Solos

The Rosslyn Fire     $6.00

Solo voice with piano/guitar accompaniments

Choice of male (Dm) or female (Am) keys, please specify when ordering

Long before receiving international recognition when it served as the location for the finale of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, Rosslyn Chapel was recognized as one of the finest examples of carved stone in the world.  Rosslyn was founded as a Catholic church in the mid-fifteenth century by William Sinclair (St. Clair), grandson of Henry Sinclair I, the first Earl of Orkney. A curious legend began that when a descendant of the Prince of Orkney dies Rosslyn Chapel appears as if on fire.  This phenomenon was described with lyrical detail in Sir Walter Scott’s epic poem The Lay of the Last Minstrel.

In 1745 (known in Scottish history as simply “The ‘45”) the Scottish Highland Jacobite clans banded together behind Prince Charles Edward Stuart in an attempt to restore his father, deposed King James II, to the English throne.   “Bonnie Prince Charlie,” as he was known, won some key battles but the uprising came to a bloody conclusion on April 16, 1746 at Culloden Moor where the English wiped out The Jacobites. The Sinclairs, led by James Sinclair of Rosslyn, perhaps sensing the inevitable, allied with the English.  

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He's My Son     $1.99

Solo voice with piano/guitar accompaniment  

Written for solo male voice, transpositions available upon request. Please indicate key when ordering

This original song was inspired by the Gospel story in which a 12 year old Jesus accompanies Mary and Joseph to Jerusalem for a required census. At some point on the return trip Joseph notices that Jesus is not among the traveling throng. Panicked, he returns to Jerusalem, only to find Jesus in the Temple, preaching to the elders. When he admonishes Jesus for causing him to worry Jesus replies "Did you not know that I would be in my father's house?"  This story got me thinking about what it might have been like being Joseph, a kind of stepfather to Jesus. He must have experienced all the things a father goes through, caring for an infant, mentoring an adolescent, and finally, sending him on his way, hoping he's doing well. The Bible tells us little about these types of things regarding Joseph, and eventually, Joseph disappears from the narrative without any explanation. I also wondered what it must be like being a modern day man who is not the biological father of a boy that he has cared for since birth, and the true meaning of the terms "father" and "son." 

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Lord, Thank You For This Day     $6.00

Solo voice with piano/guitar accompaniment

Easy

This joyful song is appropriate for solo or congregational singing. Please indicate Piano or Guitar Lead Sheet (or both) when ordering. As always, you may make as many copies as you need.

Piano         Guitar/Piano Lead Sheet

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Footprints     $4.99

Piano solo

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Lost In Your Eyes     $4.99

Piano solo

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Crying Out Loud $6.00

Piano Solo

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We Can Live Together     $6.00

Solo voice with piano/guitar accompaniment

Easy

In 2008 the Serra Men's Chorus was invited to perform at World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. Held every three years at different locations around the world, WYD was conceived by Pope John Paul II to be a spiritual gathering of Catholic youth and it certainly was that for the over 400,000 "Pilgrims" who attended WYDSYD 2008. I was inspired by the universal spirit of camaraderie and joy amongst the youth, who, literally, hailed from all corners of our diverse world, and this song was the result. With Australia tending to be a bit indifferent regarding religion (as opposed to, say, The Philippines, where WYD Manila 1995 drew an estimated 5 million people for the closing Papal Mass) the festival also had an undercurrent of tension as anti-Catholic factions were visible at times. Also, victims of clergy abuse rightfully made sure their voices were  heard.  Following our performance the night before the closing Papal Mass the majority of the 400K pilgrims camped out together on a converted race track singing songs and reveling in being together despite their cultural differences, then rose together the next morning for the Papal Mass; news of the festival made National and world-wide headlines. Each of these images are alluded to in the song.

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