SELECTIONS:

• How Great Thou Art
  The title tune for this recording. A majestic and moving treatment by Rod Miller of this well-known and beloved hymn. Robin Work heard on voice, accompanied by Ron Stabinsky on piano.
   

• Great Is Thy Faithfulness
  This hymn has a gorgeous melody. It's captivating and the treatment by Gary Topper does it justice. Beautiful orchestrations employing the full compliment of the orchestra's potential. A more traditional setting.
   

• Jacob's Ladder
  Featuring the singers, I give them some tight harmonies in this somewhat contemporary setting of this spiritual. Hard lines underneath provided by bass bone and electric bass - later featured after a swinging reading of the tune - along with the soprano sax of Dave Shultz. The singers go acappella once again then back into the romp of the melody and out.
   

• Bless This House
  Growing up, I played this many times in church, and always loved this hymn. Rod Miller obliged me with an arrangement featuring me with the orchestra. I work the high register of my trumpet at the end of this piece.
   

• Standing On The Promises
  Here's a lively, Latin treatment of Standing On The Promises. Got the original idea from a Damaris Carbaugh recording of same. I've expanded that concept to include a swing section in the middle and a later section with burst solos by several members of the orchestra. This features our assistant vocal director, Gloria Horn, in her spirited interpretation.
   

• Just A Closer Walk With Thee
  Somewhat slower, funkier start to this hymn with a section featuring the string quartet, followed by Dave Shultz's alto sax cadenza-sendoff into a fast jazzy big band ending to this piece - note a little country thrown in here.
   

• Jesus Loves Me
  The Sunday School hymn that we sang as children set in an easy Latin tempo by Rod Miller. Alto sax of Dave Shultz and trumpet of Craig Kenney heard in melodic segments of the melody.
   

• I Love To Tell The Story
  The orchestra gets a chance to show their chops in this tour de force. I felt challenged to write an arrangement that would be orchestral in nature and employ elements of the technical side of the jazz world.
   

• There Rose A Lamb
  I've always been fond of Southern Gospel quartets - goes back in my family heritage. And if I could sing bass in a quartet, I couldn't be happier. This is a transcription/re-orchestration of a number I was immediately taken by - recorded by Gold City who happens to have a bass that is one of my favorites - put into our setting with a wonderful solo by Robin Work.
   

• In The Garden
  Here's another old favorite set to a popular dance rhythmic groove with initial duets on the melody followed by a trio of Bob Mulligan, Chris Heslop and Bob Stoyko in a pop horn band setting, leading into a majestic section with me on top of the orchestra. It all ends in hushed voices and the finality of Steve Varner's bass.
   

• Heavenly Hip-Hop
  This is a rap based on the words of the Lord's Prayer. The tune is an original by Chris Heslop. Tenor sax solo by Dave Wilson, trombone solo by Chuck Dressler, trumpet solo by me; switches gears from the funky street groove to a montuna and back with a tour de force rap by Rob Diener, then capped with a double "D" from Craig Kenney.
   

• Amazing Grace
  Bob Mulligan wrote this arrangement. It features myself and Dave Shultz and shifts tempos into a segment which I suggested that tips our hat to one of the greatest big bands ever - the Count Basie Orchestra - in a segment reminiscent of Basie's chart on "I Can't Stop Loving You", and then we're back to the original statement with myself and Dave Shultz.
   

• Holy, Holy, Holy / The Old Rugged Cross
  This combination of two beloved hymns is set in a European dance beat featuring the trombone section, a vocal duet for the Old Rugged Cross and back to Holy, Holy, Holy for a big acappella choir ending.
   

• Onward Christian Soldiers / Chorus from Battle Hymn Of The Republic
  I arranged this to show off the different sections of the orchestra which gives the effect of skirmishes and finally doing battle as everything comes together - battle cries, shouts of glory - and then the victorious march to the end through Jesus Christ our Lord. We end the hymn and segue to the glorious praise of God from the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
   

THE ORCHESTRA: