I had the honor to be apart of the orchestra that performed the world premier of May McDonald’s arrangement of “God Of Our Fathers.” It is a wonderful work that is enjoyable to perform. God of our Fathers starts with a snare drum introduction, low brass comes first with the fanfare theme then the rest of the brass comes with with a Olympian style fanfare the strings lead the choir into the hymn, the musical drama continues to the very end. As with all of Mary McDonald’s works they are very singable for your choir to sing. If there is no orchestra the piece can be preformed with piano accompaniment. This work makes this the 3rd piece this year I have gotten to help premier. All of Mary McDonald pieces are wonderful. What is more interesting though is her musical story.
Mary McDonald was born the youngest of 6 six children in Tennessee. She joked that she and her family grew up in the church, everyday and all summer, free child care you know. She watched the pianist and want to play like her, after hearing beautiful Bach works and hymns she would go home and try to imitate what she had heard in church. McDonald didn’t read a note of music, and when the church organist retired Mary, a teenager auditioned to be the church organist. She said she walked up to the organ and opened it up, she had a book with her that she placed up there on the organ. She had seen the organist do that so she put a book up on the stand. She played as if she had been playing the organ her whole life, and this was the first time that she had ever touched one. She played until college where she attended a small Baptist college in the area as a Home Economics major. One day when Mary needed some inspiration because she was having a tough time in chemistry, she went to the chapel. A woman was practicing on the organ and after she was done Mary asked if she could play the organ. Mary was asked to play the next church service. She walked into the service nervous and having seen others put a book up on the organ before playing she brought her chemistry book. She opened the organ and put her chemistry book on the organ. She performed the service and afterward she saw the head of the music department headed right toward her. She held out her hand to shake and he did not take her hand but asked her who she was. Mary told him she was a freshman Home Economics major. He told Mary that only Junior and Senior music majors who studied organ were allowed to play at service. His wife who was the organ teacher came and tapped Mary on the shoulder and told her to come and see her. Mary started her formal instruction on the organ.
Mary McDonald went on to perform and write music, her inspiration is the Christian hymnal and the Bible. She has composed for the last 30 years. If you have to honor to hear her perform she is a wonderful keyboardist. I must admit that I am so very jealous. I have worked and I work everyday for my musical ability to receive it as a gift from God or a higher source seems so unfair to me. But Mary McDonald does not waste her gift and shares it where she is meant to share her talent. I am sure she could cross over to band, orchestra, and choral works that were non-secular but why when you have the great success she has with Christian music.