How Firm a Foundation
for SATB Chorus and Piano, Four-Hands
How Firm a Foundation
for SATB Chorus and Piano, Four-Hands
Performance time 4:10 | 10,767 views | 2439 downloads | 14 comments
I find this “original” Restoration hymn (included in the first LDS hymnal) happily motivating. It exudes hope and confidence while faithfully looking (and moving) forward. I can image those early saints humming this tune while focusing on their destination—across the plains or in the eternities. A recurring pedal point provides a “firm foundation” for this arrangement until the last verse, when the full sound and range of the piano is strongly encouraged.
How Firm a Foundation | Text: attr. to Robert Keen, ca. 1787 | Music: attr. to J. Ellis, ca 1889 | Arrangement © 2010, 2018 Steven Smith
How Firm a Foundation | Text: attr. to Robert Keen, ca. 1787 | Music: attr. to J. Ellis, ca 1889 | Arrangement © 2010, 2018 Steven Smith
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This song is epic! It is such a great way to showcase the piano without overtaking the choir completely. Our choir is so excited to perform this.
Thanks, Rachel. Please let me know how it turns out!
We sang this arrangement for Stake Conference with a choir made up entirely of missionaries. Full-time missionaries, service missionaries, stake missionaries, ward missionaries. It was powerful. And ending the conference with this arrangement was absolutely perfect. Thank you for sharing such beautiful music.
Dear Brother Smith,
I am Mao from Taiwan. Now I study conducting in Graz Austria.
Your arrangement are so beautiful and wonderful. Today is our stake conference in Vienna. Our ward choir have performed your two arrangements, Come Unto Jesus and How Firm a Foundation. People like it so much! I would to share with you our recording:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OhJ0J48TIg&feature=youtu.be
Thank you so much for sharing these videos—wonderful! You conducted beautifully and the choir sounded excellent. I wish you all the best in your studies and I hope the Lord continues to bless you in your efforts (musical and otherwise!).
Our ward choir performance of this arrangement elicited more comments than any other. The accompaniment is bigger than what our little choir is used to, but it somehow inspired them to rise up and meet it, resulting in a rather stunning and Spirit-filled experience. A couple of our choir members (including myself, the director) were in tears during the last verse. Thank you for this beautiful arrangement.
So glad your choir enjoyed it! Thanks for performing the music and for taking the time to comment.
Stunning arrangement! You probably wouldn’t recommend using this rendition as an Impromptu choir number, would you? Are the vocal parts close to what is found in the hymnbook? You may think my questions are ridiculous… so sorry, I’m very new at this.
Hi Luisa! My apologies for taking so long to reply. I’m sure you figured this out already, but no, this wouldn’t go well “impromptu” as the timing and voice parts are not from the hymnbook. I hope you found something that worked!
Steve – Thank you for your inspiring music. Our choir sang this arrangement as our final number for Easter last year. Now I am preparing to use it for our Stake Conference in February. I think it is thrilling. So easily singable, but sounds much more complex than it is due to the exciting accompaniment and the use of both rhythm, phrasing and dynamics!
Thanks so much, Chris! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and comments.
Oh my goodness!
I’m excited to use this during the year.
I just had one copy and wanted to find you and hear it! I did!
I’ll check with my pianists!!! Then come back for copies!
Fabulous Talent you have Steven Smith!
We sang this arrangement for Stake Conference with a choir made up entirely of missionaries. Full-time missionaries, service missionaries, stake missionaries, ward missionaries. It was powerful. And ending the conference with this arrangement was absolutely perfect. Thank you for sharing such beautiful music.
This is so lovely! How Firm a Foundation is a wonderful old hymn and this arrangement really gives it a new life and lively, bright sound.