For SATB Chorus and Piano.
For SATB Chorus and Piano
Testimony.pdf (Piano-Choral)
A missionary serving in my home ward gave me the idea of combining these two hymns as representing the foundation of testimony and faith. I first put this together while on my own mission (about a year later); handwritten on manuscript paper, it was barely legible (those poor missionaries from the Scotland Edinburgh Mission were gracious enough to take it seriously and performed it nicely). A few years ago (well, nearly 10!) I re-worked the arrangement for Soundsmith Music.Working with these two melodies is difficult; in some areas they neatly fit into harmonic thirds and sixths, in others they create boring unisons or rough seconds. This arrangement provides a fairly smooth combination which I think works (mostly) in context of the accompaniment. Since its debut, I’ve grown a bit as a composer and I’d prefer some revision; I’m still waiting for that spare time. Meanwhile, I’ve gotten a few requests to re-post this. Enjoy!
New
Updated
@Gerbouskette1: Sorry, this is on the list but I haven’t had time to get to it. It may be a while…
@francurtis3350: Thanks so much for using the piece and for sharing your thoughts. I’m glad your choir enjoyed it!
Did you ever get an accompaniment MP3 for “Testimony”?
My choir sang this for our Ward Conference earlier in this year – it was perfect! Simple enough to learn quickly and with a simple yet power message. As I directed the choir I saw tears in many of the singers eyes – clearly touched by the sweet message of these two songs. I had many compliments on this arrangment. Thank you so much for sharing your talent. It was a blessing in our ward.
I am really honored that you think so. Thanks so much for giving these arrangements a try. I’m so happy you find these useful.
I love your arrangements. This worked perfectly for our ward choir. We were able to powerfully bear testimony of Christ through our singing. You do such a great job!
You’re very welome. Thanks, Jazamin!
Beth,
It’s absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! You’ve got talent, and thank you for sharing it.
Where are you in the Middle East?!
And thank you Steve for the music!
Thanks, Beth! You gracious comments are very much appreciated. I know how limited resources can be (especially in the international community) and I am so happy your choir enjoyed the arrangement and that it helped to invite the spirit. Good luck with your musical and missionary efforts!
Steve:
I just arrived in the Middle East last month, and was asked to conduct the branch choir in a special number to sung at a small fireside with one of the twelve apostles. (I have to be vague because of security reasons in the Middle East.) I had no music with me and knew I had to find something free online or just out of the hymn book. I found “Testimony” on your website and knew it would be perfect as to the message and the difficulty. The performance went well and the member of the twelve said he had never heard that arrangement. He was very complimentary as to the music and the choir.
I want to thank you for making this available for use. It makes all the difference when we have no other resources. The choir was so thrilled to sing this message. Thank you for sharing your talents.
Thanks, Salmygal. I really appreciate your comments and the encouragement. Good luck with your choir!
Thanks for your comments, Eliza. I don’t have a piano only version of this one but I should (accompanists usually have strong feelings one way or the other!). I will try to get to it, but am pretty swamped at the moment. I hope you are able to make it work and that it helps invite the spirit at your meeting. Good luck!
We’re singing this next week in Sacrament meeting. It’s my first number as the ward choir director. Despite having been a music major, I’ve never directed anything before. Thank you for making something so beautiful that also meets my skill level! I absolutely love it. I’m excited to see how it turns out next week.
Thank you so much for sharing your talents. I feel so blessed by your musical arrangements. I have just been put in as the ward chorister, and feel very lost as it is all new to me. I love music and am a vocalist, but have never led a choir:) So thank you for making my life a bit easier with beautiful music!
Do you have this with just the piano? it makes it easier for the pianist to play without so many pages to turn:)
Thanks again
Thanks so much for taking time to share your thoughts, Toni. Putting this together with a primary chorus is a great idea; I’m sure it will turn out well. Good luck!
