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Music for Plays

I'm excited to share the play music that Toni Thomas and I have written together. I have received numerous requests for this music so I will be posting it here. Please check back periodically for the latest updates. If you have a special request contact me and I will be happy to post it as soon as I am able. Thank you for your ongoing support and enjoyment of our music. As our music is copyrighted, if you want to use it please seek permission here.  

Pioneer Play Music
Relief Society Women's Play Music

Click Title Links below for all Sheet Music and Listening Links for the Plays:

How it Began

On February 2, 1997, President Gordon B. Hinkley gave a speech at BYU, "These Noble Pioneers." It was from his words that Toni and I were inspired to write our play, A Time For Gathering.  The year 1997 commemorated the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley. Celebrations would be held not only in Utah, but among the LDS communities everywhere. President Hinkley spoke about paying "reverent respect to those who laid the foundation of this great work." The pioneers began their arduous journey from Nauvoo to the Missouri River beginning in 1846, and in 1847 from there and other locations to the West. Pioneers came not only from Nauvoo but from the British Isles, and the nations of Europe. Their sites were set on coming to Zion. They sang about it, and it became their great hope. The journey of tens of thousands coming to the valleys of the West was fraught with unimaginable hazards, including death. Pioneers, leaving their homes and belongings, traveled by sea, wagon train, handcarts, and by foot. During the 22 years of this brave movement, from the first company of 1847 until the arrival of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, the Mormon pioneers pressed forward to fulfill their dream of coming to Zion.

In response to President Hinkley's request, The Poway Stake asked its church members to submit cherished stories from their pioneer ancestors to be considered for the creation of a play in honor of their lives. Toni was asked to blend some of these real-life stories with her own creative story-telling talents to create the play, A Time for Gathering, and I was called to write the music. We were given a time frame of just a few months, which included: receiving the personal stories of members, reading through and choosing which would blend well, writing the script, auditioning singers, set creation, blocking and staging, writing and recording the music and orchestration, along with all else that needed to be done. It truly was a miracle in the making! I was working full time and didn't see how I could pull off my part. I received a priesthood blessing and pressed forward. I began to wake up and have a new tune already playing in my mind. Toni would send me lyrics and new script additions daily. I would play her my tunes and we would work together to match lyrics with music. I also spent as much time as I could studying how to orchestrate, since I hadn't done that before. I called Justin Gray who graciously assisted me in laying down the soundtrack, which he did right up until Opening Night!    

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