As years come and go, one increasingly recalls memories of earlier times. One of the most vivid and cherished memories I have while growing up is of Sunday mornings, going to church, sitting in the same pew each week with my grandmother, hearing and singing the beautiful hymns of our faith, and then returning home to the aroma of beef slowly roasting in the oven. My father directed the church choir, my mother and older brothers sang in the choir, so the wonderful music of our faith was instilled in me from an early age. This medley, and others in the series, are arrangements of many of my favorite hymns from those early years, many of which have been lost in more recent editions. A caveat: I have no delusions, and offer no pretenses, that these settings are great art. They are simply expressions of faith which I hope may bring a small measure of joy and comfort to other technically challenged yet serviceable pianists such as myself. The general concept of each medley is to present the hymn, often in its original chorale form, and then vary its harmony or texture. The hymns in this set include "He Leadeth Me", "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us", and "O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee".

Sounds like: Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi, Liz Story's "The Gift", George Winston's "December", early Windham Hill solo piano artists, and "A Winter's Solstice" compilations.


Transcribed by: David Shenton ( https://www.shentonmusic.com/ ) verbatim to the sound recording

Contents:
1. Bring A Torch (Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella)
2. Children Go Where I Send Thee / The Holly & The Ivy
3. Star Of Wonder (We Three Kings of Orient Are)
4. Silent (Silent Night, Holy Night)
5. Midnight (It Came Upon the Midnight Clear)
6. What Child Is This?
7. Greensleeves (homage to Liz Story)
8. Three Ships (I Saw Three Ships, Come Sailing In)
9. The Coventry Carol (Lully, Lulla, Lullay)
10. Sing We Now Of Christmas (No�l Nouvelet)
11. Carol Of The Bells

Album & Songbook review by: Kathy Parsons (MainlyPiano.com):

I have discovered a real wealth of great solo piano Christmas CDs this year! Isadar?s In Search For the Meaning of Christmas definitely falls into this category! Thoughtful, introspective, and a bit moody, Isadar?s arrangements are true to the carols (with some small melody changes in ?Bring a Torch? and ?Carol of the Bells? that bother me just a little) and still seem very personal. ?Bring a Torch?, ?The Holly and the Ivy?, and ?I Saw Three Ships? are given a lighthearted, joyful treatment. ?Star of Wonder (We Three Kings)?, ?What Child Is This??, ?The Coventry Carol?, and ?Sing We Now of Christmas? are all minor, somber, reverent pieces, and all four are given loving arrangements that keep the dark, mysterious nature of the songs and reflect Isadar?s own sensibilities. ?Carol of the Bells? and Isadar's take on Liz Story?s arrangement of ?Greensleeves? are energetic without losing all abandon. ?Silent Night? and ?It Came Upon a Midnight Clear? present us with a very cold, deep solitude - both feel like late night with moonlight reflecting off the snow. Both are moody, but very beautifully so. George Winston?s ?December? is one of my all-time favorite holiday albums, and I feel In Search For the Meaning of Christmas holds up exceptionally well next to it. This is an excellent collection of Christmas music, and I highly recommend it!

In Search For the Meaning of Christmas is the companion songbook to Isadar?s 1999 solo piano release by the same name. Meticulously transcribed note-for-note by David Shenton of New York Music Publishing, the music is faithful to the recording in every way (except for the pianist - YOU!). The scores are clear, concise, and easy to read, and also include chord indications for improvisation or the use of instruments other than or in addition to the piano. Isadar?s arrangements cover a whole range of emotions, from very dark and somber to joyful and buoyant. All of the pieces from the CD are here, including Isadar?s homage to Liz Story and her beautiful version of ?Greensleeves.? My personal favorites of the eleven songs in this book are the bright and cheerful ?Bring A Torch,? ?What Child Is This??, ?Greensleeves,? the darkly gorgeous ?The Coventry Carol,? and ?Sing We Now of Christmas.? Other titles that I really like are ?Children Go Where I Send Thee/The Holly and the Ivy,? ?Star of Wonder (We Three Kings)," ?Carol of the Bells,? and the effervescent ?Three Ships.? ?Silent? (Silent Night) and ?Midnight? (It Came Upon a Midnight Clear) are a bit too dark for my own holiday tastes, but are interesting and very personal arrangements. This book will make a great addition to your holiday sheet music collection and is available from isadar.com and amazon.com.

Isadar is an artist on both Enlightened Piano Radio & Whisperings Solo Piano Radio, the latter featuring some of today's biggest names in solo piano music, including Ludovico Einaudi, David Nevue, Brian Crain, Kevin Kern, Robin Spielberg, Michele McLaughlin, Philip Wesley and over 300 more...

