Mary Katherine May composes and arranges inspirational Christian music for vocal solos, piano, organ and ensembles, for The House United, a cable TV show she and her Rick May husband produce.
My arrangement of O Little Town of Bethlehem was composed with my friend, Donald Nelson, a tenor, in mind as the one to sing this solo. And thus, it is dedicated to him. It is a bit unusual to use a 12/8 meter in arranging the Christmas hymn, yet the arpeggiated chords support the melody quite well.
For demonstration purposes I used oboe for the vocal part, and yet the piece also works nicely as a C-instrument solo.
I invite you to read the article I wrote about Phillips Brooks on another of my blogs, Hymn and Commentary.
Scored for ... soprano solo with flute and oboe obbigato or vocal duet with flute obbligato and piano
The Epiphany song, Star of the East, has long been a favorite of mine, and with the first year of producing our television program, The House United, and our first Christmas show, it seemed a good time to write an arrangement using this piece by Amanda Kennedy.
When we taped the music, the soprano solo was sung by Jan Brown of Holy Nativity Lutheran Church in New Hope, MN, and flute played by Wendy Grimes of the same church. I sang the lower vocal and played the piano.
Man of Sorrows or 'Neath the Cross of Jesus an Ukrainian Orthodox hymn for Lent arranged for piano solo
by Mary Katherine May of Quality Music and Books
'Neath the Cross of Jesus is the song of Mary, Mother of Jesus, standing at the foot of the cross, watching her son die. The words are a mother's words, filled with agony as she struggles to watch from afar... I have heard others say that she was not saddened by this event, and that Jesus went to the cross joyfully ...I don't believe that is humanly possible, and both Jesus and His mother were human, and had the love of mother and son.
O Son, my loved one, tell for what transgression, you must suffer through this hour of opression, son of mine!
For the hymn arrangement with two stanzas written by Right Rev. Stephen Halleck, I have written additional stanzas to be used individually or together, to fill out the Holy Week events, making it suitable for a rendering of the Passion story or any worship service during Holy Week.
Working with the photographic images of art created by masters of the past, viewing the suffering of Jesus Christ, arranging the music ... it was difficult. The agony becomes palpable, and one cannot divorce one's self from the emotion of the moment.
I suggest following this piece with the singing of Christ, We Do All Adore Thee from the Seven Last Words by Theodore DuBois, preferably by SATB a cappella choir.
For use as a C-instrument solo, vocal solo, with our without descants. Melody line and descants include text. This is suitable for congregational or group song, or as an ensemble piece. The piano does not double the part.
This song has been a true blessing for me. I call it praying with my fingers.
The quilt art with draped cross and butterflies was designed and created by myself-Mary Katherine May, and the background photograph is one I took of the lily-of-the-valley patch in our front yard. The violet thread embroidered cross was made by our daughter-in-law, Brandy Lea May. The stained glass doved was made by my husband, Richard May, the photograph taken with it hung in front of one of the windows in our foyer.
This composition is one of my personal favorites, particulary for one verse in a stanza ... She's landed all who've gone before, and yet she's able to still land more. I think it FANTAZABABULOUS that God always has room for all who will come!
This duet's level of playing ability is advanced/difficult.
In this wonderful tune (ABERYSTWYTH) by Joseph Parry, I have always sensed an urgency that is also found in the text composed by Charles Wesley. My effort was to place that urgency into the scoring of this hymn for piano solo.
