My Faith Looks Up to Thee

kristyjo

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Description

Last year, our family trio of clarinet, bassoon and guitar played this for Maundy Thursday services at church. I hadn't posted it previously, but I've taken the midi bassoon and clarinet, and combined them with an audio recording of myself playing guitar. (Trying to get guitar to sound right on midi is more work than it's worth.) I originally wrote out the parts on Finale, exported that as 'type 1' midi, and then dropped that file into GarageBand, where I expunged the horrid midi guitar, and added the real guitar. This is one of my husband's favorite hymns, and we've played it a couple of times since its debut last year.

Edit
I forgot - there's also a bass line played by midi orchestral bass on here. I just couldn't resist.

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Song Stats

Hits: 888
Comments: 39
Fans: 17
Plays: 93
Downloads: 44
Votes: 4
Uploaded: Apr 05, 2009 - 03:12:30 PM
Last Updated: Apr 05, 2009 - 09:38:55 PM Last Played: Nov 20, 2009 - 12:03:13 PM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Keywords:

hymn (18), comfort (2), bassoon (18), clarinet (36), guitar (1075), trio (22)

Comments

Sigmund	Sigmund said 234 days ago (April 5th, 2009)
	My Faith This is perfect Sunday morning music. Simple chord progression and melody, humble and unassuming in nature. A very nice worship piece. Thank you for sharing this. Check out my latest song called End of a Season

kristyjo	kristyjo said 234 days ago (April 5th, 2009)
	Sigmund- Thank you for listening and commenting. I really appreciate your note about its suitability for worship, since that is the specific purpose for which it was arranged. Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Char	Char said 234 days ago (April 5th, 2009)
	I've never heard this hymn. Sounds beautiful. Thank you. Check out my latest song called Break Away (Mark Holbrook & Awigze)

kristyjo	kristyjo said 234 days ago (April 5th, 2009)
	The hymn tune is from Lowell Mason who was a big American musician in the early 1800's. I tried to find out more about the lyricist, Ray Palmer, on the internet, but didn't have much luck. It is one that I've sung about as long as I can remember, though. Thanks for stopping by. Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Feter

Feter said 234 days ago (April 5th, 2009)

My Faith Looks Up to Thee
ahhh ...what a gem ...this is the awesome sound of folk music heart ...
I can sit and listen to this for hours ..how elegant and gentle ...very
nice arrangement and the guitar really sound perfect ...so thoughtful ..
the work between the basson and the clarinet ..thank you so very much for
sharing such gem !!!!

Check out my latest song called A Night With Feter feat'(Roxylee sloparts crissew johnwhitehead and Yamin AL Yamani )

kristyjo	kristyjo said 234 days ago (April 5th, 2009)
	Feter- Thanks so much for listening and sharing your warm comments here. I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Moviz	Moviz said 234 days ago (April 5th, 2009)
	Calm and reassuring and beautifully played, regards M Check out my latest song called Come Back Billie

kristyjo	kristyjo said 233 days ago (April 6th, 2009)
	Maurice, Thanks for listening! Kristy Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

diamondvalley	diamondvalley said 234 days ago (April 5th, 2009)
	Thanks for posting, it's a lovely arrangement. Check out my latest song called Schon Rosmarin

kristyjo	kristyjo said 233 days ago (April 6th, 2009)
	And thank YOU for listening and commenting. I appreciate it. Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

kassia	kassia said 234 days ago (April 5th, 2009)
	wonderful the clarinet and bassoon - even though midi - sound great together. i would imagine when played live this was(is) extremely moving. The arrangement is soothing, nice harmonies. I like the pacing of it, a nice calm flow. Check out my latest song called Deep Majesty

kristyjo	kristyjo said 233 days ago (April 6th, 2009)
	It is a hymn of quiet acceptance, and I think the music fits the lyrics very well in this regard. The midi instruments are from Garage Band, and really aren't bad. I enjoy playing it with my husband and son. (Although our son does have to be cajoled into it.) It does sound nicer with real instruments. Thanks for stopping by! Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

segiperkasa	segiperkasa said 234 days ago (April 5th, 2009)
	real cool real cool... Check out my latest song called Sepiroth Strings of Fire Symphony

kristyjo	kristyjo said 233 days ago (April 6th, 2009)
	Thanks- I appreciate you listening and leaving a note. Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

racerat

racerat said 234 days ago (April 6th, 2009)

