Song Story…”Much More Than a Song”

Wherever you go, God is already there.

“Much More Than a Song” was written as a result of a time of uncertainty and re-examination of priorities and truths in Travis’ life.  This time period began with the desire to sing a song and continues with the desire to bring God glory through all of life.  Several years ago, Travis was working on a powerful song that he planned to share as a solo at some point in the future.  The song was quite wordy and vocally demanding.  As Travis was singing the song over and over, trying to memorize all of those lyrics, he began to experience some vocal problems.  It was not unusual for him to have some allergy related congestion that affected his voice a couple of times every year, but this problem was obviously more serious than that.  Although he was not experiencing any allergy problems at that time, his voice was greatly affected, and he had significant pain when he tried to sing.  After the problem persisted and worsened, Travis did go to the doctor and to see a specialist about his voice.  He learned that all of his demanding vocal rehearsing had caused some damage to the vocal mechanism and created some strain and inflammation.  He was going to have to rest his voice and allow the damage to heal.  This was very difficult news for a Minister of Music and Worship.  He had no idea how long it would take for healing to occur or even whether the healing would be complete.  In other words, he didn’t know whether his voice would ever be fully restored.  Would it be as strong as before?  Would he still have the same vocal range?  Would there be any changes to his vocal tone or breaks in his range?  All of these were unanswered questions.

Travis prayed and waited and rested his voice, hoping to regain the full use of his voice but realizing that there was a possibility that he might not be able to sing in the same way that he had before this problem occured.  As in any season of uncertainty and waiting on the Lord,  Travis had an opportunity to re-examine his priorities and his own philosophy of living a life that glorifies the Lord.  He knew that leading God’s people in worship through music was not the only way that God could use his life.  Even though his passion for leading worship remained strong, Travis came to the point where he was willing to do whatever the Lord would have him do.  He was very aware that he could still live a life of seeking to bring glory to God, no matter what happened with his voice.   God gave Travis a song to express what He had been teaching Travis through the experience of losing what had formerly been one of Travis’ most important ministry tools.   That song was “Much More Than a Song”.

Through this experience, God gave the blessing of a song; but the lessons of the spirit that Travis gained were even more valuable.   It’s hard to put them all into words, but I will try:

Worship is more than a song.

Worship is more than any particular form of expression.

Worship is more than giving your best to God.  It’s being willing to give up your best and still give what you have left to God.

Worship is a passionate pursuit of God’s glory.

Worship may be expressed through what we do, but the act of worship never consists of any outward expression.  True worship always exists in the desire of the heart to bring Glory to God.

If I have ever truly worshipped God before a loss or a change in my life, I cannot allow such a change to alter my heart.

“Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised…” Psalm 96:3 &4a

 

Worship is a 24/7 attitude of the heart, a recognition of God’s supremacy and majesty that results in a constant desire to bring Him glory through my life.

Worship is much more than a song!

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“Much More Than a Song”  words and music by Travis L. Boyd, copyright WorshipSounds Music  is available on our website as a vocal solo or as an SATB choral anthem.  There is also a full orchestration available, which can be used to accompany either a choir or a soloist.  You’ll find the solo version on our home page and the choral version on our Adult Choir music page, where you can click on our unique video demo link to see and hear the music simultaneously at
http://www.worshipsounds.com

“Much More Than a Song” has been included in the repertoire of The Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma, then under the direction of Dr. Bill Green.

“Much More Than a Song” has been part of the repertoire of the Georgia Baptist Convention’s Jubalheirs, under the direction of Dr. Jon Duncan (a large choral group consisting of women who are active in music ministry from all over the state of Georgia).
The Jubalheirs also recorded “Much More Than a Song” on their CD entitled “New Every Morning.”  For more information about this group and their ministry, see our post entitled, “Blessings Through Choosing to Praise God.”  https://worshipsounds.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/blessings-through-choosing-to-praise/

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Here’s my Sound Cloud recording of the Medium Voice Vocal Solo
(available on our website’s Home Page in the left sidebar)

*  The sheet music PDF (with chord symbols) can be purchased for $5.00, with permission to make as many copies as needed for your Soloist and Accompanists or Rhythm Section.
*  The Accompaniment Track is sent as an Mp3 download and includes the PDF for a full page lead sheet to assist you in learning the song.  The cost for the Mp3 and lead sheet is $10.00.

