New Easy Sheet Music Arrangement from Mary Katherine May

Away in a Manger
The Good Shepherd

arranged by Mary Katherine May
of Quality Music and Books

Find the FREE Sheet Music to Download at TheRoosterSings.com

The Passion of Gethsemane 'Tis Midnight and On Olive's Brow Sung by Don ...

The Passion of Gethsemane

'Tis Midnight and on Olive's Brow

sung by Mr. Don Nelson

arr. Mary Katherine May

of QualityMusicandBooks.com

EASTER The RISING SON The Power that Raised Jesus from the Dead!

The RISING SON
Easter Arrangement by Mary Katherine May
of QualityMusicandBooks.com

When He Cometh by Cushing and Root arranged by Mary Katherine May

When He Cometh
Hymn Arrangement by Mary Katherine May
of Quality Music and Books

I was inspired to compose this arrangement of When He Cometh during a potluck supper and hymn sing we hosted at our home on July 4, 2010, when Carol Nelson, wife of Pastor Bud Nelson (Community Missionary), requested it be sung as it reminded her of the hymns sung when she was a child.

There are many hymns designated over the years as children's hymns, when they are also a blessing and inspiration, teaching God's Word, to adults as well. I think it important to remember that in God's eyes we are all children. I recall from my time as a music director in churches how enthusiastically Jesus Loves Me was always sung, yet it is rarely used during worship services.

This arrangement is scored for the following instruments.

Soprano Recorder
Alto
Flute
Triangle
Bells
Piano
Cello
Handbells

O Little Town of Bethlehem Vocal Solo an American Christmas Carol by Phillips Brooks arr Mary Katherine May

O Little Town of Bethlehem
by Phillips Brooks (text) & Lewis Redner (tune)

arranged for Vocal Solo and Piano
by Mary Katherine May
of Quality Music and Books

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.

Star of the East by Amanda Kennedy and We Three Kings arranged for vocal and obbligato and piano by Mary Katherine May

The STAR
Star of the East
We Three Kings

arranged by Mary Katherine May
of Quality Music and Books

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.

LENT HOLY WEEK Man of Sorrows 'NEATH THE CROSS OF JESUS arranged by Mary Katherine May

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.