Also available as sheet music in physical songbooks, digital downloads, as well as software for Yamaha Disklavier player-pianos.

For more information, visit his website at: http://www.isadar.com

A beautiful arrangement with plenty of movement across the piano. Flowing between hands with plenty of arpeggiated chords, the melody soars above the accompaniment throughout the piece.

My favorite moment in my arrangement is the stillness and calm that come at the end of this hymn. The words from the song come to mind here,

?Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to thee.?

May this piece bring you nearer to Him as well.and#65279;

Song List: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God Amazing Grace America, the Beautiful Ave Maria Away in a Manger Be Still, My Soul Be Thou My Vision Children of the Heavenly Father Christ the Lord Is Risen Today Come, Thou Almighty King Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Crown Him with Many Crowns Down to the River to Pray Every Time I Feel the Spirit Fairest Lord Jesus Faith of Our Fathers For All the Saints For the Beauty of the Earth Good King Wenceslas Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken Great Is Thy Faithfulness He's Got the Whole World in His Hands His Eye Is on the Sparrow How Great Thou Art I Am a Poor Wayfaring Stranger Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley Joy to the World! Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee Let All Things Now Living Let Us Break Bread Together Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ Lift High the Cross Lord of the Dance Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Morning Has Broken My Country, 'Tis of Thee My Jesus, I Love Thee Nearer, My God, to Thee O Little Town of Bethlehem O Perfect Love O Sacred Head, Now Wounded Peace Like a River Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Put Peace into Each Other's hands Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us Silent Night Softly and Tenderly Sweet Hour of Prayer Swing Low, Sweet Chariot The Gift of Love The Solid Rock To God Be the Glory We Gather Together Were You There We Shall Overcome We Three Kings What Child Is This What a Friend We Have in Jesus What Wondrous Love Is This When the Saints Go Marching In

Contains:
"Carol Of The Bells"
- taken from the Isadar solo piano collection, "In Search For The Meaning Of Christmas"

Sounds like: Liz Story, George Winston, early Windham Hill solo piano artists, "A Winter's Solstice" compilations.

Transcribed by: David Shenton ( https://www.shentonmusic.com/ ) verbatim to the sound recording

Album & Songbook review by: Kathy Parsons (MainlyPiano.com):

I have discovered a real wealth of great solo piano Christmas CDs this year! Isadar?s In Search For the Meaning of Christmas definitely falls into this category! Thoughtful, introspective, and a bit moody, Isadar?s arrangements are true to the carols (with some small melody changes in ?Bring a Torch? and ?Carol of the Bells? that bother me just a little) and still seem very personal. ?Bring a Torch?, ?The Holly and the Ivy?, and ?I Saw Three Ships? are given a lighthearted, joyful treatment. ?Star of Wonder (We Three Kings)?, ?What Child Is This??, ?The Coventry Carol?, and ?Sing We Now of Christmas? are all minor, somber, reverent pieces, and all four are given loving arrangements that keep the dark, mysterious nature of the songs and reflect Isadar?s own sensibilities. ?Carol of the Bells? and Isadar's take on Liz Story?s arrangement of ?Greensleeves? are energetic without losing all abandon. ?Silent Night? and ?It Came Upon a Midnight Clear? present us with a very cold, deep solitude - both feel like late night with moonlight reflecting off the snow. Both are moody, but very beautifully so. George Winston?s ?December? is one of my all-time favorite holiday albums, and I feel In Search For the Meaning of Christmas holds up exceptionally well next to it. This is an excellent collection of Christmas music, and I highly recommend it!

In Search For the Meaning of Christmas is the companion songbook to Isadar?s 1999 solo piano release by the same name. Meticulously transcribed note-for-note by David Shenton of New York Music Publishing, the music is faithful to the recording in every way (except for the pianist - YOU!). The scores are clear, concise, and easy to read, and also include chord indications for improvisation or the use of instruments other than or in addition to the piano. Isadar?s arrangements cover a whole range of emotions, from very dark and somber to joyful and buoyant. All of the pieces from the CD are here, including Isadar?s homage to Liz Story and her beautiful version of ?Greensleeves.? My personal favorites of the eleven songs in this book are the bright and cheerful ?Bring A Torch,? ?What Child Is This??, ?Greensleeves,? the darkly gorgeous ?The Coventry Carol,? and ?Sing We Now of Christmas.? Other titles that I really like are ?Children Go Where I Send Thee/The Holly and the Ivy,? ?Star of Wonder (We Three Kings)," ?Carol of the Bells,? and the effervescent ?Three Ships.? ?Silent? (Silent Night) and ?Midnight? (It Came Upon a Midnight Clear) are a bit too dark for my own holiday tastes, but are interesting and very personal arrangements. This book will make a great addition to your holiday sheet music collection and is available from isadar.com and amazon.com.

