Comments on: Musings

By: Vicki H Stamps

Vicki H Stamps — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 18:06:09 +0000

Have you thought of doing anything commemorating the martyrdom of Joseph Smith?

I like to have my choir do something each June, but the pickings are slim. I can’t do “Praise to the Man” every year, and would like something more.

Thank you

By: Margo Watson

Margo Watson — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 21:24:04 +0000

I just wanted to praise and applaud you for your amazing talent. Your arrangements are exquisite and well prepared. The voice leading is great, especially for novice singers and I love that you include parts for other instruments. It adds so much.

The most important reason for my message is to THANK YOU for your generosity in allowing us to USE your beautiful music with the ward, young women and men, for programs and family gatherings without cost! For some of the humble churches, this is such a gift. I pray God rewards you mightily for sharing so willingly. I know it takes alot of time and effort to do what you do. Thanks are never enough. I wish I could serve you or bring dinner or gifts. All I can do is say how grateful I am, indebted and awed by your generosity and love of the Savoir and his children. Merry Christmas! Huge hugs, Margo Watson (singer, choir director, mom)

By: Linda Flynn

Linda Flynn — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 04:39:00 +0000

I accompanied someone singing your beautiful arrangement of Away in a Manger. It was so beautiful. I cried and so did many others. I have played so much of your music over the years. I am so grateful for you. I pray that the richest sweetest blessings are yours.

By: Sally DeFord

Sally DeFord — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 22:24:43 +0000

In reply to Jeanna Wearing. From the FAQ: You are welcome to use these songs, scores, recordings, accompaniments, and/or commentary/song descriptions/blog posts in any/all of the following, or anything like unto them: live broadcasts of Church services; Facebook live; YouTube videos; Zoom meetings; virtual concerts; Christmas cards; … hmmm… what am I missing? CDBaby will probably slap a copyright claim on it eventually since they publish my music. You can just ignore it.

By: Jeanna Wearing

Jeanna Wearing — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 19:44:21 +0000

Dear Ms. DeFord: I will try, one more time, to elicit a response from you. I am contacting you to seek permission to perform and stream your composition “When The Son of God Was Born” during this Church’s Lessons and Carols Service on Dec. 3, 2023. I am proud to work for a Music Director who insists on scrupulous adherence to the law as it pertain to copyrighted materials. The choir and professional orchestra of this church will perform your music, interspersed with Scriptural readings that narrate the Christmas Story. Inasmuch as many of the members of this Church are elderly and cannot attend the service, they eagerly await the streaming through our proprietary website ( www.fumc-cs.org) and would be very disappointed were we forced to turn off the stream during the performance of your music. Please, please answer me and I sincerely hope you will extend permission to us to live-stream your music. Of course, I will create a slide to be seen on the website, thanking you for your grace extended to us-with copyright information , etc…. Thank you. Jeanna Wearing

By: Kathleen Campbell

Kathleen Campbell — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 17:22:01 +0000

I would like to use If the Savior Stood Beside Me for two part choir with cello obligato. Do you have the cello part in the key of C? Or the choir/piano part in the key of A? Would that work?

I enjoy your music very much. Thank you for making it available to everyone.

By: THOMAS R BOUKNECHT

THOMAS R BOUKNECHT — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 18:00:54 +0000

Thank you so much for your continued generosity in sharing your gift with us. My pastor usually uses a lectionary to determine what the scripture and sermon will be. I am almost always able to find a song on your site that goes perfectly with it, as I just did with “Cast Your Burden on the Lord”

Bless you and yours.

By: Bruce Howard Anderson

Bruce Howard Anderson — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 16:17:15 +0000

Hey Sally, Wierd Alma here (of “Thou Art A Babe” fame). I was looking at music for duet Christmas pieces and found “A Holy Child Is Born” and liked that it had optional harmony. When I printed it I saw that it was Alto harmony and so I am trying to throw in some Tenor and Baritone lines for the last two sections. I am hoping it doesn’t end up a train wreck, but I have people who can help me there. I am not totally familiar with all your work, but I wonder if you took some of your existing music and reworked it for men’s voices it would be fun and perhaps give you a new insight into the music and the words.

I have some re-worked Primary song lyrics to share if you’re in the mood for some silliness. Drop me a line if you would like.

By: Sally DeFord

Sally DeFord — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 21:47:16 +0000

In reply to Gail Hamilton. Heh... I might if I had written it!

By: Gail Hamilton

Gail Hamilton — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 17:37:58 +0000

Thank you for your willingness to share your amazing talents with the world. I have had many music callings and have used many of your selections. Recently, as the Primary music leader we learned “I Will Walk With Jesus.” Absolutely love this piece of music and would love to have an arrangement for SATB choir. I am sure you get many many suggestions, but wondering if this is something you would consider.