Doran Music Studio

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Moving Up with Focus on Big Projects:

Back in 2003 I got the idea I could compose a setting of each psalm that would be useful in the life of a pianist with intermediate skills. It would highlight the emotional mix in the prayers. There are many who have been drawn to this challenging quest. I am still moving up this compositional mountain. I have not been derailed yet, although the progress is slow.

I know not everyone is speedy to the top of the mountain, think of Tolkien. In reading through The Hobbit with my children I got the impression they were not certain if the quest to regain an ancient home was even a good thing. After all, it is more comfortable and respectable to not be going off on adventures. You need to pause a minute to reflect on if this is an evil dragon or a “misunderstood” dragon like some in more recent media. But; MUSIC enchants Bilbo to feel the love of beautiful things and the dwarves still have the memory of all the harm the dragon caused and the lack of appreciation he has for the treasure he is sleeping on so a partnership is formed and off to the fictional mountains they go.

I finally polished off this psalm setting begun in 2017 with the help of Caroline Brenchley, my daughters and various members of the NorthShore Fellowship family as they helped me grieve the loss of my mother-in-law Marie Doran. Her life was a legacy of providing comfort and security to her children and I am glad I got to capture a snapshot of the grace she showed me in her sufferings within Psalm Six. She enjoyed home but she enjoyed her children much more to her final breath wanted to make sure everything was okay for them.

https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/psalm-six-for-voice-and-piano-digital-sheet-music/21905904

So as you progress on your musical journey this week I hope you will enjoy one project at a time and be convinced of its goodness and beauty. Imagine what will make your audience feel the love of adventure and beautiful things and enjoy the companionship that your music creates. Your playing and singing is beautiful to God; he created you for it and someone is going to ask you why you keep at it-they might even be willing to join you!