Excellence in Music and Worship
Original Musical Compositions and Thoughts on Worship
Here is a collage of well-known Christmas carols, framed in a unique way. Throughout the medley, a tone row is used a number of times. (You may be surprised to find its iterations.) It was presented by the Odessa Christian Faith Center choir in 2021. Hope you enjoy!
Here are a couple more thoughts on ‘There Is Life’. The score shown below does not contain the full orchestration, which would probably be too small to read in this format. However, this condensed score shows the basic concept of the piece. Perhaps someday it could be done with a live full group consisting of rhythm section, choir, praise team vocalists, and orchestra. Until then, I’m glad to have this presentation.
Also, since the track itself bears a good bit of work, I wanted to share it without vocals. This was my first attempt at using EastWest Hollywood Orchestra sample library in conjunction with Logic X. Hope you enjoy!
(without vocals):
This was an experimental piece, written for Easter, in which the tempo gradually morphs through the middle of the song, becoming twice as fast at the end, as the opening material returns in the same tempo in which it started, only now in ‘cut-time’. In order to make this rhythmic transition successfully, a click-track arrangement was made to guide the rhythm section players successfully.
Due to the pandemic, Easter 2020 presented a big challenge: how was I going to do a piece of this magnitude? I had already started producing the orchestration and arrangement with Logic Pro and the EastWest Hollywood Orchestra sample library. I ended up digitally producing all instrumentation together with two phoned-in choir parts, and a four-member vocal ensemble, including myself.
The original concept of the work was to blend the various stylistic elements of: 1) Praise and Worship, 2) Symphonic Orchestration, 3) Elements of folk/spiritual, using the pentatonic scale, and 4) an Obligato Choir line throughout. The piece starts in F minor and concludes in Eb Major after going through a passage of chromaticism towards the end of the piece.
I wrote the original version several years ago with limited success in our performance. The difficulty it presented to our group was a rhythmic one. Making the ‘twice as fast’ change was difficult for our team at that time. I knew the only way to successfully achieve it would be to use click across the entire group, including vocalists. Finally having this capability in my grasp, the pandemic situation caused me to abort the larger group idea, replacing the instrumentation with a fully produced track.
Following is the video performance used for Odessa Christian Faith Center’s Easter 2020, featuring Ana Young, Carmen Young, Debra Bledsoe, and myself:
There Is Life (©2020 Lowell Hohstadt)
There is life
There is life in the River,
life in the River which flows from the Throne,
it flows from the Throne,
it flows from the Throne
There is life
There is life in the breath of His Presence
There is peace beyond measure,
beyond measure,
a peace freely given,
freely given
It surrounds, it surrounds
and it covers like a flood
covers like a flood,
like a flood
There is fruit precious fruit
which grows on the Vine,
inside there is seed to be planted
If it falls up on ground that is fallow and moist,
its power, its power,
its power will reflect all of Heaven,
all of Heaven
There is fruit precious fruit
which grows on the Vine,
inside there is seed to be planted
If it falls up on ground that is fallow and moist,
its power, its power,
its power will reflect all of Heaven,
all of Heaven
All of Heaven
Jesus is the Resurrection
Jesus is the life
No one comes unto the Father
No one comes unto the Father of Lights
with Whom there is no variation,
with Whom there is no shifting shadow of turning
No one comes unto the Father of lights
by any other way but Jesus
Jesus is the Resurrection Jesus is the Life
Jesus is the Life
Resurrection, Resurrection
Resurrection, Resurrection,
If you believe there is nothing impossible
If you believe there is nothing impossible
For He said, "I Am the Resurrection, I Am the Life,
He who believes in Me will never die."
Resurrection, Resurrection
If you believe, If you believe,
All things are possible
Resurrection, Resurrection,
Resurrection, Resurrection,
Resurrection, Resurrection,
Resurrection and the Life,
Resurrection and the Life
There is life in the River
which flows from the Throne,
There is life in the breath of His Presence
There is peace beyond measure, a peace freely given,
it surrounds and it covers like a flood
There is fruit, precious fruit
which grows on the vine,
inside there is seed to be planted
If it falls upon ground that is fallow and moist,
its power, its power,
its power will reflect all of Heaven
All of Heaven
He said, "I Am the Resurrection. I Am the Life.
I Am the Resurrection. I Am the Life.
Believe in Me, Believe in Me,
You'll never die.
I Am the Life, I Am the Vine,
I Am alive, alive, alive."
There is life,
There is Life!
Here is an arrangement of the well-known Christmas hymn. Hope you enjoy!
I enjoyed singing this hymn growing up in church. I hope you like this new string quartet arrangement.
Here is a new string quartet arrangement of the famous hymn "Crown Him With Many Crowns". I hope you enjoy!
Here's a composition I wrote merging the melodies of two famous Christmas hymns, "O, Holy Night" and "Silent Night." Enjoy!
Here's a fresh arrangement/composition of the well-known hymn. Hope you enjoy!
In my opinion, these are some of the most powerful lyrics ever set to song, depicting the Christian faith. I hope you enjoy this arrangement for String Quartet.