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Here’s our  WorshipSounds Video Demo of the Medium Voice Solo
(Accompaniment Track + Demo)

(VIEW  VIDEO  DEMO  IN  FULLSCREEN  MODE  TO  SEE  LYRICS  BEST!)

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This post was written by C. Boyd

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Do you know Jesus?

The decision to ask Jesus to come into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior is the best decision you could ever make!  The one true God is ready to give you forgiveness and eternal life as soon as you understand your need for Him and believe on the name of His only Son, Jesus, for your salvation.  Here’s a blog page link to help you find the answers to your questions about Jesus.  http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/

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WOULD   YOU  LIKE  TO  READ  MORE  POSTS  LIKE  THIS  ONE?

Link to our  “Song Stories”  category to see all of the song story posts:  https://worshipsounds.wordpress.com/category/song-stories/

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Introducing “A Prayer for the Saints,” a new Worship Anthem & Congregational Praise Hymn

“But I trust in You. O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” Psalm 31:14

At WorshipSounds Music,
we are introducing the powerful new SATB Anthem and Modern Hymn,  called  “A Prayer for the Saints” !

This incredible message has been brilliantly arranged for your choir.  You’ll love the recurring motif in the piano accompaniment and marvel at the smooth harmonic transition in the second modulation.  Even more importantly, the lyric content is a profound prayer, expressing the heart cry of every Christian who longs to grow closer to God and to become more like Jesus.
The melody is beautiful and singable, making this modern hymn very appropriate for congregational worship.  As a result, “A Prayer for the Saints”  is currently available in two formats on our Boydbrain Music website:

**  The powerful SATB Anthem PDF is available for $15.00, with permission to make an unlimited number of copies (for your choir and accompanists only).

**  A Worship Pak for  “A Prayer for the Saints”  is available for $10.00.  It includes a lead sheet for rhythm section, a reproducible hymn sheet (bulletin or hymnal size), and a Vocal/Piano score.

Subtitled  “Your Saving Grace,”  “A Prayer for the Saints”  is in the current repertoire of  The Sons of Jubal, a large mens’ choral group sponsored by the Georgia Baptist Convention and consisting primarily of Ministers of Music and Worship (and others who faithfully participate in local church worship ministry) from all over the state of Georgia.  The Sons of Jubal Director, Dr. Jon K. Duncan, chose  “A Prayer for the Saints”  as the theme for the group’s annual Rehearsal & Renewal Retreat in early January, 2012.  The men in this amazing choral group will be sharing this anthem in monthly concerts throughout the year, and the piece will be included in the concert repertoire for a trip to Korea (not South!) in a April.  The Sons of Jubal have been invited as a featured group at a large choral festival.  Prayers for this endeavor are greatly appreciated!

Ministers of Music and Worship from all over the state of Georgia, who have heard  “A Prayer for the Saints”  as a result of their involvement in The Sons of Jubal, have ordered this powerful prayer anthem for their choirs.  At our home church, Travis introduced it first as a Vocal Solo.   Our wonderful Adult Choir has also sung the SATB anthem version of   “A Prayer for the Saints,”  and our congregation has shared in this message as a worship hymn.  In the local church environment, many of our members have commented on the lyrics of this Kingdom message.  Our prayer is that this piece could have an impact all over the world, expressing the deepest longings of God’s people everywhere.

Your Choir could begin learning  “A Prayer for the Saints”  at your next rehearsal.  Or, if you do not have a choral group at your church, you can introduce this modern prayer hymn as a Vocal Solo and then use it for congregational worship.  Our Worship Pak contains everything that you will need (reproducible hymnal or bulletin size song sheet, reproducible lead sheet, and Vocal/Piano Score).

