About These Songs

• Vocals by Joan Glasgow

• Piano & Arrangements by John Sheard

• Produced by John Sheard

• Engineered by Nicolas Tjelios

• Recorded & Mixed at Casa Wroxton Studio, Toronto

• Mixed by Nicolas Tjelios, John Sheard & Joan Glasgow

• Editing & Mastering by Nick Rawson

• Graphic Design & Layout by Jody Alexander

• Photography by Edward Ross of Imagewave

• All songs are in the public domain
   

Artist Notes

Arise, My Soul, Arise
This song centers on how we can confidently approach God's throne of grace as His children – freed from sin, guilt and fear by the sacrifice of Christ. There is a third verse which I did not include in this arrangement: "Five bleeding wounds He bears, received on Calvary. They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me. 'Forgive him, oh, forgive,' they cry, 'forgive him, oh, forgive,' they cry, 'nor let that ransomed sinner die.'"  I love that we can call God "Abba", which I understand in the original language means something like "Daddy".


I’ve Found a Friend
The one and only time I heard this song was back in my home church in Edmonton, many years ago. A lady in the congregation sang it as a solo and it has, as the saying goes, "stuck with me". I had never heard it played or sung after that one time but the words still speak to me.


O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
Although this hymn is usually sung as a chorale, by a choir, it has never failed to move me with its haunting imagery. John incorporated a quotation from "The Messiah" ("He Shall Feed His Flock/Come Unto Him") in his introduction to the song, which sets it off beautifully.


Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness
This hymn is well-known in the Moravian church, as it was written by Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf, a nobleman who associated himself with the Church of the Moravian Brethren. He supported the Church with his own funds and at one time offered refuge on his estate grounds to a group of Moravian refugees. Moravia was the name of a region in modern-day Slovakia. The Count is attributed with some two thousand hymn texts.  My husband, Bob, and I have many good friends in the two Moravian churches here in Calgary, where I served for a time as choir director.


Come, Thou Fount of Ev'ry Blessing
The second verse starts with "Here I raise mine Ebenezer -- hither by Thy help I'm come." "Ebenezer" means "stone of help". Samuel set up a stone as a memorial of the help received from God after a defeat of the Philistines. (I Samuel 7:12)


Come, Ye Disconsolate
Once again, a hymn which we don't hear very often. My husband, Bob, and I have performed this song on occasion with him playing saxophone and me playing the piano and singing. I was used to a slower tempo but I like the sprightly pace which John used!


How Firm a Foundation
This hymn was sung at a church service Bob and I attended just days after I had received a very unsettling medical diagnosis. The third verse jumped out at me: "When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply: the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine." I can say that God was assuredly my grace through the ensuing days, and things have turned out well – I’m doing fine.


The Church’s One Foundation
I’ve always liked this song, but originally hadn't planned to include it on this disc. However, John wrote to me one day while he was working on the other song arrangements and asked if I knew this tune, as he, too, really likes it. He went ahead and did a jazzy arrangement for it and in his own inimitably humourous style, offered it to me with "no obligation but if you act now you can take advantage of this fabulous offer!"  Needless to say, I did – and love it!