On a hill far away, stood an old rugged Cross
The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old Cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain
So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
Oh, that old rugged Cross so despised by the world
Has a wondrous attraction for me
For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary
So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
In the old rugged Cross, stained with blood so divine
A wondrous beauty I see
For the dear Lamb of God, left his Glory above
To pardon and sanctify me
So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
To the old rugged Cross, I will ever be true
Its shame and reproach gladly bear
Then He'll call me some day to my home far away
Where his glory forever I'll share
So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
I will cling to the old rugged Cross
And exchange it some day for a crown
Here's an arrangement I wrote for this past year's Patriotic service. It's probably the most challenging lines I've written for the group, to date. I finally had a chance to mix it down.
Hope you enjoy!
Here's an arrangement of the popular Christmas song, "Go Tell It On the Mountain" I wrote for this year's upcoming Christmas. While I was preparing the practice vocal tracks for Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass, I sang each part in a range that fit my voice, which turned it into a 'male' (barbershop) arrangement. I thought it sounded fun, so I went ahead and mixed it down.
Hope you enjoy!
Here's a song I wrote for this year's Easter services. I just now had a chance to mix it down. Hope you enjoy it!
Drops of Blood upon the ground
and with thorns, He wore the crown,
as He carried the weight of all my sin
Driving spikes into His hands,
unrecognizable as man,
He cried out and all creation saw His end.
Now that darkness had its cost,
and ev'ry hopeful day was lost,
placed into the ground,
carried to a bed of rock,
Descending in to regions only known to death,
surrounded in the lies of all unrest,
Separated from the Love
and ev'ry thing from up above,
He became the curse that I deserved.
And when the debt was paid,
the wind of Heaven came,
and burning light came blazing through the door.
For the gates of hell shall not prevail
against the love that tore the veil.
Heaven's eyes toward us
are filled with tears of grace,
and a longing to behold us face to face.
With a blazing light and burning pow'r,
radiation filled the tomb,
as a New Creation, and a brand new Nation
came forth from Heaven's womb,
He's alive in us, and we're alive in Him!
All of Heaven now proclaims,
"We win! We win!"
"We win! We win!"
He is alive, He's ruling in His power,
We are alive in Him!
Ev'ry pow'r is put now beneath Him,
We declare, "We win!"
Heaven's gates are opened wide,
All His life is now inside.
Light and life are here to stay.
Ev'ry blessing shines today.
He is alive, He's ruling in His power,
We are alive in Him!
Ev'ry pow'r is put now beneath Him,
We declare, "We win!"
Heaven's gates are opened wide,
All His life is now inside.
Light and life are here to stay.
Ev'ry blessing shines today.
We win! We win!
We live in Him!
We win! We win!
We win!
Here's another String Quartet arrangement/composition, based on the well-known melody 'Silent Night'. Hope you enjoy!
As we get closer to the Christmas season, it's always fun to make a new twist with the old familiar carols. Here is a composition/arrangement on the theme 'The First Noel' for string quartet. I hope you enjoy!
Here's a unique original composition/arrangement to this beautiful song, incorporating a different version of 'O Little Town of Bethlehem', as well. Hope you enjoy it!
(This performance was taken from Odessa Christian Faith Center's Christmas Eve Production in 2013, directed by Stephanie Carter.)
Here is a piece I wrote for Christmas using a poem by Anne Porter for the text. It is in a modern classical style for SATB a cappella choir. I endeavored to interpret the meaning of the poem musically, showing the stark difference between mundane traditions and that which is truly inspired. Noel was sung by members of the Odessa Christian Faith Center choir, directed by Stephanie Carter, December 23, 2012. Hope you enjoy!
Noel
When snow is shaken
From the balsam trees
And they're cut down
And brought into our houses
When clustered sparks
Of many-colored fire
Appear at night
In ordinary windows
We hear and sing
The customary carols
They bring us ragged miracles
And hay and candles
And flowering weeds of poetry
That are loved all the more
Because they are so common
But there are carols
That carry phrases
Of the haunting music
Of the other world
A music wild and dangerous
As a prophet's message
Or the fresh truth of children
Who though they come to us
From our own bodies
Are altogether new
With their small limbs
And birdlike voices
They look at us
With their clear eyes
And ask the piercing questions
God alone can answer.
"Noël" by Anne Porter, from Living Things. © Zoland Books, 2006.
Here is a unique arrangement of these two well-known Christmas songs, put together in an unusual way. Hope you enjoy!
(This was performed by the UTPB Orchestra with a combined choir from surrounding regional high-schools during the University’s Christmas Concert at the Wagner-Noel Performing Arts Center.)
Here's dance mix I just created for this year's Christmas services using the familiar carol, "What Child Is This" in a unique way.
Hope you enjoy!
(recorded by the Odessa Christian Faith Center music ministry)
Here's a recent song I wrote about trusting God when you step into new territories. Even when things may be unfamiliar, foreign to us, it's going to be OK when we just learn to trust Him. He'll keep us safe and He'll guide us, navigate us where we need to go.
Hope you like it.
You Are My God (I'm Jumping off) (©2012 Lowell Hohstadt)
I’m jumpin’ off into the deep
That’s where my life is truly free
I’m livin’ life eternally
That’s where my heart is meant to be
I trust You, You only
I love You, You hold me safe
in all I am and all I do
Living my life to love You
Living my life to worship at Your feet
You are my God
You are my God
You are my God
You are my God
Here I will trust You
Here I am near You
Living my life with You
I’m holding onto You
Leaning ev’ry part I am to You
