Dave Shrewsbury - Piano Player, Musician, Recording Engineer

Now Available!

Dave Shrewsbury's new CD, "Be Still My Soul"

Or, you can buy "Be Still My Soul" as a digital download for your iPod or portable music device. Get it instantly by clicking the iTunes button!

Also available at:

Community United Methodist Church, Wayland, MA
United Methodist Temple, Beckley, WV
The Christian Bookstore, Beckley, WV (at Cranberry Crossing Center)

Track List:

1. Be Still, My Soul
2. Great Is Thy Faithfulness
3. In This Very Room
4. There's Something About That Name
5. How Great Thou Art
6. Spirit Song
7. His Eye Is On The Sparrow
8. People Need The Lord
9. As The Deer
10. Be Thou My Vision
11. J'rai La Voir Un Jour
12. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
13. El Shaddai
14. On Eagle's Wings
15. Maria By Moonlight (based on "Ave Maria")
16. It Is Well With My Soul

Audio Clips
Click the titles below to hear some short excerpts from "Be Still, My Soul":

Notes About Select Songs:

“Be Still, My Soul”
This song has an interesting history. Written in 1899, the tune, “Finlandia”, was part of a patriotic symphonic poem by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, and is unofficially referred to as the Finnish national song. This tune is a favorite of many people at Community United Methodist Church, including Betty and Larry Nilson. Several different songs are set to this tune, but the words to “Be Still My Soul” were written in 1752 by Katharina von Schlegel and translated into English in 1855, both before the tune was written.

“In This Very Room”
This song is a favorite of my mother, and is sung by Becky Johnson, a member of my home church in Beckley, WV. Becky and her husband Dan (who is the pastor at United Methodist Temple) have been two of my biggest sources of musical encouragement over the years. Their daughters Anne and Kate, who are both gorgeous singers, have also been good friends and great music partners since I've known them. One of my most cherished memories is Christmas Eve at United Methodist Temple, performing “O Holy Night” with Anne and Kate singing, and myself and Dan Bailey playing classical guitars.

“How Great Thou Art”
Chrissy Almeida and I arranged this version of How Great Thou Art one summer in West Virginia. The song has great emotional impact, and we wanted to capture that through a wide range of dynamics and tempo, as well as the soulful gospel feel.

“His Eye Is On The Sparrow”
This song is a favorite of many people, and I have always wanted to perform it with my friend Chip Atha. From brith, Chip had a problem with his vocal chords, and doctors believed he would never be able to speak. Miracles do happen, and Chip not only became able to speak, but was blessed with an amazing singing voice and a real passion for ministry. When you listen to this song, you are literally hearing a miracle.

“As The Deer”
This is a very popular contemporary praise song, and I’ve always thought it would sound wonderful with a violin playing the melody. I was lucky to meet Hanneke Cassel in college, and it’s a joy to have her playing on this song. Hanneke has a long list of accolades, including the National Scottish Fiddle Championship, and she has performed and taught across the U.S., Scotland, Sweden, China, New Zealand, France, England, and Austria.

“J’irai La Voir Un Jour”
I was first introduced to this song through Chrissy Almeida, who used to cantor at a French-speaking Catholic church. It’s a song of hope, and deals with the subject of seeing Mary in heaven one day. The lyrics loosely translate to: “I will see her one day, In heaven, in my garden. Yes I will see Mary, my joy and my love. Heaven, heaven, heaven, I will see her there one day. I will see her one day, I will join with the angels, To sing her praises and to form her court. Heaven, heaven, heaven, I will see her there one day."

As an interesting side note, the piano eighth notes during the intro of this song are the exact same tempo as the turn signal on my car. Is this true for anyone else?

“People Need The Lord”
I saw Dino Kartsonakis perform this song when I was very young, and the tune has always stuck with me. This is one of my favorite songs to play.

“Maria By Moonlight”
I had always wanted to learn Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata but never got around to it. One day, Chrissy and I were playing through “Ave Maria”, and when the interlude came around I accidentally landed on a minor chord. It instantly made me think of Moonlight Sonata, and I realized that the two pieces would fit together beautifully. If Schubert and Beethoven had ever jammed together, I suspect this arrangement would have been created 200 years ago.

Special Guests:

Chrissy Almeida: Chrissy is a very talented singer and musician whom I have had the pleasure of working with for the past 10 years. She is currently the choir director at my church, Community United Methodist, and has worked at various churches in MA and CT from a young age. She sings the very uplifting arrangement of "How Great Thou Art", the beautiful French tune "J'rai La Voir Un Jour", as well as the unique arrangement, "Maria By Moonlight".

Becky Johnson: Becky is a member of my former church, United Methodist Temple in Beckley, WV, and a wonderfully gifted singer. She graces us with lovely vocals to the contemporary song, "In This Very Room" by Ron Harris.

Chip Atha: Chip Atha is an extraordinary singer whom I have known for many years, and who has toured the country with various choral groups. He is also a new father! (Congratulations Chip!) He is singing a powerful arrangement of "His Eye Is On The Sparrow".

Hanneke Cassel: Hanneke is a world-renowned violinist whom I had the pleasure of meeting in college. She has won many national fiddle awards and adds a wonderful texture to any style of music she plays. She lends her talent to the contemporary favorite "As The Deer", and the classic French song "J'rai La Voir Un Jour".

Technical Recording Questions:

What kind of piano was used to record “Be Still My Soul”?

I played on two different pianos, both Yamaha C7 grands. (My favorite!) The one used on most of the songs was a 1999 piano with a brighter voicing. I also used a 1983 one with a darker voicing for songs like “Maria By Moonlight” and “People Need The Lord”.

What kind of microphones were used?

Each piano was recorded with a pair of Schoeps CMC6/Mk4 mics, and a Neumann KM-54 tube mic, all through API 3124 preamps into 24 bit RADAR with Nyquist 96K converters. Chrissy’s vocals were recorded with a Soundelux E-47 tube mic through a Neve 1272 preamp. Hanneke’s violin was recorded with a Coles 4038 ribbon mic and a Beyer M88. If you’re keeping track, you can see why it cost me so much to record this album. ☺

Were Becky and Chip’s vocals recorded elsewhere?

Yes, Chip Atha’s vocal was recorded at his home in Cleveland, TN, and delivered by the magic of the internet. Becky Johnson’s vocal was recorded at Dan Bailey’s home studio in Beckley, WV, and delivered by the magic of the United States Postal Service.