Thank you.
KristyJo,
This is a really wonderful piece. Really moving on many levels. If you hadn't said it was a hymn I can't say I would have pegged it as one. Very cinematic. Also, I appreciate the background on the process of creating it in the notes. You are right midi guitar is always too much work to be worth it. Midi guitar synth pickups are not technologically sophisticated enough yet to really do the instrument justice. Great work, a beautiful journey.
Philip

Check out my latest song called Frank's Song

kristyjo	kristyjo said 233 days ago (April 6th, 2009)
	So glad you stopped by- I wouldn't mind having a midi guitar, actually, but I really find it difficult to write anything convincing in notation, and then have it realized in midi guitar voice. It's just not how guitar works. Anyway, I'm glad you found this cinematic in nature. Thanks for your lovely comments! Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Dadai.2	Dadai.2 said 233 days ago (April 6th, 2009)
	My faith looks up to thee... thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! thank you kristyjo for the lovely rendition of this wonderful hymn. Jack Check out my latest song called The Riverside (with Ed sloparts sitting in)

kristyjo	kristyjo said 233 days ago (April 7th, 2009)
	Thank you, Jack for listening, and for supplying the first lyrics of this hymn. I really probably should put them in the lyrics space, but decided against it when I posted it 'in a hurry' (no picture, either.) Still, I'm glad the devotion comes through, even though the words aren't there. Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

paul f. page

paul f. page said 233 days ago (April 6th, 2009)

The whole piece...recording...
...sounds "live" to me, KJ. Such a pretty arrangement with such small resources. Very prayerful and meditative -- I imagine just as you had planned it to be. (Small nit: the very last note seems a little abruptly cut off and it's a little louder than what precedes it.) ... I wonder if a somewhat elongated version of this with the exact same instrumentation would be something to consider. I am thinking for a Maundy Thurs. liturgy, there might be need for something longer to accompany ritual actions. Just a thought. I can hear some variations, maybe a minor section, and then a D.C. to end it...Beautiful song and lovely recording of it.
Peace.
Paul

Check out my latest song called Double Etude

kristyjo

kristyjo said 233 days ago (April 7th, 2009)

Paul -
You are a consummate church musician. The idea for a longer version is a good one, and the idea of a minor variation would probably do the job well. You are right - there are times that a longer piece of instrumental music is needed, and this would work well. Reflective, so it doesn't overwhelm the main focus of the congregation, yet familiar, so it catches wandering minds.

Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

ktb	ktb said 233 days ago (April 6th, 2009)
	peaceful Kristyjo, nice job. I wish we had your talent at our Church :-) Lovely job on the guitar. I agree re: midi guitar, so good you could add your own. The voices on the midi instruments sound very organic. Well done Check out my latest song called Texas stump

kristyjo	kristyjo said 231 days ago (April 8th, 2009)
	Thanks- Wouldn't it be great if all the church musicians here could do a 'tour' of all of our churches. What an interesting mix that would be. Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Joe Brady	Joe Brady said 233 days ago (April 6th, 2009)
	Great job Kristy, Would love the music for this one. I play once a month at church with a trumpet, violin, clarinet, and piano. This would be a lovely addition. Joe Check out my latest song called The Refugee Blues by Feter with Jiguma

kristyjo	kristyjo said 231 days ago (April 8th, 2009)
	Joe, Thanks for listening. The only really 'new' element in this is the descant, which I wrote to be in a good range for clarinet. If you'd like a copy, drop me a note and put your email address in it - I'll send you a pdf of the score, or a finale '09 file. Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

awigze	awigze said 233 days ago (April 6th, 2009)
	beautiful My faith is my eyes... love this tune. very reflective of God's love. Thanks for sharing it with us. Would love to hear you and your husband play it. Check out my latest song called We got to Jive in Blues by (Feter)

