Musings
@defordmusic.com
♫ Random musical notes from yours truly. ♫
Join the discussion! I’d love to hear from you.
Hymn of Grateful Praise: The first “Gratitude Project” installment
“There is something in each day that can bring gratitude and joy if only we will see and appreciate it.”
Because you asked: General Conference Music
The scoop on two arrangements from LDS General Conference: “If the Savior Stood Beside Me,” and a children’s hymn medley.
Behind every good songwriter…
Happy Father’s Day to my Support Staff. Nothing happens here without him. 🙂
State of the Site 2014: A big “Thank You!”
The numbers for the year, and what they mean to me.
If I Listen With My Heart – Ryan Murphy arrangement
In General Conference, October 2014, the Tabernacle Choir presented a lovely rendition of “If I Listen With My Heart,” arranged by associate director Ryan Murphy. Ryan has generously made the score available here so you can use it in your own choir.
All Tied Up With a Bow
You know that amazing feeling when you actually manage to finish something? Not just sorta finish, with a few loose ends that you’ll get to… um… eventually. I mean really finish?
“In the Bleak Midwinter” and a new arrangement of “When the Son of God Was Born”
This is week three of the Christmas Music Deluge. I just realized (with a self-congratulatory smirk) that so far I’ve met my goal of one update/week until done. We’ll see if the new leaf stays turned.
“Gesù, Bambino” and a new duet setting of “Born to Wear a Crown”
Home » In this latest installment of the Christmas Music Deluge, I've added a new arrangement of "Gesù Bambino," (Pietro Yon/Frederick H. Martens) for Solo, SSA or SSATB choir. I love the original dearly just the way it is, so in arranging it I tried to do something...
On a Still and Starry Night (my 2014 Christmas Card Carol) and The First Noel
2014’s Christmas Card Carol, actually done before Christmas? I’ll have to write this one in my journal!
A short little improv on “Away in a Manger,” and a Software Review: Forte Notation
A review of the Forte Notation line of software. Also a 1-page accompaniment for “Away In a Manger,” cuz I needed to produce *something* in this format. 🙂
Handy info…
Since you asked: How to Find Translations on This SiteFinding translations here is super easy. This is what you do: […]
Resizing Scores Using the Personal Composer DemoStep by step instructions on resizing scores or text using the Personal Composer demo. […]- Transposing Using Personal ComposerHow to transpose .pc scores using the Personal Composer Demo. Step by step instructions. […]
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I accompanied someone singing your beautiful arrangement of Away in a Manger. It was so beautiful. I cried and so did many others. I have played so much of your music over the years. I am so grateful for you. I pray that the richest sweetest blessings are yours.
Dear Ms. DeFord: I will try, one more time, to elicit a response from you. I am contacting you to seek permission to perform and stream your composition “When The Son of God Was Born” during this Church’s Lessons and Carols Service on Dec. 3, 2023. I am proud to work for a Music Director who insists on scrupulous adherence to the law as it pertain to copyrighted materials. The choir and professional orchestra of this church will perform your music, interspersed with Scriptural readings that narrate the Christmas Story. Inasmuch as many of the members of this Church are elderly and cannot attend the service, they eagerly await the streaming through our proprietary website ( www.fumc-cs.org) and would be very disappointed were we forced to turn off the stream during the performance of your music. Please, please answer me and I sincerely hope you will extend permission to us to live-stream your music. Of course, I will create a slide to be seen on the website, thanking you for your grace extended to us-with copyright information , etc…. Thank you. Jeanna Wearing
From the FAQ:
You are welcome to use these songs, scores, recordings, accompaniments, and/or commentary/song descriptions/blog posts in any/all of the following, or anything like unto them: live broadcasts of Church services; Facebook live; YouTube videos; Zoom meetings; virtual concerts; Christmas cards; … hmmm… what am I missing? CDBaby will probably slap a copyright claim on it eventually since they publish my music. You can just ignore it.
I would like to use If the Savior Stood Beside Me for two part choir with cello obligato. Do you have the cello part in the key of C? Or the choir/piano part in the key of A? Would that work?
I enjoy your music very much. Thank you for making it available to everyone.
Thank you so much for your continued generosity in sharing your gift with us. My pastor usually uses a lectionary to determine what the scripture and sermon will be. I am almost always able to find a song on your site that goes perfectly with it, as I just did with “Cast Your Burden on the Lord”
Bless you and yours.
Hey Sally, Wierd Alma here (of “Thou Art A Babe” fame). I was looking at music for duet Christmas pieces and found “A Holy Child Is Born” and liked that it had optional harmony. When I printed it I saw that it was Alto harmony and so I am trying to throw in some Tenor and Baritone lines for the last two sections. I am hoping it doesn’t end up a train wreck, but I have people who can help me there. I am not totally familiar with all your work, but I wonder if you took some of your existing music and reworked it for men’s voices it would be fun and perhaps give you a new insight into the music and the words.
I have some re-worked Primary song lyrics to share if you’re in the mood for some silliness. Drop me a line if you would like.
Thank you for your willingness to share your amazing talents with the world. I have had many music callings and have used many of your selections. Recently, as the Primary music leader we learned “I Will Walk With Jesus.” Absolutely love this piece of music and would love to have an arrangement for SATB choir. I am sure you get many many suggestions, but wondering if this is something you would consider.
Heh… I might if I had written it!
