God Cares

Grade Level 3

Year: 2001

Type: Eb/F Solo

Composer: James Curnow

Program Notes:

A child’s comment prompted this gospel song.  W. Stillman Martin (music: 1862-1935) had been invited to preach at a church a few hours away from his home, but his wife became ill that Sunday morning, he was about to cancel his speaking engagement when his young son spoke up, “Father, don’t you think that if God wants you to preach today, He will take care of Mother while you are away?“  Martin made the trip, and when he returned home later that day he found that his wife, Civilla D. Martin, had written this song in his absence.  That evening, he composed the music.  The arrangement presented here features a soloist in a set of rhapsodic type variations, which are designed to coordinate, to some degree, with the thoughts of each verse.

American Instrumental Ensemble Series (AIES/ABES)