All music and lyrics are Copyright (C) 2003 by Donna Neibaur and are used by
permission.
Recording Engineer: Gary Neibaur. Percussion Consultant: Rob Neibaur
 |
Nucleus (2:55) | ||||||
|
Bo Constrictor (2:00) | ||||||
|
The Littlest Dragon (0:40) | ||||||
|
Halloween Morn (1:05) | ||||||
|
Suite Dauleta:
| ||||||
|
I'll Walk With My Savior (4:28) | ||||||
|
Phillip the Celt (1:19) |
Introduction
This CD is a compilation of music over the last eight years. The direction of the CD starts with high energy and calms towards the end. A variety of genres is presented, but this represents our family which is where our lives center. Thus the name Nucleus.
This was the first song I wrote for karate demonstrations. The motivation for writing it was for our three karate boys to do a group kata (series of karate moves). During each section of this song a son is showcased performing his own kata routine. At the end they migrate together to demonstrate many of their karate skills in a combined routine. They look fabulous! This fulfills a vision I have seen for some time.
This song was customized for a black belt demonstration using the han bo. The entire black belt class is preparing to demo this routine at an open house for the new karate dojo. As with the previous song, seeing the routine in action adds the next level of aesthetics to the entire composition. It truly comes alive!
This is the beginning of a song composed for a group of very young karate students called Lil' Dragons.
Okay, I know it's the wrong holiday and I'm not even a Halloween person! However, this is a natural byproduct of a melody I was working on for another karate demo. Every time I played it I kept hearing a Halloween version. So early on Halloween morning this year I finally gave in and put this together. Then I turned up the volume and woke the family up! It has become a family favorite.
Suite Dauleta
This song was my first serious composition in 1995, dedicated to a high school friend, Dauleta Osko, who died shortly after high school. The first movement, Boogie, reminds me of the fun piano-playing sessions we would have together. Gone Away pays tribute to her untimely death and Friendship is a reminder how important good friends are.
This is my gift of the season to family and friends. To share this song was the motivation for putting this CD together. Everyone has different levels of learning the atonement of Jesus Christ throughout their lives, and I am grateful I was able to capture one level of my learning through music. My understanding that Christ is the "center" of my life has helped me to grow. The phrase "finding your center" commonly related to Eastern philosophy was recently revealed to me as finding my "center" in Christ. This song was originally composed as a vocal solo. I am not a vocalist, but a good friend of mine, Stacey Darais, has sung this a couple of times doing a beautiful interpretation. Orchestrating it was the natural follow-up. The lyrics to I'll Walk With My Savior are as follows:
I'll Walk With My Savior
[Introduction]
I'll walk with my Savior,
With each step He'll guide my way.
The path he shows me will lead me home
To my Father's love each day.I'll walk with my Savior,
An example to me,
Secure in His love and atonement,
Feeling content and peace.[Interlude]
Trials test my soul,
A time for me to grow.
The pain and grief is a heavy load.
Why must I walk alone?I fall on my knees
And remember Gethsemane!
In the depths of my despair
Humbly I ask in prayer,
"Help me to find the strength to endure
Calm my troubled heart with Thy loving cure."He listened to me.
"Precious child, I'll care for you.
Trust in me. Do your part.
Learn and search for me in your heart."[Interlude]
I'll walk with my Savior,
My hope is now renewed.
My joyful heart is filled
With thanks and solemn gratitude.I'll walk with my Savior,
With each step He'll guide my way.
The path He shows me will lead me home
To my Father's love each day.
Phillip originally composed this melody on his saxophone as an assignment for school. The melody is pure and classic because once it gets into your head you can't stop humming it. He also entered this into the Reflections program at school.