Good morning! Our modest little ward choir is working on “A Manger Filled With Love”. Once again, I’m stunned and amazed at your skills. Poetry/lyrics that could make Shakespeare green with envy, and yet another very creative and gorgeous piece of music.
You are the G.O.A.T. You are obviously a very smart cookie, but I’d be willing to bet that you might under estimate the impact
you have on the members of the church and spiritual conditions of many many people all over the world. If there’s a celestial choir in the next life which you are directing…..I’d like to reserve a seat in the alto section please.
Hi Sally,
Thank you so much for your talent! I found a soundtrack on YouTube Be Thou My Vision for high voice posted by you and I love the track. I was wondering if you have it in a wav format I would really appreciate it.
Hi Sally…I met you a few days ago at your home in Colorado Springs if you recall.. and I was so excited to meet you! I love your music and am contemplating a choir hymn arrangement of yours … Abide With Me… for my ward choir.. what a great gift you have and you share it so willingly! I hope all is well with you and your daughter.
I’d like to request a piano organ Duet for Christmas 2022. I would love it if it would be hymn based, or based on a primary song.
Thank you!
HI Sally, early this morning, as my husband and I are fighting covid, I reflected on the song arrangement you did of Bring a Torch Jeanette Isabella. I have so enjoyed playing this arrangement. It brings me joy. I just played it yesterday as we are quarantining. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent.
Can’t get PEACE, PEACE BE STILL out of my head. So powerful! Thank you Sally!
We love your music! It is accessible and inspiring. I love my daughters to build their testimonies by singing your music and feeling the Spirit. Thanks for the sharing of your talents.
Thank you!
May I use your music in my YouTube channel especially those that I had collected years ago? I will acknowledge your ownership and put all the links of your sites. Thank you so much and God bless.
Of course!
Hi Sally. I just played your arrangement of “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” at Kessler Park UMC in Dallas. Thank you so much for the nuances this version provided…your attention to melody was stellar; even transferring to the base line. Everyone loved it!
I am looking for a way to have the congregation sing, because no choir this year. Do you have suggestions for a way to tie it together? I just want the saints to sing the hymn christmas carols. Do you have some ideas? I love your music, but no way to use it this year.
Ms. DeFord:
Have you come across any other music transcription program that will open a .pc file?
The computer on which I was running the full version of Personal Composer, died and unceremonious death. I had my .pc files backed up but the old PC program won’t run on my Win 10 computer.
Yes I can open the files in the demo of PC but I’d like to move them all to something like MuseScore for further work and export.
Thanks!
LLOYD S
Unfortunately, no. It’s a proprietary format and nothing else I’ve found will read it. 🙁
Thank you for sharing your amazing talent with the world. I love “Peace, Peace, Peace” because it helps me to feel peace.
I am trying to find sheet music and music of When He Calls by Hugh Howard.
Thank you for helping me through the years.
John Vines
Australia Queensland Gold Coast
Email: nephi7@iprimus.com.au
Dear Sally,
Today three of us (soloist, piano and violin) performed “A Place in His Arms” in two Glendors, CA wards. The words, piano accompaniment and violin obligato are BEAUTIFUL together!! Thank you for sharing your amazing gift. It was a blessing in my life today and brought the spirit into both meetings as I could see tears in many eyes. I lost my husband of almost 50 years last December, and the words spoke comfort to my heart today. Over the years I have accompanied your music in stake and ward choirs and many special numbers. I continue to be amazed at your special talent to write such beautiful messages set to tender, intricate harmonies and melodies. There is truly a place prepared for you in heaven.
I am wanting our choir to perform/sing, “Feast on the words of the Lord”. Do you have a voice recording or instrumental of this song?
Thank you!
Hello,
Thank you for your music. I don’t know what I would do without it. We are singing Promised Savior, Promised King for our Christmas program, and I was wondering if you have a background story as to how you wrote this song – what inspired you to write it. Thanks again from Cleveland, Ohio
I downloaded your new “Come to the Manger”, and one of my pupils has already tried it out. But we’d love it in the Key of F Major. Can I get that?
Thank you for the beautiful cello arrangement. I am enjoying playing them. I hope there will be more.
Dear Sally,
I can’t thank you enough for sharing your wonderful music with others. I’ve been using your gorgeous arrangements for my little church groups for years. This year, we have a brand new little orchestra, mostly strings and woodwinds, very small…Do you have any christmas arrangments available for download? Silent Night is my personal favorite, but any other well known hymn would do. Thank you, again, for sharing your amazing talent with us! SDG!
Dear Sally….Thank you! Thank You! for so many wonderful, amazing years of uplifting, fulfilling, spiritual, ….(on and on) music that has touched my heart over and over again. May you continue to be blessed and inspired in everything you do! I don’t know you personally….but I sure do love you!!
Hi, I am looking for a flute solo for sacrament meeting. What would be a good flute piece? Thanks in advance!
Trisha~
Dear Sally,
I’ve been using and enjoying your music for choirs, church events, family and personal fun since. . . well, a very long time ago (before pretty websites were a thing). Today, I discovered your blog–what a delight! Thank you for sharing your music (at a price that fits every budget) and your spunky self here.
Corinne
Sally Deford: THANK YOU! I hope you know that you are the go-to girl for everyone. Your talents are top notch, your arrangements are superb, you make us piano players stretch, but not too badly. THANK YOU for your time & efforts and especially for the way you share it all freely on your site. It makes your music attainable to us all. Love from Gilbert, Arizona.
Awww… thank you! **blushes** Any chance you want to come be my next door neighbor? 😉