Mark's Mormon Music Blog

  • About…
  • Intro & List of Articles
    • Where are the new hymns?
    • Bringing the Power of the Spirit
    • Vocal Ranges in Hymns – a statistical analysis
    • Hymnbook Statistical Analysis 2 – Time
    • Appropriate Sacrament Meeting Music, Part I
    • My first live General Conference
    • A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief
    • My Stake Conference Choir 1 – Did You Think to Pray?
    • My Stake Conference Choir 2 – More Holiness Give Me
    • On Commercializing Music
    • Orson Scott Card Hymns: Forword 1
    • Orson Scott Card Hymns: Forword 2
    • Orson Scott Card Hymns: Forword 3
    • Orson Scott Card Hymns: Forword 4

Where are the new hymns?

Author: Mark

Where are the new hymns?

October 9, 2017 by Mark 3 Comments

Here’s a topic I’ve been contemplating a long time. There are two well-known talks on this subject, both from the mid 70's, one by Elder Packer and the other by [Read more...]

Posted in: Culture, General

Hymnbook Statistical Analysis 2 – Time

January 12, 2017 by Mark 16 Comments

In discussing the hymns, time is more subjective than pitch, since it depends on how fast (or slow) the organist is playing. (Notice I didn't say how fast the [Read more...]

Posted in: Compositional Issues, General

Appropriate Sacrament Meeting Music, Part I

August 22, 2016 by Mark 1 Comment

  I’ve thought quite a lot about this topic over the years. As with many musicians, playing in church was among my first experiences in public [Read more...]

Posted in: Culture, General

On Commercializing Music

January 13, 2016 by Mark 5 Comments

About six years ago my current website went live.  My goal was to allow people access to my music and perhaps promote some commercial activity.  For years I had [Read more...]

Posted in: Culture

My first live General Conference

October 5, 2015 by Mark 3 Comments

I just had a unique experience: after a lifetime as a Mormon, after many wonderful experiences of blessing others and being blessed, after an unexpected but [Read more...]

Posted in: Testimony and Hymns

Orson Scott Card Hymns: Forword 4

October 4, 2015 by Mark 1 Comment

Originality in hymn writing One basic goal I strive towards: the hymn must be special.  After all is said and done, after all the technical restrictions that [Read more...]

Posted in: Compositional Issues

Orson Scott Card Hymns: Forword 3

September 21, 2015 by Mark Leave a Comment

Technical considerations in hymn composition  II: Melody A note about my hymn melodies: I like them to have motivic unity, meaning small melodic fragments [Read more...]

Posted in: Compositional Issues

Orson Scott Card Hymns: Forword 2

September 16, 2015 by Mark 3 Comments

Technical considerations in hymn composition  I: Working with the Text Now to some of my thoughts on hymn writing for the composer.  It should be obvious [Read more...]

Posted in: Compositional Issues

Orson Scott Card Hymns: Forword 1

September 5, 2015 by Mark Leave a Comment

from the Forword to Hymns of Light Introduction: The Power and purpose of hymns Music is a mystery. Let me begin with a personal anecdote.  I recall [Read more...]

Posted in: Compositional Issues

My Stake Conference Choir 2 – More Holiness Give Me

July 10, 2015 by Mark Leave a Comment

Philip Paul Bliss was born in Pennsylvania the same year as Joseph F. Smith (1838). He worked as a school teacher and music teacher for many years until he [Read more...]

Posted in: Compositional Issues, History and stories
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