One Gold Rose

This is a piece I recently performed at Tennessee Technological University for their John Lennon Songwriting Competition. (The winner gets their piece submitted to the national competition. I was not selected.)

It is a male and female duet with piano accompaniment.

I would like your input on it. Where should I submit it, should I do a solo arrangement, where should I go with it...etc....

Here is the live recording link:

SoundClick artist: J.P. Dennis - Composer, Pianist, Songwriter

Update 10/19/09: I have finally gotten the video edited correctly and put on Youtube!

Below are the finale and PDF files.

About the song

This is about a gold rose that my uncle Truman Ledgerwood left for my grandmother, Roberta E. Ledgerwood, when she passed away. It is a symbol of the love he had for his mother as well as her beautiful characteristics.

Lyrics

Chorus:

One gold rose to touch my heart

(With your love,)

And to make my soul take flight!

(with your love!)

Verse 1:

Mother dear, you are just like a rose,

(Peaceful, bright)

Flourishing the beauty that I know,

(Loving, kind)

Teaching me to follow God's command,

(Thankful, faithful)

Praying that I would just understand

(Humble, meek)

That I am in His arms.

Chorus

Verse 2:

Mother dear, I long to see your face,

(Smooth and pure)

And to feel your love and sweet embrace.

(Comfort, warmth)

Only time can tell when I will be

(Perfect, divine)

Free with you through all eternity.

(Happy, joyful)

I want to be with you.

Chorus

Mother dear, I leave you with this rose

As a symbol of my love for you.

Rest in peace and comfort with the Lord.

I will return to you.

One Gold Rose.pdf

One Gold Rose.MUS

Hey Johnny! It's very pretty, and I really think the piano part is especially delicate. I think the main criticism I have is that your baritone melody sits almost completely in the middle part of the baritone range; it feels like it is missing some of the beautiful and powerful upper range of the baritone voice.

Hey Johnny! It's very pretty, and I really think the piano part is especially delicate. I think the main criticism I have is that your baritone melody sits almost completely in the middle part of the baritone range; it feels like it is missing some of the beautiful and powerful upper range of the baritone voice.

Very good point. Thank you.

Agreed. This is a very pleasant piece. I kept expecting the harmony to go somewhere other than I and IV, but the simplicity goes well with the peaceful mood that you're trying to convey.

Your singers did a very nice job as well. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

FMcG

very soothing... chords tend to be a bit over-used,,, but thats not a problem for this genre of music- its very pleasant...well done! how did you do in that competition?

very soothing... chords tend to be a bit over-used,,, but thats not a problem for this genre of music- its very pleasant...well done! how did you do in that competition?

I did not get first place or runner-up. But there was a lot of talent songwriters there which really surprised me.

I am thinking about doing a solo arrangement in which I would do a lot more with moving around. But yes, I went to a more of a reverent tone for the piece.

Thanks everyone for your comments so far.

How do you think a solo arrangement would be for a soprano?

Great news! I have gotten the video posted on Youtube!

I think it would sound better as a soprano solo. I don't like the piano part, but that's just me. I like the lyrics. I also like how they match the melody.