-
Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd – String Ensemble
This hymn has gone through so many renditions over the years that you might think it is my favorite hymn. Perhaps it is. I have a soft spot in my heart for all of God’s children—my brothers and sisters—and an even softer one for those in my own family who have wandered. This piece has evolved through several versions. I believe it began as a piano solo, then became a vocal arrangement, followed by an SATB choral setting, and now a version for strings. The individual string parts are at the end of the arrangement.
-
Our Savior’s Love
The music for this arrangement was rearranged from a number I wrote for the Alpine Stake play, “Children of The Dream”, which was inspired by Marvin Payne. After twenty plus years, I revisited the song and discovered it would work with the lyrics to the hymn, “Our Savior’s Love”. With some modification, this arrangement of a favorite hymn was born. Our ward choir sang it in October 2017, and it was so beautiful. COVID has brought new inspiration and it now has a C-instrument duet. I’ve recorded it with flute and oboe, although strings work beautifully as well. You use what you have access to.
Music by Connie Stauffer