I heard this at a Stake Relief Society event recently sung as a S/A duet. I cried through most of it, it was SO beautiful. I am now teaching it to my Primary kids. Junior Primary will be singing I am a Child of God and Senior Primary will do the I Believe in Christ part. Kind of a “see how much our testimonies have grown over the years” thing. I am really excited to hear how it turns out.
A new chapel dedication? I’m honored! I’m so glad that your choir found these arrangements helpful. I certainly wish you many more great music and testimony experiences to come in your new choir’s new home. I really appreciate you taking time to provide your feedback. Thanks, Dave!
Thank you for this number. I needed a prelude song for a youth choir at the dedication of our new chapel. This was an easy enough number for them to learn on very short notice. It sounded great!
Sometime we have the choir sing before the meeting actually starts. It really quiet the meeting down and lets the Spirit come in at the very beginning.
I really appreciate how much your efforts improve the music in the wards. It is truly a blessing!
Thanks, Allisan! I’m so glad that these arrangements are helpful to you. Good luck with your choir efforts! (And I would certainly love to hear a recording anytime it’s convenient for you to make one.) Thanks for taking the extra time to stop by and provide feedback. I really appreciate it.
Hi Steve! I just love this piece, we sang it for ward conference last year and I still get comments about how powerful it was. I was all set up to record it, but for one reason or another it didn’t work! As soon as I get a successful recording of any of your pieces, I’m determined to send them all to you. Thank you so much for sharing your talents so freely, as a choir director with no budget I truly appreciate your service!
@Nanci: I am working on this, but I’m afraid it will take some time before it’s ready. That reminds me: if any of YOU out there have recordings of these, please share! Thanks!
Hi,
I am not very good at reading music, but love to sing. Is there some way I could hear these versions online?
Thank you,
Nanci
Thank you, Sherrie! I really appreciate your kind and gracious comments. I’m glad the arrangements have helped. I’ll certainly do my best to keep it up!
I really wanted you to know how grateful I am for your beautiful arrangements! I have an amazing youth choir here in Folsom CA and we have sung three of your pieces. We just sang Testimony on Sunday and I really don’t have words to express how beautiful and how much the youth enjoyed singing it! I have never received so many compliments! Keep arranging you definately have a gift.
Thank you so much, Marilia. Your comments are very kind! Good luck with your new calling – sounds like you’re off to a great start!
Hi… My name is Marilia and I’m from Brazil. I just wanted to say thank you for this music sheet. I love it! This was the first arrangement i got to play in sacrament meeting as an accompaniment to the choir,,,, i had to work hard on it though it’s quite easy…. but since i’m just a beginner it’ was hard to me.. but i got it!
thank you!!!
Hi Ken,
I’m not exactly sure what you mean by “popular LDS hymn notation.” If you mean “what’s the easiest way to get hymns (or other sheet music) into Finale” there are a couple of options. First, you can enter the notes in “one by one” using the Speedy Entry tool and a keyboard connected via MIDI. If you don’t have a MIDI/Keyboard, you can also enter the notes in with the Simple Entry tool (where you drag and drop notes and chords to your liking). Finally, you can also try scanning the music in with SmartScore (choose Scanning from the File menu). The scanning does it’s best to convert to a Finale music file and it works fairly well with printed music but you still have to do some cleanup. Of course, when you are arranging you will end up moving things around a bit, changing harmonies, adding your own accompaniment, etc. So it might be easiest to add notes as you go while arranging. Hope this helps. If I totally misunderstood your question, please try again!
I’d like to experiment arranging hymns.
Is there an easy way to get popular LDS hymn notation into the Finale Music software?
Sorry, Marsha, but I don’t have one … yet. I will try this year to create accompaniment files as I go along. Thanks for asking!
Is there an accompaniment MP3 available for “Testimony”?
Thank you so much! Now that we’re getting more settled in our new home, I think I’ll have more time to arrange…
I love this piece! I will be singing it as a SA duet (bringing up the mens parts an octave) and I think it’s beautiful! I love it when I can find a great medly so please keep making them!