He Changed My Mind

Regretably, I never very much enjoyed the church hymn, "If You Could Hie to Kolob". Pretty words, but so dreary sounding. So very "minor key". So when Jerald chose that song as one of the eight hymns to arrange for his new piano book, "Hymns of Exaltation", I thought..."no". But I remember watching him sit at the piano, furrowing his cute brow in intense concentration, experimenting with different chords, and stopping to grab the pencil from behind his ear to quickly write the notes and jibberish on the scrap of paper on the piano. I listened to his dynamics - the tender, soft notes, verses the commanding, loud ones. I noticed he had changed the last verse from a minor key to a triumphant sounding major key. His arrangement, depending on the verse, sounded strong, peaceful, faithful, contemplative, gregarious, warm, determined, imaginative, fearless, triumphant, positive, righteous, joyful, and confirming. Suddenly, without realizing it...I fell in love with the song. And those adjectives I used to describe it are also the very attributes he possesses himself - ones I love and recognize every day. Jerald has the ability to transform "dreary minor key" life circumstances into gladdening jubilance. For this reason, among many others, I fell in love with him too. I now share, as a birthday gift to you all, his arrangement of the song I now adore - almost as much as I adore the performer. Happy Birthday, Jerald.

""If You Could Hie to Kolob"