To see and hear the music, you can view the Video Demo for  “A Prayer for the Saints”, go to our WorshipSounds Music website.  You’ll find  “A Prayer for the Saints”  on our “Adult Choir”  music page.  Here’s the link to the website:  http://www.worshipsounds.com

ALTERNATE VOICING AVAILABLE!  The TTBB arrangement, as sung by The Sons of Jubal, under the direction of Dr. Jon Duncan, and The Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma, under the direction of Dr. Randy Lind, is also on our website.

A Full Orchestration is also  available for this anthem!

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Post written by C. Boyd

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Looking for answers?

Thank you for spending your valuable time reading the contents of this page.  We hope that it has been helpful to you.   If you or someone that you know is looking for answers about life, we hope that you will visit our page called “Do You Know Jesus?”.   The links provided on this page will help to answer life’s deepest questions.   Here is the link to “Do You Know Jeusu?”:  http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/ Please feel free to share this URL with anyone who is looking for answers about life and eternity.

Blessings through surrender

** THE  SONS  OF  JUBAL**

The Georgia Baptist Convention’s Sons of Jubal are a large Men’s Chorus from all over the State of Georgia, Directed by Dr. Jon Duncan.  The Sons of Jubal meet together for a retreat to rehearse, introduce new members, and learn new music in January each year.   Then, they present worship concerts in Churches and other venues once a month except in the months of December, June, and July.   Many of these men are full-time or bi-vocational Ministers of Music and Worship, and some hold other positions of leadership and service within their home churches and within the Georgia Baptist Convention.   Travis has been a member of this group since January of 2009.  It has been a joy for him to have the opportunity to meet and serve with these gifted and dedicated men.   It has also been a great learning experience for him to travel around the state to present worship concerts in various churches.  We are getting to know the state, the communities, the churches, ministers, and ministries, the needs, and the people of Georgia through the experiences and relationships that have come our way because of this group and the women’s choir, The Jubalheirs.

The Sons of Jubal have sung several songs written by Travis.  Before we moved to Georgia, they were singing  “God is Faithful”  and had recorded it as the title song on one of their CDs.  They have also sung some of the TTBB arrangements done by Travis for The Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma.   The Sons of Jubal Ensemble, directed by Steve Brown,  is currently singing Travis’  a cappella arrangement of  “(I Am a) Friend of God.”   The current repertoire of the full choir includes Travis’ song, “A Prayer for the Saints,” which was recently recorded on a new Sons of Jubal CD titled “Washed Away”.  We are thankful that the ministry of the Sons of Jubal will allow these songs to touch many hearts.

For us, the song that we will always associate with The Sons of Jubal is  “Where You Want Me to Be.”   Though the song has also been performed by The Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma and was part of the Churchmen’s 50th Anniversary Concert repertoire, directed by both Dr. Ken Gabrielse and Dr. Bill Green, “Where You Want Me to Be” was originally arranged in TTBB voicing for The Sons of Jubal and is dedicated to the group and to Dr. Jon Duncan.  It has seemed very fitting that the first Sons of Jubal song on which Travis sang a solo was “Where You Want Me to Be.”   In this, and in many ways, the Lord has confirmed in our hearts his calling to our current church home and place of service in Georgia after many years of serving in Oklahoma.  The true message of the song, “Where You Want Me to Be”  goes far beyond geographical location, however.   It’s a message for every Christian, one that our Christina brothers and sisters in both Oklahoma and Georgia and all over the world can take to heart.  “Where You Want Me to Be”  is about surrender.  It is only through surrender to God’s sovereignty that we find peace in a broken world.   It is through surrender to His call that we find joy in serving.  It is through surrender to his Holiness that we are humbled and see ourselves as we are…in need of a Savior, in need of His presence and guidance in our lives, and in need of His mercy.   Ultimately, it is in surrender to His plan for our lives that we find our purpose and draw upon His strength to become what He made us to be.   It is this unity of purpose in seeking to glorify the Lord in all of life and through the gift of music that has drawn our hearts to the wonderful people that we have met in Georgia, and we look forward to many more years of serving together and bringing praise to our God.  As we all choose to surrender ourselves and seek to reflect His light more and more, we are right where He wants us to be.

