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.