I love fall. It always gets my composing/arranging juices flowing; I get so energized when I do it this time of year. Whenever I start practicing I always have to mess around and make up some melodies-maybe it’s the wonderful cold chills. If that’s the case, keep the cold a ‘comin’!

Everywhere in the world, music enhances a hall, with one exception: Carnegie Hall enhances the music.
~Isaac Stern~

Here’s another piece that I composed!

There is nothing in the world so much like prayer as music is.
~William P. Merrill~

I have often felt this way-anybody else?

Music is the poetry of the air.
~Richter~

Sometimes, it can be sooo frustrating when I’m composing and I just don’t know if a particular area sounds right. Plus, many times I struggle with knowing if what I’m composing is God-honoring. Quite frequently, questions go through my head like, “What if God doesn’t approve of this style?”/”Are there certain instrument combinations He doesn’t like?” etc. Other general questions cross my mind, too, like “What about this phrase, or what about that phrase?”

So I start looking for answers in books, online, and forums, but yet so often I leave out the two, most helpful resources: the Bible/Prayer
God is the CREATOR of music; it only makes sense we should look to his advice and opinions.

It is without doubt I am going to have to go to him in prayer and Word for His counsel and help on a music project I’m about to tackle. (This area is still pretty difficult for me, but God is faithful and will meet my needs. Besides, you can’t get better at hard things if you don’t practice them.)

I know it might seem silly, but try it when you’re struggling, ask him for help; God can do great things through prayer and reading His Word. (He has MUCH to say about music.)

• Ornamentation started to be used midway through the 15^th century, but didn’t become more popularized until the 1580s-90s.
• Our modern day ornaments are patterned after J.S Bach’s Explication.
• Not many people were against the method because in that era they really cared more about variety than structural clarity.
• In many instances, if not all, ornaments bring a song more to life. They also help connect and emphasize notes. This is another reason people weren’t too skeptical.
• The use of ornamentation gives the song a more elaborate/full sound, and by using this method, performers could show off their technical skill.
• Ornamentation is often used to help interpret the character of a piece.
• If you leave out the embellishments it can make a song sound very “blah”-especially with the songs meant to have much added to it.
• Some instruments are limited to what type of ornamentation they can do.
• Because of how frequently this was used, many patterns/variations developed over time.
• All trills begin on beat. All trills begin on the upper auxiliary note.
• Ornamentation includes things such as: turns, trills, grace notes, mordents, and appoggiaturas
• Trills: To create dissonance proceeded by the resolution.
• Mordents: Add rhythmic accents and brilliance.
• Appogiaturas: Take half the value of the main note. (Not a definition, but how they’re played.)
• Turn: To convey a fleeting touch of expressive dissonance.

Here is a table that shows all the different types of common ornamentation and how they’re played:

Resources: http://www.dolmetsch.com/musictheory23.htm / Ornamentation-A Question/Answer Manual by: Valery Lloyd-Watts & Carole L. Bigler
Picture: http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/henry/music/bachnotation.htm

The other day I was practicing piano and I was getting so IRRITATED because I kept messing up on a song!

When this happened, I had to remind myself not to bang the keys, and either walk away for a minute or play a peaceful hymn or song. Or just TAKE A BIG, DEEP BREATH!!!

I composed this piece. I hope you enjoy it!

I play the notes that are written, but it is God who makes the music.
~J.S. Bach~