Travis and Cindy Boyd

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Look for this identifyling Title / photo thumbnail for “Where You Want Me to Be” on both our Adult Choir Music Page and our Shopping Cart page on the WorshipSounds website.

“Where You Want Me to Be” on our Worship Sounds Music Website
http://www.worshipsounds.com“Where You Want Me to Be”  is available as an SATB or TTBB Choral Anthem on the ‘Adult Choir’  page on our website.
The PDF Master for this anthem can be purchased and downloaded for $15.00, with no additional per copy cost.  You are given permission to print as many copies as needed for your own choir and accompanists.
*  There is a Vocal Solo version of “Where You Want Me to Be” on our website’s Home Page in the left sidebar.  The cost of the Vocal Solo PDF is $5.00, with permission to print copies as needed for your Soloist and Praise Band (chord symbols included on music) or Accompanists.  You’ll find the Vocal Solos on our website’s “Vocal Solos” page.
*  There is a Full Orchestration for “Where You Want Me to Be” that will work with either the Choral Version or the Vocal Solo version of the song.  The bundled PDFs for the Orchestration can be purchased for $30.00 and include a Full Score, String Reduction for Keyboard, and reproducible parts for all string, wind, and percussion instruments.
*  There is an Accompaniment Track for “Where You Want Me to Be” that features the Full Orchestration and works for either the Anthem or the Vocal Solo.  The Accompaniment Track is available as an Mp3 download for $10.00.

Here’s our recording of the “Where You Want Me to Be” Accompaniment Track (with Solo demonstration vocal) on Sound Cloud.

(Note:  On the website, you can hear this as you view a video demo that also shows the vocal line.
Please remember that this track provides a demo of the Full Orchestration and the track also works with the Choral Anthem.)

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Our WorshipSounds Music website
provides worshipful and affordable music
for your Choirs, Ensembles, Orchestra, Congregation, and Soloists!

Click on the photo above to go directly to our Worship Sounds Music website.

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PERFORMANCE VIDEO:  View  The Sons of Jubal worship concert performance video of   “Where You Want Me to Be” below.  On our website, you can also view the music as you listen and watch a computer demo of either the SATB or TTBB Choral (or the Vocal Solo).
Blessings to you as you surrender to serve right where He wants you to be!

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Other songs written by Travis L. Boyd that were mentioned as a part of the recent or current repertoire for the Sons of Jubal are also still available.

*  “God is Faithful” is available from Lorenz Music.  http://www.lorenz.com/product.aspx?id=10_2978M

*  “A Prayer for the Saints”  is available on our website, as an SATB anthem and in a worship pack for use in congregational praise.

In addition, The Jubalheirs have sung or are currently singing the following anthems, also available on our website:

*  “Much More Than a Song”

*  “Greater”

*  “For the Glory of God”

Find “A Prayer for the Saints” (A modern hymn available both as an SATB anthem and as a Worship Pak, with Vocal Solo music, lead sheets for rhythm section, and reproducible half page size hymn sheets for insertion in a bulletin or hymnal) on our Worship Sounds Music website @ http://www.worshipsounds.com

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Here is a link to a CNN Video about the Sons of Jubal trip to a Choral festival in N. Korea in April of 2012.  The video includes an interview with the group’s Director, Dr. Jon Duncan.

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2012/04/29/nr-n-korea-baptists.cnn#/video/world/2012/04/29/nr-n-korea-baptists.cnn

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Here’s a link to a press release about the Sons Of Jubal’s April, 2012, trip to North Korea and China.   http://sojtrip2012.org/sons-of-jubal-press-release/#more-67

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Do you know Jesus? 