kristyjo	kristyjo said 231 days ago (April 8th, 2009)
	Andy- Thank you for the encouraging comments. My husband is the bassoonist, and is very busy with playing for symphony & other things, but it's nice that we can do this kind of thing together with our son. Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

thetiler	thetiler said 232 days ago (April 7th, 2009)
	Love the simplicity of this Love the hymn type feeling that this portrays, has a nice orchestra Sunday School feel to this. Enjoy that guitar as well ! Check out my latest song called The Bluebird Cafe (with two other guest)

kristyjo	kristyjo said 231 days ago (April 8th, 2009)
	Bill, Your listen means a lot to me! I've been playing accompaniment guitar parts for this for about a year, now, and it is a lot of fun to play with my family members. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Ed Hannifin

Ed Hannifin said 232 days ago (April 7th, 2009)

This gets the flavor...
...that in my head gets called 'solemn joy'... wonderful pace and sonority... I really like the sound of your guitar playing on this... That one wooden instrument serves to humanize and warm the midi parts, which themselves are nicely arranged...

It's a gorgeous melody, and one that I hadn't heard... Thanks for posting it....

Ed

Check out my latest song called Next Time Around (w/jiguma)

kristyjo	kristyjo said 231 days ago (April 8th, 2009)
	Ed, 'Solemn Joy' is not a part of popular music in the proportion it should be, so I'm glad you found it here. Thanks for listening & commenting. Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Roxylee	Roxylee said 231 days ago (April 8th, 2009)
	So pretty.... I love the delicate interweaving of the instruments. I'm downloading this to play over and over. Check out my latest song called Sweet Grace

kristyjo	kristyjo said 230 days ago (April 9th, 2009)
	Roxy - I kind of thought this tune would be pleasing to your ears and to your heart. Thanks for the honor of making it one of your downloads. Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

guitapick	guitapick said 230 days ago (April 9th, 2009)
	~ Beautiful piece, kristyjo Check out my latest song called Outside the Corral

kristyjo	kristyjo said 230 days ago (April 9th, 2009)
	+ Thanks, Bob. I'm glad you enjoyed it! Check out my latest song called What a Friend We Have in Jesus

davisamerica	davisamerica said 226 days ago (April 13th, 2009)
	wow .... takes me back to spring time in a small Baptist church when I was much younger .. lol I could nearly smell pew wax. Kristy I need a breather and this was a lovely one. Check out my latest song called No Son(egobandit band)

John Stebbe

John Stebbe said 224 days ago (April 15th, 2009)

Lutheran
This was in the Lutheran hymnal that I grew up with, in Fort Wayne, back in the 60s and 70s. What a great melody, and very meaningful words, too. Thanks, Kristy, for bringing back to me some very pleasant memories.

Love the harmony in thirds, between the oboe and clarinet. Couldn't be better.

Your guitar playing is very good. Nicely recorded, too.

A beautiful, worshipful track.

Check out my latest song called NECAP Test song

Calchas	Calchas said 192 days ago (May 17th, 2009)
	Lovely hymn... ...nice treatment Kristy. Gently contemplative. I just LOVE these older melodies (I've got tons of folk and folk-rock in my collection.) Enjoyed! Be well friend! Check out my latest song called IT'S NOT THE SAME

HolleyHall	HolleyHall said 149 days ago (June 29th, 2009)
	My Faith Looks Up to Thee Beautiful song! very restful brings your mind and soul to ease. Holley :) Check out my latest song called Just Stop Not Living

VicDiesel	VicDiesel said 144 days ago (July 4th, 2009)
	Beautiful A beautiful melody, and well arranged. Precisely the way it should be. Check out my latest song called Desert Stars

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Artist Info

Name: Kristine Johanek

I've been performing, composing and teaching music for many years. I enjoy arranging traditional and classic pieces, and also enjoy composing original music. I'll write for whomever will perform my music, so I've written for children's choirs, co... [see more]

Check out some of my other songs:

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