Friday, May 17, 2013

Child of Light -- Italian Version

"Child of Light" by Michelle Sadler was published in The New Era magazine in June 1979.  It is a lovely piano/vocal piece that I find especially appropriate for a baptism.  The original song can be found here:  https://www.lds.org/new-era/1979/06/child-of-light?lang=eng

Anziano Bringhurst, serving in Napoli, has translated the song into Italian.  Here is his translation:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwO-8879L-yhaUtrdEV5RmY2Ukk/edit?usp=sharing

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Hymn Arrangements

Latter-Day Saint music leaders are counseled to primarily use hymns and "hymnlike" songs in sacrament meeting.  (See the Church Handbook of Instructions for more info.)

The quickest, easiest, and most appropriate way to provide special music in any language for sacrament meeting is to use hymn arrangemets.  Why?  Because the translating has been done for you.  Choose a hymn arrangement that you love, and you can usually find the hymn already translated in your ward/branch hymnbook.  Pencil in the translated lyrics and the hard part is done.

If you are a vocal soloist, I highly reccommend "Sabbath Song II" -- a compilation of relatively new arrangements.  (By Various. Arranged by Compiled by Clayne Robison. High Voice or Low Voice versions available. Varied. Book and accompaniment CD. Published by Jackman Music Corporation (JK.01200), (JK.01213).  These arrangements are quite vocally challenging, but I find most of them exceptionally beautiful.  And having a piano accompaniment CD can be very helpful when pianists are in short supply.

Another great source for arrangements is Sally Deford.  She has written lots of beautiful music that she generously gives away for free on her website.  She has done several hymn arrangements, and there are some free MP3s there as well. 

Any suggestions?  Please feel free to add them in the comments!