Interpretations of hymn melodies composed and performed by pianist James Siddons
| CD "Reflections on Favorite Hymns" |
| Interpretations of hymn
melodies composed and performed by pianist James Siddons
THESE HYMN INTERPRETATIONS are drawn from a long series of such arrangements begun in the 1990s. At several small, rural churches in Virginia where I was pastor, in buildings built in the 1800s, I would at times take a familiar hymn that related to my sermon for that Sunday and, as composer as well as preacher, create a piano solo in which the character of the hymn interpretation reflected on, or illumined, the message of the sermon; and sometimes vice versa. The ten tunes heard on this CD album come from that line of creativity, and are presented here in a playlist order that, like a 19th-century cycle of art songs, takes the listener on a journey; albeit a spiritual journey, one that can be sensed even without knowing the sermon or pastoral event behind each interpretation. (Consequently, this album should not be listened to in random order.) These recordings were made in 1999 at the Major Recording Studio in Waynesboro, Virginia (U.S.A.). The recording engineer was Gary Major, son of studio founder John Major. When the studio closed in 2004, it had been the scene of almost half-a-century of recordings by local and semi-professional musicians in the mid-Atlantic region; their usual genre was some form of country music or gospel music. And the studio had a well-worn Steinway grand piano made in 1899. Although my musical training was in the fine arts tradition, with study at several universities in London, the U.S., and Tokyo, the origin of these hymn arrangements in old churches in rural Virginia meant that recording them on a century-old piano in this particular recording studio was bound to result in an unusually beautiful and authentic musical ambience. Simply put, the sound and feel of these recordings could not have been created anywhere else. The music you have been listening to while reading this is track 4 on the album, "Amazing Grace." Familiar hymns have a way of taking on a meaning larger than that of their words and music. "Amazing Grace," and "Just As I Am," among many others, have been sung so many times at worship services, memorial and prayer services, camp meetings, and other highly-charged events that the collective memory of those occasions becomes itself a deeper and more timeless meaning of the song. In composing and performing these reflections on familiar hymns, I have tried to express something of the larger and deeper meaning of each hymn. These recordings are especially suited for "quiet time" listening in early morning or late evening and during moments of spiritual meditation. How to purchase this CD album--- There are two ways to buy these recordings: 1. Go to http://www.sibeliusmusic.com/jamessiddons. You will be able to send your order to me as an e-mail and the CD will be mailed to you; return US $15.00 upon receiving the CD. 2. You may go to www.last.fm and enter James Siddons in the artist search box. You may also simply play each track here before deciding to buy.
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Copyright ©
2001 James Siddons
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