Songwriting is the act of baring one's soul to another in the form of words and music.
Each year, the Church of Jesus Christ studies a book of scripture during Sunday school class each week and are encouraged to study the lessons at home with their families as well. During 2023 we studied the New Testament. This year, 2024, we are studying the Book of Mormon; which members of this church believe to be another testament of Jesus Christ.
What Child is This, is the hymn I chose for the New Testament lesson “Good Tidings of Great Joy” studying Christmas! “What Child is This” was written in 1865 with the text by William Chatterton Dix and set to the tune of “Greensleeves”, which is a traditional English Folk Song. The context of the carol centers around the Adoration of the Shepherds who visit during the Nativity of Jesus. The questions posed in the lyrics reflect what the shepherds were possibly pondering to themselves when they encountered Jesus, with the rest of the carol providing a response to their questions. This arrangement is a vocal duet with piano and violin. I have three lovely ladies who recorded this arrangement with me, Emily Clark on the Violin, Audrey Nelson on the piano and Tiffany Tolman singing vocals with me. We had a lot of fun with this song!
Jesus, Once of Humble Birth , is the suggested song for the New Testament lesson “Glory, and Power, Be unto … the Lamb for Ever” studying Revelation 1–5. Kevin Forbush worked with me again on this song and it was great working with him. We wanted to keep the song sacred and reverent since this is a hymn that is usually sung right before the most sacred part of an LDS church meeting, the sacrament. With his guitar parts and harmony it turned out to sound somewhat like a lullaby, while still honoring the juxtaposition between the extreme suffering Jesus Christ endured with the glorious triumph over death and hell that is now his and really all of ours.
Where Love Is, is the suggested song for the New Testament lesson God is Love studying the books 1st–3rd John; Jude. This is a vocal arrangement of a song from the Children’s Songbook and was also published back in August 2022, for a lesson on “A soft answer turneth away wrath” studying Proverbs.
Have I Done Any Good?, is the suggested song for the New Testament lesson “Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only” studying the book of James. This song was a really fun one to do! Kevin Forbush is our guest guitar player and vocalist for this vocal duet arrangement that we did together. He is an amazing guitar player, songwriter and singer. When we moved to our new area here in Layton, (he lives a few houses down the street) we discovered that he was my Aunt’s brother (my aunt by marriage) and had also been neighbors with my husband’s uncle. Just so many connections! ha ha. He and his family all love music and it was really great to be able to do this song with him. The sheet music for this arrangement can be found here: http://marileekaymusic.com/sheet-music/
I Need Thee Every Hour, is the suggested song for the New Testament lesson Jesus Christ, “the Author of Eternal Salvation” studying Hebrews 1–6. This is the second time I am posting this song. The first time was August 2022 for the Old Testament lesson in the middle section of Psalms. It was one of my earlier arrangements in this series. It is such a beautiful and personal hymn.
Paul is a great example to me of someone who continuously rejoiced in the Lord. There have been times in my life when thinking of the grace of Jesus Christ, his atonement and resurrection and the ability for us to be forgiven through repentance and to be saved…has been the only thing that has given me hope and peace! I am forever grateful for the mercy of God and his Son.
Hope of Israel, is the suggested song for the New Testament lesson “For the Perfecting of the Saints” studying the book of Ephesians. The Merrill family are the guest singers for this song. Carrie Merrill is my sister-in-law, my husband’s sister, and she has a beautiful family who all sings! As I was looking at the upcoming suggested songs, I knew this one would be perfect to arrange with them. “Hope of Israel” is my first choral arrangement in this series and the sheet music can be found here: http://marileekaymusic.com/sheet-music/
He Is Risen, is the suggested song for the New Testament lesson “God Is Not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace” studying 1 Corinthians 14–16. This hymn is such a vibrant and joyful creation; and it is most often sung at Easter time. The sheet music for this specific piano arrangement can be found here http://marileekaymusic.com/sheet-music/.
I Know That My Redeemer Lives is the hymn I chose to do this week. The suggested song for the New Testament lesson “A Minister and a Witness” was actually “My Redeemer Lives” which has a similar title, but different lyrics and music. I decided to use a previously recorded version (done for the book of Job in the Old Testament) since I felt it still fit very well with the message of the lesson in Acts chapters 22-28.