Songs of the Creator
by Kristy Miller
When creating new music, it is important to have a goal...to know who your audience is going to be. This may seem to be a 'given' among experienced composers, but as we begin to work alongside musicians and poets who are just learning to compose, it is important to help them define what they desire to communicate and to whom.
Ella wrote a song that describes the point when she surrendered her life and heart to the Lord. She describes herself as being tossed about by the waves, filled with tears and sorrow. Then she says, "It wasn't until I fell on my knees in prayer before God that He took away the tears and brought peace to my heart." This song was written after a conversation between us where her heart was breaking for the pain others in her family were going through without Christ. She said, "I wish I could communicate it to them...what God can do...what prayer does..." A few minutes later as we were talking about generating new music she said, "I don't know what I'll write about next." I told her, "write about what we've been talking about Ella." Two nights later, she called with the song almost finished. Her goal was to get the message of the hope and peace of Christ to her nephew and sister. I believe she hit the nail on the head! The song is called "Out of the Mist".
As we work to develop new indigenous Christian music our goal is to be the catalyst, not the creators. We work with musicians, poets and elders to help them create what is in their hearts. With the breakdown of culture that exists from residential schools and forced integration, the idea of writing new music is very intimidating. Not much new music has been written in the last 100 years. I often compare the task to asking one of us as young musicians and composers to write something that will be performed alongside Handel's "Messiah". This new material will be performed at traditional gatherings with ancient songs hundreds of years old...the 'classics' so to speak! Yet we are finding that as we work with composers, and they begin to see the success of the finished product, they 'light up' with the excitement of writing more. After Ella finished her first song, 'Oosoomsch', she said, "I don't think I'll ever write another song. This one is so good, I think it's all I had in me." I assured her that there were many more where that came from and that God would lay more thoughts on her heart to share. Within a few days, I got an excited phone call at about 11:00 at night. "I've got an idea for another song...it's going to be great!"
There are currently two "Songs to the Creator" CDs and these have accompanying songbooks that are also available for purchase. The cost for the CDs is $15.00 + $2.00 for postage. A new CD is due to be released in October 2005. It is called "The Story of Joseph".
CDs and songbooks may be ordered by calling Kristy or Jim at 250-923-0531. They can also be reached by email at: miller@naim.ca
