combination of minor and major keys and scales. In the beginning, earlier in our life’s walk we are longing for something more and, as was the case for me, I didn’t know that hearing God’s voice was what I needed most. In my story I was thirty years old before I fully surrendered and ask God to speak to me. The sooner and more deeply we surrender, the more God has to reveal to us in our life and faith journey.
 
How does Sky Whisper speak into your story?
 
“With one breath he clears the sky, with one finger he crushes the sea serpent. And this is only the beginning, a mere whisper of his rule. Whatever would we do if he really raised his voice!” — Job 26:13-14 (MSG)
 
“A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.” — 1 Kings 19:12 (MSG)
 

Hearing The Voice

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Click above to listen to The Voice, the title track from the album The Voice (recorded at the George Lucas Skywalker Sound Studio). If you enjoy, consider purchasing the song, album download, or CD from Amazon, iTunes, or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available).

Do you long, like me, to hear God’s voice more clearly in a noisy world?

I have discovered this is possible, but it takes some patience and practice to experience hearing God’s voice more often, and with more clarity. The disciplines of simplicity, silence, solitude and surrender play an integral part. However, the key is to take the first step. Here is some of my story and what I have learned.

2005 The Voice

By the time I was in high school I had become a worrier and perfectionist, and was overly conscious of what others thought of me. The voice I often heard in my mind was my own, criticizing my performance and pouring on more pressure to succeed. God was part of my life, but it took a long time before I deeply explored the possibility of hearing His voice. Could He actually guide my steps in life? Could He provide the wisdom, discernment and comfort that I needed? Could I really hear His voice?

The more I have pursued this, the more I have encountered profound conversations and intimacy with a God who cares for me beyond my comprehension. Tell God you would like to hear His voice more clearly. Ask Him to speak into your life, to instruct you and teach you in the way you should go, to give you counsel, and to watch over you (Psalm 32:8). Thank Him for His promise to surround you with His love as you trust in Him (Psalm 32:10). Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).

Try playing the solo piano title track from The Voice in an extra quiet place . . . be still . . . and listen. Listen. Be quiet. Listen. Be still. Listen.

Can you hear The Voice? What is God’s gentle whisper, His still, small voice speaking to your heart?

“. . . the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still, small voice . . . Elijah heard the voice. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.'” (1 Kings 19:11-13; Isaiah 30:21)