Music by Marci

Founded in Faith SSA

2011-04-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

Click here to view the manuscript in PDF.

Our ward Relief Society was preparing for the birthday celebration that occurs in March. I spoke with the counselor in the presidency over the activity and offered to help with the music. When it was finally decided what kind of music would be appropriate, there wasn't much time to find or prepare the right music. So I pulled out a piece from several years ago and changed just a few words in the chorus and wrote a third verse. It fit well with the theme of the evening. A few weeks after the program, I went through and arranged the choir version for SSA. You can listen to the midi recording from the post below as not much has changed.

Come to the House of the Lord

2011-03-22T19:31:00.000-07:00

Click here view the manuscript in PDF.

The ideas for this started over a year ago. But until things were a bit more stable in my life, I couldn't focus on music really at all. Originally this was going to be a spirited hymn but it turned to a primary song very quickly. There are very few songs teaching children to prepare for the temple. "I Love to See the Temple" is wonderful but I just wanted more.

It's an amazing and humbling experience to hear my children sing a song I wrote as they go about their day. They continue to remind me that it's not about me. If I can teach them through music, then I'm succeeding to some degree, as an instrument in God's hands. It's His work, not mine. I've had the internal battle a lot lately about sharing my music. If it can bring the Spirit to others, I want to share it. But if it is to promote myself, I have to step back. It's a fine line and I want to stay on the right side. I hope this song fills you with the Spirit and reminds you that it's not about any of us. It's about Him and how we get back to Him.

The video is only the first verse but the second is much the same. Enjoy!

Gather Again

2009-12-15T10:19:00.000-08:00

Click here to view the manuscript in PDF.

This piece is for all those who may feel that Christmas will never be the same without that special person in their life.

I waited to post this music today. It marks 10 years from the day that my Grandpa died. My grandpa was always a part of our lives, living within just a few miles of us as we grew up. He was raised in humble circumstances and grew to be a strength to those he knew. He was faithful, obedient, kind, loved to play with his grandchildren and told the silliest stories and jokes. When he became ill, I was in my second year of college. We knew his life would be short and as finals approached, his condition became much worse. I had just finished my last final of the day with one more to go in the week. Our apartment was full of friends when I got a phone call from my brother. My grandpa's at-home nurse had informed the family that morning that day would be his last and the family should be gathered.

My dear "little" brothers sacrificed their final hours with him to come and get me. We made it back within the last 30 minutes of his life on this earth. What a blessing it was to be there as he took his final breath. The Spirit filled the room and there was so much peace. I realized then that the miracle of death is just as amazing, if not more, than than the miracle of birth.
Shortly after the funeral, I wanted to express my thoughts somehow. It was a special time for my family but how do you capture that? I spent the next several days confined to my room, at my keyboard and later at the computer. This song is the result. Most of my music comes with at least a good portion of labor, mulling, reworking and polishing. But this one just came and was finished in time for Christmas. It gives me a better understanding of Nephi's words when he says "And now, if I do err, even did they err of old; not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but because of the weakness which is in me, according to the flesh, I would excuse myself." The errors in this music are because of my mortal imperfections. Everything else is strictly from God. It brings me peace and I hope this somehow brings you peace as well.

So this (long) tribute is to my grandfather. Is is a good man. Then, now and always.

Angels Sing

2009-11-27T14:43:00.000-08:00

updated 12/15/2009
Click here to view the manuscript in PDF

Having a small child around Christmas time brings different emotions. Last year I had a lot of thoughts about how Mary was such a chosen woman and how she must have had great help from heaven every day to raise the Son of God. As I sat in church and listened to a marvelous performance of Guard Him Joseph by Sally DeFord, I began putting thoughts together for a poem. I knew I wanted to put music to it some day and it has finally evolved to this. Of course, there is an oboe written with the piano accompaniment, but could really be used for any C instrument (I think violin and flute would be especially nice). Nothing fancy, just my way of beginning the season. (I know all of the kinks are not quite ironed out, so if you have suggestions, they are more than welcome!)

Called In Our Youth

2009-09-21T19:49:00.000-07:00

Click here to view the manuscript in PDF.

My memory is terrible! I'm not exactly sure, but I think I wrote this for a New Era Contest just before I became too old to be eligible (sometime in my first year or two and Snow College). No luck on winning but it was still fun to write and test all my new-found theory skills. Sorry about the cheesy picture on the audio.

Founded In Faith

2009-09-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

Click here here to view the manuscript in PDF.

I had never really considered writing for a choir until I moved to Logan and attended Utah State University. After my first year of school there, I heard about a song writing contest for the LDS Institute's theme for the next year. I thought I'd give it a try. This was NOT the piece I wrote that year but rather the next year. (The first one was not very good, but hopefully will evolve into something better in the future.) I did not win but I felt like this was a decent choir number, so here it is. I have also made it into hymn form.

Remember

2009-09-14T20:51:00.000-07:00

Click here here to view the manuscript in PDF.

This was the first piece of music I ever put into Finale. I had been attempting to write songs for many years but it was far from professional-looking, let alone legible at times. When I was a senior in high school, my parents gave me Finale, a music publishing software and I was finally able to make something at least look nice.
I had the privilege to serve on our high school seminary council. Every year there was a theme. That was nothing new. But I wanted to put a new song to the power of the theme, thus Remember was created. Nothing fancy, just my first real attempt and music lyrics together.
There is no sound recording to this one because I can't get the file to convert. Sorry.

Lullaby

2009-09-14T20:40:00.000-07:00

Click here to view manuscript in PDF.

When I was in college, I knew that marriage would come sooner or later (it was somewhere in the middle!). I wanted to write something for my parents, especially my dad. The melody was the theme for many theory projects throughout my schooling and finally made its way into completion just before my wedding. Thanks, Dad, for always believing in me and being the inspiration for this song. This one's for you.