Fork In The Road Music » Songs

The Christmas Song Project is Complete

Russell Martin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 06:03:06 +0000

On December 12 I challenged myself to post 12 instrumental Christmas songs in 12 days. My hope was that taking on a project like this, one that required daily action, would help me to be more consistent with my blogging, as well as to challenge me in my piano playing and writing.

I also have always wanted to release an instrumental Christmas CD. Mostly for friends and family, to give as gifts, but thought I could also maybe sell a few to those looking for some nice Christmas music. I thought that this would help me wrap all of those goals up into one single project.

So I sat down, nearly every day, at the keyboard. I hooked it into my computer, fired up my software and played the days Christmas song. I had some set backs along the way. First I work at a church, and the last few weeks before Christmas can be a little hectic. My family came in the week before Christmas, which limited my recording time. And finally my son is now 9 months old. Helping to take care of him also added to the challenge. I used a few christmas songs that I had put up on my Lullaby CD, and doubled up a few days, and was able to catch back up.

Finally the project is complete, and available for you to download. I am embedding the list of all the songs below. You can download them all at once by clicking the down arrow at the top right of the player, or one at a time by clicking download by each track.

I am offering these free to you through January 6th. What I would like from you, is for you to let me know what you think. I am considering putting these on a CD and making it available next year. Which songs would you definitely include on that CD, which ones would you leave off, what new songs would you add. I would love your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.

12 Days of Christmas Songs by Russell Martin

12 Days of Christmas Music – #11 The Friendly Beasts

Russell Martin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:55:07 +0000

The #11 song of the 12 Days of Christmas Music is , “The Friendly Beasts”

I also have made it easier to download. You no longer need to go to a website and enter a code. Just click download on the song below.

The Friendly Beasts by Russell Martin

If you haven’t downloaded the previous Christmas songs you can download them here.

12 Days of Free Christmas Songs – #3 Starlight

Russell Martin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 04:41:34 +0000

The third of the 12 Days of Free Christmas Songs is one that I put on my Lullaby CD called “Starlight”. It is an instrumental version of a song I co-wrote back in High School.

You can listen to the song using the Sound Cloud player below. To download go to www.volummonster.com and enter the code 12dayschristmas3

Starlight by Russell Martin

Click here to catch up on the previous 12 Days of Free Christmas Songs

Vote for “Lord Let Your Love”

Russell Martin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 04:51:04 +0000

***This contest is now over.. however I need your votes on another song.. and this time I could win prizes… Check it out!!!***

For a few years I have been a part of an online community of independent christian artists called Indie Heaven. I can sell my songs, communicate with fans and connect with other artists. Every month I can participate in their Fan Faves contest where I submit one song to be voted on throughout the month. If I’m lucky my song can be chosen to go on to the Top 20 list

This month I have submitted one of my favorites “Lord Let Your Love.” Here’s how you can help.

1. Go to the Fan Faves chart on Indie Heaven

2. Scroll down to find “Lord Let Your Love” by Russell Martin

3. Click on 1-5 stars

4. Tell your friends to do step 1-4

5. Repeat tomorrow.

Yes.. you can vote once per day, every day, so I encourage you to do so. While there make sure and purchase the “Hopes Prayers and Lullabies” CD. All proceeds from it go to help our adoption process.

Sunday Setlist 01/16/11

Russell Martin — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 03:18:19 +0000

This Sunday had to be one of the most powerful communion services I have been a part of. When it started though I wasn’t sure if it would work at all. We celebrate communion on the third Sunday of every month. This week we had a retired pastor who was leading the communion part of the service. He had been a pastor for many years in the Methodist Church, and really liked using one of the old Services of Word and Table. We like to do different things, so that wasn’t the problem. The problem was that the words I had thought he would be using, for the screens, were not quite the same as the book he was to be following. So 15 minutes before the service I was editing, typing, and changing. Then I wasn’t able to find it.

Lucky I have an awesome tech team and they were able to find the words, make the corrections and have everything ready to go by the time that Communion rolled around. Something tells me they did not hear much of the sermon. (Hey guys it will be online Tuesday).

Our first song was “Everywhere I Go” by Lincoln Brewster. Being a little hyped up from the word mix up just a few minutes earlier, my heart was racing, and so was the tempo. If you know the song, you know that it’s doing all you can to get the words spit out at the correct tempo. Knock it up a few beats per minute, and it’s nearly impossible.

During our announcements I was able to take a breath before we started “All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises”. I started the guitar as normal, band came in, vocals sounded good and we were off. But I settled in, and relaxed when I could hear voices inside my head. Yeah, some of you may think that’s normal, but these were the voices of the congregation singing such that I heard it through my headphones.

