The Story Behind the Music - Part Two

In this second instalment from contributors to our CD "For the Children", Khadia Handon gives us a look at the backstory for "Happy Ending":

When writing “Happy Ending,” Andrae Alexander and I wanted to truly capture the true essence of what “YesWeServe” is all about. We wanted the song to tell a story of an innocent girl who was born into despair, but was able to overcome adversity and follow God’s path, leading her to her own Happy Ending.

I recall Andrae sitting at his piano simply playing some beautiful chords and I began to hear the melody and lyrics. It just flowed very naturally–-it was magical! He began telling me about all these amazing little girls he met in his travels to Mexicali and some of their backgrounds. Their stories were extremely sad and depressing yet, the girls were always smiling, playing and looking very happy. They didn’t seem to let the cards they were dealt get them down. They were the inspiration behind what made our song come to life!

We began to write our song as a narrative chronicling a girl’s life and how she was able to hold onto her faith that, things will get better. No matter what she went through in life, she remained positive. Our goal was for our listeners to remember that no matter what your immediate struggles are in life, your situation will get better!

After going on the mission trip to Mexacali and meeting the beautiful little girls and boys, I definitely feel we captured the energy they give off in our song. Every time I listen to it, flashes of their innocent faces run through my mind. It makes me so joyous that I had the unique opportunity to play a part in the Yes We Serve’s ministry by writing a song on the “For the Children” CD. Most importantly, I was able to fulfill one of God’s missions to nurture, love and enrich the lives of ALL of HIS children!!

The story behind the music on "For the Children"

I have asked the various musicians on YesWeServe's CD "For the Children" to talk about the songs and compositions they so graciously contributed to our cause.  In this first instalment Marcus Gerakos shares his thoughts.  In addition to the two pieces Marcus composed for our CD you will also hear his excellent guitar playing on several of the other pieces, as well.

   

In writing “Overture: Arrival In Ghana”, I wanted to create the visual image of descending upon the city of Accra by airplane, to capture the tribal mystique of this ancient land. This piece is in 6/8 time, common in African folk music, and I’ve tried to give the feeling of a sweeping panoramic view from the sky. I enjoy the challenge of evoking visual imagery through melody, harmony, and rhythm. In “Five Minutes Till Recess” I wanted to convey the image of a roomful of Ghanaian students on a sweltering afternoon, eyeing the clock on the wall and counting the minutes until they can rush outside for recess. In fact, there’s a very fast sixteenth-note run in the melody that represents the moment the bell rings and the kids sail out the door to the playground!

           There are several defining moments in the life of a musical composition. First, there’s the moment of completion, when the score is inked in and ready to be presented to the musicians. Second, there’s the first successful run-through by the ensemble. Third, there’s the process of recording the piece so that it’s fixed in time and people can enjoy it as often as they want. And lastly, there’s the live performance, when music meets the audience. All these steps are deeply rewarding for the writer. What made this project especially rewarding, above and beyond these steps, was the spirit of ministry and the camaraderie among the musicians that was present throughout the recording process. Geir and Cindy Engøy inspired us all with their dedication, their commitment, and their faith. Having the opportunity to contribute to a project like “For The Children”, being able to use our minds, our hands, and our hearts to reach out to people halfway around the world, was a reminder to us that God speaks through our gifts, that all we have to do is let Him work through us.