Hymn Music Creation

“For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads” (D&C 25:11–12).

 

Personal Wins!

 

First, in the beginning of 2022 (on the perfect date of 2/22/22!), I, Diana (DaNannah), did verily begin a blog! 

What a beautiful, perfect, windy, Mastery & peace day for starting my blog, Nannah's News and Notes!

 

 

Second,

Yesterday, I completed my creation of "Joseph Smith's First Vision: In Humility."

In keeping with one of my new themes, inspired by a mentor, getting it done joyfully was more important to me than getting it perfect. After all, it sat long enough after several revisions since I started it and set it down again back in September 2013.

Yes, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you are not, I certainly hope that doesn't put you off. Music that praises God isn't only found in the religion I choose to practice. I inherited my grandmother's, red, Methodist Hymnal from 1966. It is just as precious to me as the hymns I sing from my green, 1985 Hymns and the blue 1948/1979, Hymns: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

 

 

 

Ever since I took a Logan Institute of Religion course taught by Brother Huff in the 1990s, I have been fascinated by swapping hymn text and music. Once upon a time, the hymns in most hymnals, including ours, were known by their words (text) and music was known by its sound or tune name. The song leader would decide which music to sing with the chosen text. She or he would hum or sing the first line of text or state the tune name, and congregants would join in singing the text to that tune. Different song leaders preferred different music with the text. Hymns tended to be sung over and over again to certain tunes. As they became closely associated with one another, and musical staffs became printable, text and music became bound together in more modern hymnals.

Today, I express gratitude to and for the following:

1) The pioneers of hymnals and hymn music -- Your work paved a beautiful way! Thank you!

2) My grandmother's and parents' legacy of hymn singing in church and at home -- It seeped into my soul. Thank you!

3) My elementary, middle, and high school band and vocal music teachers and my piano teacher -- Thank you for teaching me to read music!

Still today, I can read music generally well and understand some theory. The "generally well" and "some" are not your fault. I blame that on the fault of my dyslexic or dyscalculic tendencies, and something else I seem unable to pinpoint.

It is difficult to watch lines blur and frustrating to have to use my finger or increase the print size for them to settle in their places on the page or screen. It is also a mite embarrassing to have to vocally call out, "Every good boy does fine," "FACE," "All cows eat grass," and "Great big dogs fight animals" to know what the lines and spaces are named. However, I have the knowledge you imparted in me to do it!

Besides, I choose not to dwell on faults and difficulties. In fact, my ADHD (I have it; it doesn’t have me!) actually helps me to focus – blessing! Perseverance Rules! I CAN compose music that satisfies me and that I enjoy.

I thank each and every one of you for that knowledge and your patience.

4) MuseScore -- Thank you for providing a FREE version of the MuseScore program (https://musescore.org/en)!

I'm also grateful for the online Handbook (and the old version I downloaded in 2013). I relied heavily on the Handbook for help to create different voices and to export the pdf and mp3 versions of my composition. I'm excited to purchase and delve into the music lessons later this year. So, thank you, thank you, thank you!

5) Indexes for meters and for scriptures in the green and red hymnals -- Thank you to all the contributors and compilers!

These indexes make it fun and easy to find text and tunes that either match perfectly or can be adjusted to match with little tweaks. They provide so much fodder for my creative genius to munch upon! 

 

 I appreciate the scripture references to study the doctrine behind the texts. 

 Actually, I've used scriptural doctrine to adjust the words to "The Glorious Gospel Light Has Shown," which our choir sang on Sunday. But, that's another post! 

6) God -- I thank Thee for being good and praiseworthy!

These character traits and more have inspired so much beautiful, soul-shifting music! I look forward to arranging more praises and gratitude to Thee!

 

Here are links to "Joseph Smith's First Prayer, In Humility." You may use these materials free for non-commercial purposes. 

PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bsP84NLk2rLVXX8ZpsrP2HDwqWLoC80N/view?usp=sharing

MP3: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UGfV3MbjClWK5QHnEF4YQeQLDqzVgkfD/view?usp=sharing

 

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