"Black Notes" begins a three movement suite for solo piano which tour through the keys-
; mvmt 1- "Black Notes"; mvmt 2: "White Notes"; mvmt 3: "Notes, Black and White." These pieces express various moods that the piano is capable of, as well, this one being lively, animated, and fun-loving. John Elam is the performer here.

Notes  Etude, i. Black Notes

After practicing the centering prayer, and finding myself much too impatient to be easily satisfied with the experience (this after a somewhat crushing rejection from a sweet, wonderful, and not-interested girl), I wrote this poem:


“Slowly blooms the rose within...”

Love, I am all thorns now
Touch my heart, Lord, and I will tear You
And You will leave me love and anguish
Beading where I tore Your flesh,
As red as death, as red as life.

Slowly blooms, slowly blooms
The rose,
 the rose within…

O Light Immense!  O Cloud of Glory!
Sun and rain soon will bring to blossom
The tinctured petals of my heart,
A love-stained rose,
Arise and bloom---
O God!  O God!  O God!
When will my love for You bloom?

The poem quickly became a choral work, which finished itself in a fairly brief span of three months. One rather odd inspiration along the way was the piece"Ai" by Meshuggah (perhaps, I heard my angst there): though the piece does express some angst, it is suffused into a tapestry of unfolding patterns, some melodic, others, harmonic and/or rhythmic. It is about wanting, and not receiving what you ask for; waiting in isolation, only to discover you are not alone.

Slowly Blooms The Rose Within

Love (III), Baylor

This is an amazing song my brother, Mark, wrote about the description of the prophet, Isaiah, seeing God in the temple as described the 6th chapter of the Book of Isaiah. It is still an amazing song, and has touched many lives already, and will continue to do so.

Isaiah 6

Mark and I wrote this song standing on the steps of a performing arts building on Henderson State University when we were hanging out with our friends from Jeremiah Weeping across the street from OBU, circa 1997. It is a calming, lovely invitation to God's grace, made even more beautiful by the addition of Caroline's vocals.

Come to Me (Matt. 11:28-30)

Mark and I wrote this song one summer night outside of Mabee Fine Arts Recital Hall at OBU. Many have told me they love its exotic and epic quality.

Broken

I wrote this song in Germany, at a hotel stop on our 1999 Ouachita Singers' European Choir Tour. Mark came in and was in a bad mood, but I made him stop and listen, and his whole attitude and demeanor had shifted after listening. We began working on it, and then I felt the need for a female vocal, said so, went down the hall and knocked on the first htoel door I thought to, and who should answer, but Caroline! God moves in mysterious ways!

Inhabit Your Praise

Mark's haunting and emotion-filled setting of "Jesus Loves Me," is a modern-day classic. This recording was done live at FBC Lorena, TX, thanks to Stephen Bolech. It features the talents of Jana Martindale on violin, Adam Carillo on sax, and Mario Barbosa on piano (Thank y'all---what a great night!)

From the Ashes

Jesus Loves Me, arr. Mark Simmons

I loved writing and collaborating on this one with Mark back in the late 90s! As we often did, Mark wrote all the lyrics and melody lines, and I focused on all the guitar parts. Later, when Caroline joined us, we began adding background vocals and harmonies! What a powerhouse song, and powerhouse singer! This song does a great job encapsulating what my brother believed and how he tried to live every day. We recorded this live at FBC Lorena at that same concert with Adam, Jana, and Mario, with Stephen as our sound engineer.

From the Ashes, 2012

Burdensome Things, Live at First Baptist Church of Lorena

This is the first movement to my string quartet no. 1, Against the Spirit of Madness. When I watched the news about the Sandy Hook school shooting, my heart broke. This piece is a response to that tragedy (and all violent acts), beginning in the first movement with the horror of violence and the grief of loss it causes. Many musical inspirations find re-expression here, from Meshuggah to Vivaldi.

Against The Spirit Of Madness, i. Cycles Of Indignation And Aggression

The second movement of my string quartet no.1, Against the Spirit of Madness, this piece seeks to bring the listener from the staggered state of the first movement through the process of shock, denial, and anger, to a place where honest grieving and acceptance and healing can begin, amidst the agony of loss.

Against The Spirit Of Madness, ii. Abandonment; Discontinuity; Mimesis

My string quartet's last movement picks the listener up from the vulnerable state reached by the second movement, and begins the slow plodding through years, memories, hauntings, and the changing seasons of resignation, acceptance, anger, sadness, and out of despair towards the prospect of healing. No grad conclusion awaits here, although there are clues for the listener; everything is stated with great sensitivity--there are no ploys, no big finish or happily ever afters...but there is solace, comfort, ascent, and quietude after the tremors and storms. Psalm 23; Matt. 19:14. 

Against The Spirit Of Madness, iii. Elegy For Healing; Apokatastasis

This is one of my favorite anthems of the amazing church music composer, Craig Courtney. I couldn't find a satisfactory representative recording online anywhere, so I am sharing this one from the Ouachita Singers, under the great Charlie Fuller's direction with his wonderfully talented wife, Cindy Fuller. This recording was made during our European concert tour in 1999.

Jim Simmons Composer

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