“They kept it up to the very end. Only the engulfing ocean had power to drown them into silence. The band was playing ‘Nearer, My God, to Thee.’ I could hear it distinctly. The end was very close.” -CHARLOTTE COLLYER, TITANIC SURVIVOR We have all heard the stories of how the Titanic orchestra played until Read More
Category: Uncategorized
Christ Arose
Friday we discussed “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”. The good news is Jesus didn’t stay dead. On Easter Sunday one of the most common hymns you hear in a service is “Christ Arose.” The hymn was written by Robert Lowry, a pastor and musician. Lowry served churches in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Read More
Here Comes Peter Cottontail
As a child I learned to sing, Here Comes Peter Cottontail. So who is Peter Cottontail? Thornton W. Burgess wrote a series of books using the name Peter Cottontail. In 1957 Pricilla and Otto Friedrich wrote The Easter Bunny That Overslept. In 1971 an Easter television special was made based off of this Read More
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
For Good Friday, I thought we would take a look at a song about Jesus death. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross was inspired by Galatians 6:14: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Isaac Read More
Easter Parade
With Easter closely approaching, I thought we’d take a look at some Easter songs. The song, Easter Parade, was introduced in the 1933 musical, As Thousands Cheer. In the musical, this song was sung by Marilyn Miller and Clifton Webb. Irving Berlin wrote the song for the musical, As Thousands Cheer. The melody was written Read More
Greatly Loved Disney Composers
I recently heard about the death of Robert Sherman and wondered who he was. He and his brother, Richard, composed some of the best-loved Disney songs of the day. Robert Bernard Sherman was born December 19, 1925. His brother, Richard Morton Sherman was born June 12, 1928. Their father, Al, was a well known Tin Read More
What is Tin Pan Alley?
Have you heard the term Tin Pan Alley but had no idea what it was? The term Tin Pan Alley refers to the songwriters and publishers of the late 19th and early 20th Century. These men were all based in New York City and were originally located at West 28th Street between Fifth and Sixth Read More
Happy Birthday, Mr. Bach
Today is Johann Sebastian Bach’s birthday. He was born on March 21, 1685 making this the 327th anniversary of his birth. As a trained pianist, Bach was one of the first composers I played and to this day I still love playing some of his Inventions and other works. J. S. Bach was born into Read More
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling: Is It Really An Irish Song?
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! When I go to the nursing homes to do music this time of year the most requested song is When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. I was suprised to learn that it was not a song from the country of Ireland. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling is a tribute to Ireland. The Read More
From a Wretch to Best Loved Hymn: the story behind Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace is one of the best known and loved hymns of our day. When it was first written it started off as a poem to illustrate a sermon on New Years Day 1773. The poem was written by John Newton and is considered to be his spiritual autobiography in verse. John Newton was born Read More