Hot Off the Presses!!

I'm pleased to announce the release of a new piano collection to which I have contributed four arrangements, "The Big Black and White Book of Advanced Piano Solos, Volume II" (now that's a mouthful!) published by Word Music.

Here are 18 arrangements by a variety of arrangers. I can't speak for the other arrangers, but I have NO DOUBT these are the HARDEST piano arrangements I'VE ever had published. If you like flash, pizzazz, and bravura in your piano playing, this is YOUR book! In addition to hymns there are also some seasonal songs (e.g. O Holy Night, Battle Hymn of the Republic) so you'll want to keep this book handy year-round.

I've played 3 of my 4 arrangements in the book in concert or worship services to date and they have been very well-received. I did my best to pay homage to some of my favorite classical composers in here: Liszt, Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin. These are not classical pieces with a hymn thrown in for good measure. These are hymn tunes arranged (at least for my contributions) in the style of a classical composer. (Think: "What would Liszt play for the offertory??")

The hymns I arranged were: Amazing Grace (very rhapsodic and Lisztian), Eternal Father, Strong to Save (Theme and Variations: pseudo Mozart/early Beethoven), O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus (Chopin or Brahms-like) and Christ the Lord Is Risen Today (ok, I used more of a pop feel for this one!).

I'll try to post an mp3 soon of me playing one or two so you can get a better feel for them. But if you are a pianist looking for a challenge, for that WOW offertory, or a contest or festival piece for your advanced piano students, trust me you'll find something you can use in here!

Let me know what you think when you get the chance! (Please note: I'm not selling these from this site, but they should be available at any Christian bookstore or retail music store.)

I was personally challenged and excited to work on these and I think this may be the first time I ever considered how to make my piano arrangements MORE demanding technically. (Usually I'm trying to simplify something.)

Happy 2008!

I'd just like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy 2008! (I would say "Happy New Year," but it's already January 18th.) I have been trying to set and prioritize some musical goals this year, and I'm hoping it will be a productive year from that standpoint for me.

I'll have some new product announcements coming soon and I also hope to get back to doing a better job keeping this website "fresher." That's one of those new year's resolutions I seem to make annually, so we'll just have to see how it goes!

I hope this is a year filled with God's blessing upon you, and I wish you peace and joy in 2008.