Then was our sermon “God Names us Before We Were Born” from Isaiah 49:1-7. Our Pastor talked about the importance of names, how God has a name for us, and how we are to be a light to the nations.

I am amazed but now not surprised now how things work out. I had moved our next song to the offertory from another slot to help with timing issues. The song “Salt and Light” fit right into what Danny had talked about in the message.

Usually after the offering we will sing a song to move us into communion, and “Here I Am to Worship” worked great. By this time I am playing with only one earbud in because I love listening to the congregations voices. Since Kerri Crocker was leading this one I could just play piano and listen. Almost forgot to play piano a few times.

Then came communion. We do communion a few different ways, at different times. Sometimes we will use the formal liturgy in our current hymnal. Sometimes the pastors will use a more informal communion liturgy, without the congregational responses etc. This time we used the order that I grew up with going to church as a child. It is written in more formal english, using some words that we no longer use, especially in a contemporary worship service.

We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: (Prayer of Humble Access 1662 Revision)

One might think that a 500 year old prayer would not fit well between songs written 5 or 10 years ago. And maybe for some it did not work. I can only speak for myself when I say that It was beautiful and powerful. It could have worked for many reasons. I think, though, that it worked well because it was different. The responses were not what the congregation was used to, so you had to pay attention, read the words, hear them again for the first time.

We sang “All I Need is You” and “We Fall Down” during the communion time. After an invitation we closed with a fast version of “Father of Lights”

Well, that’s how our Sunday went. Check out what other churches did on The Worship Community Sunday Setlists.

Sunday Setlist 11/28/10

Russell Martin — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 20:14:05 +0000

We started the advent season this week in the Xperience Service. Advent is the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Eve. Though there is some debate on whether you should sing Christmas songs during Advent or not, we usually begin to slip a few Christmas carols in along with other songs that go along with the theme of the week.

This week the sermon was “Walking in the Light” from this week’s scripture Isaiah 2:1-5. Tommy Burton talked about, what the superscription over our lives read? What would the superscription over your church read?

Our songs were

Today is the Day- Lincoln Brewster

Come thou Long Expected Jesus- Hymn

Hosanna (Praise is Rising)- Paul Baloche

Flower -Kerri Crocker

Heart of Worship- Matt Redman

Gloria- Mercy me

Overall a great Sunday. Was great to pull out the in ears and listen to the congregation singing along.

Next week will be our all Christmas Music Sunday so we are preparing this week for that.

This is part of theworshipcommunity.com Sunday Setlist. Be sure and click the link, head over and see what other churches did this week.

Make sure and check out my Hopes Prayers and Lullabies CD. An instrumental piano CD raising money for our adoption process. Order from Indie Heaven. Also join the Hopes Prayers and Lullabies Facebook Page and keep up with our journey.

Friday Giveaway #1: What Child is This?

Russell Martin — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 05:14:02 +0000

About a month ago I put together an instrumental cd called Hopes prayers and Lullabies. It is 45 minutes of original piano compositions. I did include an arrangement of one of my favorite Christmas hymns that worked well for a lullaby CD, “What Child is This?”

Now that Thanksgiving has ended and Christmas season has begun! I thought this would make a great Friday Giveaway. Just right click on the link below and save target as.

If you enjoyed this I hope you would consider buying the entire Hopes Prayers and Lullabies cd. All proceeds go to help us to adopt a child.

Breathe Your Love In Me

Russell Martin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 02:07:55 +0000

Sunday Setlist 08/15/10

Russell Martin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:21:48 +0000

love the fact that we celebrate communion once a month at our church. This was one of those Sundays. Our regular drummer, and guitar players were out for the week so we were honored to have one of our youth band members fill in on drums, and new friend Jimmy Callicot play guitar with us. (He’ll play next week too).

Since we had one of our youth drummers playing we chose songs that both the Youth band and Xperience Band were familiar with. We started out with One Way, then Everlasting God. Pastor Danny Wayman brought the message “Receiving Promises by Faith” based on Hebrews 11:29-12:2.

After the message we had the honor of praying for Stacey Pool on the day she left to teach in Africa. (check out her story on her own blog (discipleofgrace.blogspot.com). We sang Blessed Be Your Name, and then How He Loves for offering. Then it was time for communion. After the elements were consecrated we played Lead Me to the Cross. We finished up with the invitation song You Never Let Go.

So what happened in your worship service? Share it, and read what others are doing on the Worship Community Sunday Setlists

Worship Recap 4.25.10

Russell Martin — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:55:10 +0000

Here are the songs we sang this Sunday…

Tell the World

Ancient of Days

All Because of Jesus

Word of God Speak

Jesus Messiah

What did you sing?