When the Tempest Rages
Fires on one side of the world; flooding on the other; disasters worldwide and a pandemic that insists on hanging around to go with them all.
Yeah, the tempests are raging.
The words to the new song, “Peace, Peace, Be Still,” were written during a time when I thought my life was a bit stormy. I had just had hand surgery–a sore trial for a songwriter–so I decided to use my one-handed time writing hymn texts. This one may or may not have been written in a fit of Poor-Little-Me Self-Indulgence. đ
Katherine Wright took on the job of setting the lyrics musically–which is just one of the reasons I love her so much. It’s also why it’s so lovely.
Rebecca Lord, a newcomer to the site, sings the vocals.
Rebecca is an erstwhile BYU-Idaho music faculty member and has done some amazing things with her talents. Her rendition is beautiful.
As Katherine put it, “She sings it like we wrote it just for her.”
Here’s a video featuring Rebecca’s vocals, and a painting called, appropriately enough, “Peace, Peace, Be Still” by Natasha Nashadka, from start to finish in time-lapse:
I love the feeling of immensity in the clouds, and I love the obvious brightness behind them even more. It’s a great symbol.
Well, the Lord helped me through my little tempest, it blew over, and that was why the song happened…. right?
Right?????
How naive we humans can be.
After a year of vague uncertainty, and increasing pain and symptoms, my daughter (who lives here with us) was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. She’s rather young for this particular cancer, so we’re hopeful she can beat it. Watching her endure surgery, then chemotherapy and more uncertainty, has sent me running (again) to my Savior–my refuge and the harbor of my soul. The winds are still blowing, but He’s giving us the strength to stand before the gale.
One of the ways He has given me that strength is by putting others in my path who have tempests of their own to deal with. They say “misery loves company.” I like to think of it another way: we can lift one another better when we know each other’s stories.
The song is available for hymn, for medium-voice solo, and for SATB choir.
Up next: yet another song I’ve been working on for months… and months… Who knows how long this one will take to post? đ
Links to material in this post
Handy info…
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Our Stake choir sang this at Stake Conference last week! They did AMAZING!!! The arrangement is beautiful! The harmonies, the key, the lyrics, the accompaniment… all beautiful! From our first run through, they were drawn in. It was such a blessing to lead them. As they sang of facing the gale they sang with such power! And sang with devotion and humility as they sang of waiting upon the hand of the Lord. I had several people comment on how beautiful the choir sounded and how strong the Spirit was. Thank you.
Our Stake choir sang this at Stake Conference last week! They did AMAZING!!! The arrangement is beautiful! The harmonies, the key, the lyrics, the accompaniment… all beautiful! From our first run through, they were drawn in. It was such a blessing to lead them. I had several people comment on how beautiful the choir sounded and how strong the Spirit was.
Dear Sally,
I am a service missionary and this month the theme for our devotionals is: âWe canât direct the wind, but we can adjust the sailsâ from Thomas S Monson. When I began looking for a song for my daughter to sing during our Devotional, your new song âPeace, Peace Be Stillâ fit so beautifully with our theme that I knew it was the perfect one. My daughter was able to sing it for our missionaries today using Katherine Wrightâs accompaniment from your website and it touched each of their hearts. Here are a few of their comments:
âThank you, Thank you, thank you so much for sharing your daughter’s talent! That was absolutely beautiful.  Please thank her, the composer and the pianist for making this such a special devotional. I hope you can read this because I am typing this through tears. I can’t tell you how much that song meant to me today. Love to them and to you this day.â
âWow! That was one that I didnât even want it to stop. That was very beautiful. Thank you, and all those who made it possible.â
The missionary who spoke following the presentation of your song said, â I can hardly talk after that. It was so beautiful. We should just close the meeting!
âThe music in the Devotional today was wonderful. I have never heard that song before. It was so beautiful, Iâm glad I didnât have to speak after that because I would not have been able to speak either. Thanks for sharing.â
âIt fit like a puzzle piece. I needed that peace today. Thank you againâ
Thank you so much Sally for the beautiful music you have provided so generously to so many. You have made this world a better and far more beautiful place by sharing your amazing talents! Thank you!
Hi,Sally and family.
I am happy and remember you guys with fondness especially Jennifer.
So sorry đ˘ to hear of your youngest cancer . I am in SLC now and I will always remember
having privilege of leading your first performance of the oratorio in San Jose. Now you know that is Andrea Crane. I lived down street from you .
Love you always. Thanks for sharing you with all of us.
This piece finds me at the perfect time. You knocked it out of the park with âPeace, Peace, Be Stillâ. It was amazing BEAUTIFUL artwork with the time delay effect, coupled with the perfect voice and arrangement⌠one word ⌠WOW. Thanks again for sharing your gifts and talents.
Beautiful. Thank you all for sharing your talents.
Very beautiful. thanks for sharing.
THANK YOU for your uplifting thoughts. May all of your family be blessed in their trials. Your music is like a salve to my soul.
Simple and sweet.
Sometimes out of the most exquisite suffering comes the most exquisite beauty. I hope that you and your daughter are blessed for being willing to share your stories and your talents, you will certainly be in my heart and prayers. I’m not sure there could ever be a way to measure all of the beauty you have brought into this world.
I love this with all my heart and soul. Simply beautiful melody with equally lovely lyrics. This is truly an uplifting and inspiring hymn. The golden voice of the vocalist was an excellent choice.
I totally love all your music – and I’m excited to try this new one thanks for all your talents and I agree with all you said
Straight from Heaven!
Very pretty. I have a certain woman at church that I think would do justice to this song.
Such a touching, strengthening piece–the message, the music, and the performance. Thank you so much! I love the vocalist you chose!
What perfect music for the chaos that currently reigns everywhere. God has surely blessed you to be able to express the longings we all have but don’t necessarily know how to voice. Your music calmed my heart so I can continue to walk the path God has given me with peace in my soul again.
Absolutely beautiful. Just what we all need in these times of uncertainty. Thank you so much for this and all your beautiful songs.
Oh, so beautiful! Thank you. God bless you, Mary
Sally, once again, you don’t disappoint me. The music and the lyrics are just beautiful and uplifting. I will certainly pray for your daughter and for you. You have been given such a beautiful gift and you are so sweet to share it with all of us.
Hello Sally, I appreciate your talent and your willingness to share. I sang several of your songs in the past but voice went south for a while and beginning to get it back. I just wanted to say that I will bring your daughter before the Lord, I donât know her name but God does. The outcome may not be as we want, but God loves us more than we can comprehend. Agape love to you and yours. Steven
Just beautiful – the music is gorgeous and fits the words perfectly.
So beautiful – every part – the music, the vocals, the lyrics, and the art. Thank you all for sharing!