Favorites of Kids, Janice Kapp Perry to See and Hear
by Laurie Williams Sowby
Under the theme of
music fit for the family, I am happy to offer reviews of two
selections perfect for gift-giving this season.
I am unabashedly making
space in this column to apprise readers of a delightful new album,
not just because it’s my son’s project, but because it’s
good. (Grandparents, listen up.)
The Kentucky
Sunbeams is a collection of children’s gospel songs
recorded in son Craig’s old Kentucky home (literally a
century-plus old) with some of the best folk and bluegrass musicians
in the Cumberland Gap. They’re the real thing. Their authentic
sound in these unwritten arrangements makes for an original album
with Primary songs and old-fashioned gospel tunes done like you’ve
probably never heard them before.
A handful of
children/grandchildren add their voices to the vocal harmonies of the
experienced country singers on several. Lifelong musicians from the
area pick and strum on fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar, bass,
mountain dulcimer, and dobro in lively renditions of “Faith,”
“Tell Me the Stories of Jesus,” “I Often Go
Walking,” “Popcorn Popping,” and the mellower
“Search, Ponder, and Pray” and “Love One Another.”
(I even got to add a few improvised notes on piano.)
To call these
arrangements fresh is an understatement.
I’m not just
saying it because I’m the mother of the fiddler/recording
engineer who turned 20-plus years of classical violin lessons into a
style befitting life in the heart of Appalachia. There’s
creativity, musicianship and a lot of heart here.
The 14 songs include
Primary favorites such as “’Give,’ Said the Little
Stream,” “I am a Child of God,” and “My
Heavenly Father Loves Me” as well as children’s songs
from the general Christian repertoire—“Jesus Loves Me,
This I Know” “Peace Like a River,” “Jesus
Love the Little Children,” and “The Wise Man,”
among others. What a kick!
It’s a
captivating collection of tunes for all ages, produced by Craig Sowby
and Ken Wilson; recorded, mixed, and mastered by Craig Sowby at
Corner House Studio, Middlesboro, KY). Listen to audio clips,
download the songs or instrumentals only, get unlimited streaming via
the Bandcamp app, or order the limited-edition compact disc ($12) at
www.kentuckysunbeams.com.
Another treasure is
Covenant’s Songbook for LDS Families: Honoring the Legacy
of Janice Kapp Perry. In addition to 18 “best-loved
songs” by the legendary songwriter which make up the first
section titled “Love is Spoken Here,” the large
spiral-bound book contains 28 new hymns based on events in the Book
of Mormon. The latter is a happy collaboration between composer Perry
and lyricist Bonnie Hart Murray.
It’s really two
songbooks in one and includes two compact discs, each with
accompaniment tracks for its section. Even better, the book’s
sturdy pages contain beautiful color illustrations by LDS artists
Greg Olsen, Simon Dewey, Arnold Friberg, and others, making the
$25.99 price a real bargain.
The stories behind the
songs add much, whether it’s the composer’s tender
anecdotes about how a song came to be or the experience of hearing it
sung in another language somewhere around the world, or the
scriptural account from the Book of Mormon.
Printed music includes
melody and accompaniment in Perry’s playable style for such
favorites as “We’ll Bring the World His Truth” in
the song’s various incarnations, “A Child’s
Prayer,” “I’m Trying to Be like Jesus,” and
“I Walk by Faith.” The bouncy “The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints” appears as a two-part song, and
there are solo accompaniments for “No Ordinary Man” and
“Like a River,” among others.
The Book of Mormon
hymns with Murray’s words are written in singable four-part
style and keys, both major and minor. Arnold Friberg’s classic
illustrations accompany the scriptural telling, making this a
“package” easy to use in family settings. Copying is
allowed for home use.
Having known the Perry
family and sung many of Jan’s beloved songs for many years, I
am happy to see her musical legacy preserved in this beautiful
songbook.
Laurie
Williams Sowby has been writing since second grade and getting paid
for it since high school. Her byline ("all three names, please")
has appeared on more than 6,000 freelance articles published in
newspapers, magazines, and online.
A
graduate of BYU and a writing instructor at Utah Valley University
for many years, she proudly claims all five children and their
spouses as college grads.
She
and husband, Steve, have served three full-time missions together,
beginning in 2005 in Chile, followed by Washington D.C. South, then
Washington D.C. North, both times as young adult Institute teachers.
They are currently serving in the New York Office of Public and
International Affairs
During
her years of missionary service, Laurie has continued to write about
significant Church events, including the rededication of the Santiago
Temple by President Hinckley and the groundbreaking for the
Philadelphia Temple by President Eyring. She also was a Church
Service Missionary, working as a news editor at Church Magazines,
between full-time missions.
Laurie
has traveled to all 50 states and at least 45 countries (so far).
While home is American Fork, Utah, Lincoln Center and the
Metropolitan Museum of Art have provided a comfortable second home.
Laurie
is currently serving a fourth full-time mission with her husband in
the New York Office of Public and International Affairs. The two
previously served with a branch presidency at the Provo Missionary
Training Center. The oldest of 18 grandchildren have been called to
serve missions in New Hampshire and Brisbane, Australia.