A Hero's Prayer by Kevin Weed:

Download | Duration: 00:03:34

Christine Huang, flute, Kevin Weed, piano

Yes, even a hero needs to reflect before making a momentous decision.

Download | Duration: 00:03:40

"Will" for Woman's voices; poem by Ella Wilcox Wheeler, music by Kevin Weed.

I was asked to write a piece for Ron Soderwall's 2008 Woodbridge/Concordia Woman's Choral Festival.
The recording here was made at the festival with the 200 or so high school ladies singing, Hanan Yaqub directing, and Kevin Weed accompanying.
Yes, the piano IS too loud. The mics were too close to the 9' Steinway grand! Still it is a good introduction to the piece.

The lyrics are the Poem "Will" by Ella Wilcox Wheeler:

There is no chance, no destiny, no fate,
can circumvent or hinder or control
The firm, the firm resolve of a determined soul.
Gifts count for nothing; will alone is great;

All things give way before it, soon or late.
What obstacle can stay the mighty force
Of the sea-seeking river of in its course,
Or cause the ascending orb of day to wait?

Each well-born soul must win what it deserves.
Let the fool prate of luck. The fortunate
Is (s)he whose earnest purpose never swerves,
Whose slightest action or inaction serves
The one great aim. Why, even Death stands still,
And waits an hour sometimes for such a will.

Waltz in G (The Angel's Waltz), by Kevin Weed.

Download | Duration: 00:02:47

I was asked to play a piece for the Wednesday evening concert of the convention of the National Association of Church Musicians (NACM) for which my sister, Helen, is president. Since I was just finishing writing this waltz at the time, I asked if it would be appropriate, and chairman Linda White liked it. So here is a recording from that concert on the fine Falcone piano at Westwood United Methodist Church. Wednesday, July 14, 2010.

This recording of my Gypsy Waltz is from a 2003 recital. It's not perfect but it's FUN.

Download | Duration: 00:04:54

"Meditation" was written for flute and organ for a church service, but it has been performed in many recitals with piano accompaniment, and with violin, cello or clarinet solo.
The recording offered here is a band arrangement recorded using the Garritan Personal Orchestra with the music computer program, Finale.

The Praise Symphony Orchestra, Helen Weed, conductor, and I, on the bagpipes, got a nice recording of my arrangement of Amazing Grace. This was performed at First Presbyterian Church of Westminster, CA, Feb. 21, 2010.
This arrangement was originally written for organ and then adapted for orchestra.
Kevin

Download | Duration: 00:03:08

Kevin Weed's Harpsichord Concerto was written for a Corona Del Mar High School music department concert.
The Corona Del Mar Madrigals and String Orchestra performed Vivaldi's "Gloria" with Kevin Weed playing on the harpsichord.
The Harpsichord Concerto was written to provide an instrumental piece to highlight the harpsichord on loan from Orange Coast College specially for the evening.

The following link will take you to a video of the concert:

Download | Duration: 00:02:11

- "A Man's A Man For A' That"; "A Highland Lad."

I'm a little late but I wanted to do something Scottish for Robert Burns Birthday, January 25.
Yes, I DO play the bagpipes. The two tunes I recorded have lyrics by Robert Burns, according to Dr. Keith MacDonald in his book, "Songs Of Scotland."

Here are bits of the poems:

A Man's A Man For A' That

Is there for honest Poverty
That hings his head, an' a' that;
The coward slave-we pass him by,
We dare be poor for a' that!
For a' that, an' a' that.
Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The Man's the gowd for a' that.

A Highland Lad (or White Cackade)

A Highland lad my love was born,
The Lowland laws he held in scorn,
But he still was faithfu' to his clan,
My gallant braw John Highland -man.

When a choir I accompany was working on the simple but exquisite round "Non Nobis Domine" by William Byrd, I was inspired with some piano ideas. The singers liked it so I went home and recorded:
Improv on Non Nobis Domine