New CD features songs
by Bishop and
Methodist Church musicians

By LEONG WENG KAM

A COMPACT DISC of Christian songs from both the East and West produced by the Methodist School of Music (MSM) was launched at the recent Aldersgate Convention in May.


"Endless Praise -­ from East and West" comprises 17 songs and hymns in English, Mandarin and Hokkien written by such great composers from the West as Mendelssohn and Vivaldi as well as several local church musicians, including Lim Swee Hong, Jusuf Kam and Emilia Wong.

Bishop Dr Robert Solomon's debut song, "I Shall Praise You Lord", is also among them. It was set to music by Mr Jusuf Kam, a music director at Wesley Methodist Church. It was sung publicly for the first time at the Aldersgate Service at Paya Lebar Methodist Church on May 24, 2004.

The song is one of more than 30 the Bishop has written but not yet published.

Four more songs are currently being set to music - "Lord, You Are Always There", also by Mr Yusuf Kam, "My Heart Has Become A Dwelling Place", by Ms Pauline Phoon of Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church, "Come Unto Me", by Mr Joshua Goh, also of Paya Lebar Chinese MC, and "There Are Some Who Are Sad", by Mr Lim Swee Hong, who is now studying at Drew University in the United States.

On why he started to write the songs, Bishop Dr Solomon said: "Most of the songs we sing come from overseas, especially the West. We need Asian music in our liturgy.


"But we also want to complement our current repertoire with songs with good theology, good Asian music and themes which have often been overlooked."


To MSM's Principal, Ms Mary Gan, who is the producer of the CD, the new CD has a very special meaning.


She said: "It is produced with joy and thanksgiving to my Heavenly Father for His boundless love and grace for my past 21 years in full-time ministry and with grateful memory of my earthly father, the late Mr Gan Hong Hui, for his love and support for my response to God's call to the ministry."


The late Mr Gan, a businessman, died in 1990 aged 69.


The production cost of the CD is sponsored by the Gan family. Proceeds from the sale of the CD, retailing at $18, will go to the MSM. The CDs are available at the MSM, tel: 6767-5258, and Methodist Centre (6th floor), tel: 6478-4782.

Leong Weng Kam, a member of the Methodist Message Editorial Board, is a member of Wesley Methodist Church.