The decision to ask Jesus to come into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior is the best decision you could ever make!  The one true God is ready to give you forgiveness and eternal life as soon as you understand your need for Him and believe on the name of His only Son, Jesus, for your salvation.  Here’s a blog page link to help you find the answers to your questions about Jesus.  http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/

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Blessings through choosing to praise God

**THE  JUBALHEIRS**

It’s easy to rejoice in the Lord when all is well, but the choice to praise Him in times of adversity comes with maturity in our faith.   As we trust the Lord more and more in our walk with Him, we learn to lean upon His promises when we go through times of darkness.  In times of trial and grief, He promises to give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the heaviness of sorrow.  (Isaiah 61:3)  The promises of God in this verse also apply to the fruit that our choice to praise Him in trials will bring.  The same scripture verse tells us that the fulfillment of these precious promises will be “that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.”   No one who leads worship can escape a deep awareness that there are always people in any service of worship who have come with heavy hearts.  The most comforting truth that we can cling to in such times is that God knows all about our pain and our sorrow.  He is right there with us in the midst of the storm, even when we are not aware of His presence.   As we learn to trust His heart, His love for us, and His nearness, we can make the choice to praise God and allow Him to work on healing our hearts.

Cindy and I are still in the process of getting to know our sisters in the Lord who are members of the Georgia Baptist Convention’s Jubalheirs, directed by Dr. Jon Duncan.  Several of these talented ladies are members of our home church whom we know quite well, but we are so new to Georgia that we are still becoming acquainted with the wider membership of the Jubalheirs and their Ministers of Worship and home churches.  However, it’s been evident to us, even in a relatively short time period, that the Jubalheirs are women who love to praise the Lord.  Their radiant faces and beautiful voices testify of their love for God and longing to be more like Christ.  Many of the songs in their repertoire have very profound messages of deep faith, so it was an honor when Dr. Duncan selected my anthem, “Much More Than a Song”  for the Jubalheirs’ repertoire not long before our move to Georgia.  “Much More Than a Song”  is a reflective ballad with a message about choosing to praise God in times of trial.  The Jubalheirs have also recorded this song on their CD entitled “New Every Morning.”   When Cindy and I came to Georgia to meet with the Music and Worship Search Committee in 2008, I’d been asked to sing for them.  We sang some worship songs together, and then I sang a solo, choosing “Much More Than a Song.”  I didn’t know that 3 of the women on the search committee were members of the Jubalheirs and had already sung this song until after I finished singing.  It was a fairly new song at the time and was only in it’s second year of inclusion in the repertoire of The Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma.  It never occurred to me that some of the committee members would have not only heard the song but also had sung it in concert.  It’s amazing how God puts things togethers sometimes, and that will always be a special memory for me.   We look forward to many other special times of worship in our home church and around the state of Georgia with our sisters in Christ in the Jubalheirs and our brothers in the Sons of Jubal.

This year, the Jubalheirs are singing one of my newest choral anthems, “Greater.”   They recorded it in September, 2011, for their newest CD project, which has not yet been releasesd.   “Greater”  is also a song about praising God in every circustance.  In the lyrics of  “Greater,” the listener is reminded that our God is greater than any challenge we may face.   And, just like my good friend David Neely (and his wife, Phyllis), who is mentioned on the title page of “Greater,”  I am confident that the women of the Jubalheirs will trust in our great God no matter what life brings.   “Greater” was written for the glory of God and to encourage my friend and all of God’s people.  What a blessing it is to know that the women of the Jubalheirs will share this message with passion and with integrity, choosing to praise the Lord in all of life.

“His name is higher!
His love is deeper!
He reigns forever and ever more!
Alpha, Omega, Master, and Savior…
Far above anything, of His praises we’ll sing
And at His feet we’ll fall.
For our God, yes, our God is greater than all!”

Lyrics from “Greater”
Copyright Travis L. Boyd, WorshipSounds Music

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“Much More Than a Song”  and  “Greater”
and many other songs
are available on our WorshipSounds Music website

Worshipful and affordable music for your Choirs, Ensembles, Soloists, Orchestra, and Congregation

http://www.worshipsounds.com

Click photo above to go to our WorshipSounds website

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Do you know Jesus? 

The decision to ask Jesus to come into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior is the best decision you could ever make!  The one true God is ready to give you forgiveness and eternal life as soon as you understand your need for Him and believe on the name of His only Son, Jesus, for your salvation.  Here’s a blog page link to help you find the answers to your questions about Jesus.  http://www.worshipsounds.wordpress.com/do-you-know-jesus/

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