Isadar is an artist on both Enlightened Piano Radio & Whisperings Solo Piano Radio, the latter featuring some of today's biggest names in solo piano music, including Ludovico Einaudi, David Nevue, Brian Crain, Kevin Kern, Robin Spielberg, Michele McLaughlin, Philip Wesley and over 300 more...

Also available as sheet music in physical songbooks, digital downloads, as well as software for Yamaha Disklavier player-pianos.

Song List: In This Very Room (Ron and Carol Harris) Wedding Song (Noel Paul Stookey) Fairest Lord Jesus AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL (SAMUEL WARD) ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE (GARY DRISKELL) HEAVEN CAME DOWN, AND GLORY FILLED BY SOUL (JOHN W PETERSON) JESUS, THE VERY THOUGHT OF THEE (JOHN B DYKES) I Have Decided To Follow Jesus All Creatures of Our God and King When I Survey The Wondrous Cross AMAZING GRACE (NEWTON) BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC BE STILL AND KNOW (S. CHAPMAN) BLESSED ASSURANCE (FANNY CROSBY) CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY (LYRA DAVIDICA) COME SHARE THE LORD (BRYAN JEFFERY LEECH) FATHER, I ADORE YOU (TERRY COELHO) FRIENDS (MICHAEL W SMITH) GIVE THANKS (HENRY SMITH) GREAT IS THE LORD (MICHAEL W SMITH) HE STARTED THE WHOLE WORLD SINGING (WILLIAM J GAITHER) HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL (AUDREY MIEIR) HOLY IS THE LORD (FRANZ SCHUBERT) HOLY, HOLY (JIMMY OWENS) HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (JOHN B DYKES) HOW GREAT THOU ART (STUART K HINE) HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME (MICHAEL W SMITH) I LOVE YOU, LORD (LAURIE KLEIN) I SING THE GREATNESS OF OUR GOD (FRED BOCK) I'VE JUST SEEN JESUS (DAN DANIELS/WILLIAM GAITHER IF MY PEOPLE (JIMMY OWENS) IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL (PHILIP BLISS) JESUS, WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU (WILLIAM GAITHER) JOYFUL, JOYFUL, WE ADORE THEE (LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN) JUST AS I AM (WILLIAM B BRADBURY) LEAD ME, LORD (SAMUEL WESLEY) LIFT HIGH THE CROSS (SYDNEY H NICHOLSON) MAJESTY (JACK HAYFORD) NO ROOM (JOHN W PETERSON) O SACRED HEAD, NOW WOUNDED (HANS LEO HASSLER) PEOPLE NEED THE LORD (GREG NELSON, PHILL MCHUGH) SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD (KAREN LAFFERTY) SOON AND VERY SOON (ANDRAE CROUCH) THE LONGER I SERVE HIM (WILLIAM J GAITHER) THERE IS STRENGTH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD (PHILL MCHUGH, GLORIA GAITHER, SANDI P HELVERING) THIS OL' HOUSE (STUART HAMBLEN) TO GOD BE THE GLORY (FANNY CROSBY) WE ARE GOD'S PEOPLE (JOHANNES BRAHMS) WE HAVE COME INTO HIS HOUSE (BRUCE BALLINGER) WE WILL GLORIFY (TWILA PARIS)

Hymns Refreshed is a collection of timeless hymns updated to contemporary styling. Great for church services, weddings, Recitals, or your own enjoyment. Graded from Late Intermediate to Early Advanced, these polished arrangements will suit any occasion where sacred music is desired.

Complete your sacred library with Hymns Refreshed, Hymns Refreshed 2 (593745), and Hymns Refreshed 3! (803581)

Connect with Pam at www.pamturnerpiano.com and on facebook at https://facebook.com/pamturnerpiano

Contains For the Beauty of the Earth; In Christ There Is No East or West; Holy, Holy, Holy; My Shepherd Will Supply My Need; He Leadeth Me; Amazing Grace; Near the Cross; Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing; Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho; Abide With Me; Be Still My Soul; Nearer My God to Thee; Be Thou My Vision; Come, Ye Thankful People, Come.