November 2009 Offering Of The Month:
"To Be Or To B"
Written by Edward Jerlin
© 2006 Everlasting Arms Records & Publishing - All Rights Reserved


To B Or To B

This is the piece of music that first sparked the
"Monthly Musical Offering" idea in November of 2006.
It's been held back until it felt "right" to share it.

Given that we're probably wrapping up the "Monthly"
concept at the end of the year after a three-year run,
it feels right to break this one out at this time.

I sat down at the piano in the studio one evening and fell into the brief 7/8 catchy melodic idea in the key of B that opens the tune, which is returned to numerous times throughout the piece. As I started messing around with it, trying out some variations, I decided to hit the record button and do a quickie take so that I didn't forget the idea. The take that ensued -- which was entirely improvised on the spot (except for that opening repeating melodic idea) -- was so smooth, so full of joy and so much fun to listen to that I decided to keep it, despite a couple of minor flubs. (I've tried a few times since then to "mimic" it and do a "clean" version, but none of the attempts since then had quite the same "vibe".)

The next evening, I did a couple of takes of drums to the piano part. As with the piano, I simply kept the 2nd take in its entirety despite a couple of minor flubs because the dynamic and interaction between the two instruments seemed very natural and "organic" to my ears. For the bass guitar part, I transcribed a chord chart and followed the other instruments tightly, rather than just improvise a part as I did with the piano and drums.

What to call it?

Well, it's in the key of B and it's a joyful, optimistic piece. Despite a couple of meandering phrases, it continues to return to the original riff in B. So in that spirit, the title "To Be Or To B" was chosen.

As I pondered on what the piece's fate would eventually be, I thought, "It's a shame nobody will hear it as it doesn't fit into any CD projects or other music I have. I've accumulated a lot of those over the years...

What if I just put it up on the web site for free as a little curio?

And the "Monthly Musical Offering" idea was soon hatched.
I may add organs or guitars or other instruments at some point, but for now, here it is in its original form three years hence.

Enjoy!


A lot has happened since then.
A lot of music has been recorded and shared.
Pastor Jim's unexpected passing last year...
"On Broken Wings" has just been completed and released.
The concert last month...

We're not sure if we'll be continuing the "Free Monthly Music" idea into 2010. We're planning to dive full force into our next CD, which will be taking up a lot of our time and efforts. It's been a nice 3-year run and we'll see what the future holds. As always, as we consider our next direction, we'll be bathing Everlasting Arms in prayer. We appreciate your prayers as we endeavor to continue completing Jim's music over the next several years, God willing.