New Music: Two Christmas Carols for 2024
Have you ever had one of those dreams where some faceless thing is chasing you and you seem to be running on a treadmill getting nowhere? That’s my 2024 in a nutshell. Musically it has been a weird year, with unfinished songs pursuing me from the depths of my computer files and me in slo-mo trying to finish them. Maybe that means a deluge in 2025–we shall see!
Fortunately, the treadmill let me off long enough to finish two Christmas songs for the year.
The first is called “Haste Away,” written for SSATB choir. Since I still don’t own a choir the track is piano only, but it should help in reading through it.
The second is a solo called “Peace On Earth.” Here’s a lovely recording with vocals (and viola!) by Rebecca Lord
The full score includes violin, with a separate viola score for you unicorns who actually read alto clef.
A fun thing I was able to finish:
Long long ago, in a land far away (Albuquerque, actually) I was a young mother with a friend who had a stunning tenor voice. Several years later, she visited me and recorded the song “Peace is Born On Earth.”
Those were the early days when recording was a whole new world to me and I owned… a mic and a cable. No mic stand, so we taped it to a vacuum handle, stood said vacuum on a stack of books in the family room, and hit record. The result was a lovely recording of her voice, complete with noise from passing traffic and serious unwanted reflections coming back at us from the walls and ceiling.
I found the old files in the depths of my archives, and spent a couple of years (off and on) messing with restoration software, EQ settings, etc., and here’s the result:
The flute part is new, played by Brenda Lord.
Technology is fun.
Speaking of fun technology…
…the back end of my website keeps encouraging me to post using AI, so just for fun I gave it a try. This is what it gave me:
“defordmusic.com is your one stop shop for all your sheet music needs…” blah blah blah
Nope nope nope. I’ll stick to good old human communication, thank you very much.
Happy Christmas in October!
Links to material in this post
Haste Away–SSATB
Peace On Earth–Solo
Peace is Born On Earth–Solo
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. […]
Dear Sister DeFord,
Thank you for your generosity in sharing your beautiful music with everyone. You have blessed my life and my testimony with your amazing and beautiful lyrics, music, and arrangements. They bring me such peace. I love singing and playing your songs and always check here first for arrangements when I am asked to accompany someone for a special musical number. Your two new songs are wonderful! May our Heavenly Father continue to bless you.
Merry Christmas!
Check out Sally’s story of her Christmas tree ornament at https://defordmusic.com/song-list/peace-on-earth/ for the backstory.
I don’t know if she has guitar fingering but she always seems to appreciate new performance options. You can send it to her directly at the ‘Contact Me’ link at the bottom of this page.
Thanks!
Thank you for blessing my morning with your beautiful music. So much to enjoy…. How am I supposed to ignore all of this and get down to my task of choosing a ward choir Christmas song?? Thank you again for all you have given and continue to give with your gifts and talents.
Hi Sally – my wife and I have an all-request band and have had fun with that for many years. The ward here in Idaho Falls has asked me each Christmas to play and sing a Christmas song with my acoustic guitar in the Sacrament Christmas program which i do in a fingerpicking style so as not to be contrary to the “rules”. Over the years that has included Silent Night, Oh Holy Night, Gethsemane and even your Christmas gem Born Is The Light Of The World. I needed something fresh for this Christmas and was so happy to run into your new Christmas songs! I am going to play and sing Peace On Earth. I arranged it for acoustic guitar and I would be happy to send you that if you would be interested. But mostly I am writing to thank you for sharing your gift with the rest of us. I was also wondering if you might have a story of how this song came into your head or the melody etc etc.
I hope your Christmas is wonderful – John Heer – Idaho Falls, Idaho
Thank you for sharing! Your songs bring me peace, joy, hope and delight.. and most importantly, help me feel the love that God has for me and I can have for Him!
Oh, my goodness. Peace is Born On Earth…..it is in MY key! I have been having problems with my singing voice and a speech therapist is helping me to get it back! I have felt like my throat has been literally cut not being able to bear testimony in song and then I heard this song. I wanted to cry all the way through it! I would love to hear more songs written in this key as I have no way of anyone transposing music for me. I need so much peace in my life at this time. Thank you so much for sharing you amazing talent. With love, Elizabeth Sturt
Oh Sally, this is so exciting! Your offerings through music are a blessing to the world. Thank you, dear friend.
Sorry for the weird-looking update folks… the internet seems to be mad at me today. 🙁
That’s ok. Again I love , love, your songs and music
Sally, Thank you for your beautiful music. Child in a Manger with the Cello descant is a favorite that I listen to all year round! Can I ask you to write a piece for SATB, cello, and flute? My cellist and I (flute) would love to play your music together. Best, Daniela
Thank you so much for your willingness, year after year, to share your musical talents with all of us!! I have used your music in every setting- Stake Conference, Ward Conference, monthly musical numbers, Christmas programs, even special musical numbers in the wards of others. It has have such a blessing in my life! My favorite Christmas song of yours is “O Come O Come Emmanuel”! I find an amazing tenor and use that at any opportunity given- it is stunning!! Thanks again!! You were given a gift; thank you for using it!!