Bob's Music — Oysterhill.com

Bob’s Music Studio

The projects range from sacred to whimsical.

Many of the recordings here are residue of past performance projects. They were written for special occasions, perhaps, maybe, might have been performed once, and then forgotten.

Others are simply models of compositions that may or may not be performed someday in the future depending on opportunity.

Unless the citations say otherwise all work is original and copyrighted by Bob Lewis. Sheet music is available for most titles. Enquire through the Contact page.

I think this is the first nonet I've written. Trumpet, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, trombone, guitar, piano, bass, drums. Breezy waltz.

Written for some piano students I know. You know who you are!!!!!!

He asked, “Will you marry me?”

She didn’t say yes. She didn’t say no.

She said, “Of course!”

A light, swinging piece for clarinet & piano trio

Your piano tuner needs a little love now and then!

So … it is too hot to go out. If I’m staying in, I’m writing! Uptempo original tune for jazz sextet.

A happy tune for a quiet weekend.

2-Part Invention - with Apologies to J.S.Bach

I have indulged my curiosity. It sort of works. Sort of. A little bit.

Impromptu for 2 or 3 horns and rhythm.

Written in 1980 for the Lakewood Chamber Orchestra. I think it was performed once.

A beautiful, bittersweet place in central America.

Basics. Just stick to the basics.

Leave it to the roses to say what words can never convey.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
- Romans chapter 8, verse 26

Cody came to Oyster Hill!

He is a welcome addition to the wildlife here.

This is for you!

We need some HAPPY around here!

It’s simple - I can handle simple. Just leave it be!

Heart felt. Sincere.

… you had to be there …

It is time to resume those conversations we were having before we were interrupted.

Remembrance of a life devoted to Jesus.

Annie slipped away May 2, 2022. There was never a sweeter spirit in an earthly tent.

Who says it has to be complicated? Not Me! This one is simple. Sort of.

Nothing says ‘you are so worth it’ like a strawberry torte from the Swiss Pastry Shop in Fort Worth, Texas.

Sometimes words get is the way.

A mutual friend mused that someone should write Janie a song. Consider it done!

I have needed to write this for a year. Some things just linger - this is one of those things.

A 1927 tune by Nathaniel Shilkret and Gene Austin arranged for big band. This is a demonstration video intended for a very small audience.

A parting kiss. This would be easy to sing if it just had a lyric …

A simple tune presented in an uncomplicated way.

From the 2018 Album When The Leaves Begin To Fall, reworked with Rhodes piano, and fluegelhorn.

A lifetime is marked by moments that remain in our hearts. When asked if we can spare a moment, consider the potential of the moment.

This one was written as a way to unwind after some challenges ganged up on me. Believe it or not, hard work can be relaxing.

Here is a ballad featuring clarinet. A flute ensemble plays the repeat before the clarinet returns to finish the tune.

It doesn’t come nearly often enough. But when a summer rain comes every living thing enjoys the relief.

Three alto flutes are heard soaking in the sweet rain.

These are interesting times. We are getting near the end of the book!

Here is a smoothed out rendering of a passage from Revelation chapter 19.

Is there any place better than a flower shop? Maybe. But given a choice between the best jail cell in the county and a humble flower shop, I will take the flower shop every time!

The flutes are featured in this pleasant tune.

By the way, (1) music is an art form and (2) I drink a cup of Columbian coffee every morning. Since I wrote this tune BEFORE I had my coffee, it is pre-columbian art.

A slow, bluesy heartbreak ballad.

Clarinet solo in the introduction and on the second time through the form came out pretty good, I think.

Remembering a special person on a special day.

Spray on the repellent, lay back on the chaise lounge, start counting. It might take all night, so bring a friend!

Grab a tumbler full of this!

There is always a place for some fun. Hope you enjoy this!

Hey! You! SLOW DOWN!!!!

If I can find some lyrics this one will be easy to sing. Until then, enjoy a quiet moment.

It’s time for some fun.

Here is a swinging tune from the corner studio!

Occasionally, I find inspiration for my music in nature.

But lately I have found perspiration instead.

An uptempo commentary on the fact that Texas can be uncomfortable at certain times of the year.

The pentatonic scale - 5 notes rather than the more familiar 7 - lends itself to a different pallet of sounds that can yield up some nice sounds. Many old folk songs are based on the pentatonic scale.

The melody is a single voice and limited in range to just an octave. The oboe carries the melody, joined in the middle section by violins for a few measures.

I restricted to accompaniment to string orchestra, not adding even one friend from the woodwind section. Assuming, of course, that oboe players even HAVE friends.

It was time to write something up tempo, so I did.

This is my first project using the Akai EWI5000, a nice wind controller with an impressive onboard sound library. I used the trumpet patch with harmon mute. The device is also capable of sending MIDI to any library I have.

This was written a long time ago. I guess this tune and I sort of grew up together.

I have scored it for harp and alto flute in this recording, but the sheet music is available for flute, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, and alto saxophone as well. The harp is easily replaced with a piano. Just drop me a line and I’ll send a pdf file for your instrument.

After listening to Pagliacci and reading some of the Italian language libretto, I decided it was time for me to write something with an Italian title. And, yes, I can read Italian. And, no, I don’t understand a word of it. I would like to express my gratitude to Ruggero Leoncavallo for writing such inspiring music!

This was an exercise in writing for big band, undertaken before my association with Joshua Experience. I was pleasantly surprised that all the transpositions worked correctly the first time!

Sometimes old songs are like old shirts - you should probably discard them and get something new. But just like old shirts, old songs are just so much more comfortable and infinitely better made. Here is one written in 1976 that I wrote to help me remember how Jesus described Himself.

Having worked to compile a bunch of the music from the past several years into a book it occurred to me that I had models for most of them already. Here are over 50 tunes, more than 3 hours of binge-worthy BobaLew!

Most of the tunes in this collection were written in 2019 or the first half 2020. All were produced in my Corner Studio.

It doesn’t happen often. We had snow in Texas.

A Collection of Original Works

With the help of vocals by Amanda Hutchens and tenor sax by Gary Strother this album project was completed in October of 2018.

There was a prospect in 2020 of working with a 3 horn band. The standard piano trio would be supplemented with a trumpet, a trombone and a tenor sax. It never happened. But if it had, I was ready! Some of these charts work just fine with a single solo horn. You should try one or two with your band!

19 Hymns recorded by me in my living room in my PJs with a cat on my lap. My own arrangements may be heard on What Wondrous Love and How Can I Keep From Singing. The rest are pretty much straight out of one hymnal or another. All selections are in the Public Domain to the best of my knowledge.

A compilation of hymns intended for the listener to sing.

19 more hymns and songs recorded in my living room. Though the whole project was conceived as a Sing Along for my grandchildren, who might not otherwise hear some of these magnificent works, you will probably just want to tap your foot and listen to my arrangements of What A Friend We Have In Jesus and I Have Decided To Follow Jesus. All selection are in the Public Domain to the best of my knowledge.

A compilation of hymns intended for the listener to sing.

With the help of Amanda Hutchens this collection of sing-a-long Christmas carols and hymns was produced in the Highland Studio!

Written in the 1990’s this piece has never been performed publicly.

Didn't Our Hearts Burn - Original Work Copyright ℗ & © 2015 Bob Lewis - In the Gospel of Luke we read of two disciples who encountered Jesus after the resurrection, but didn't know who He was at first. First written for a children's program in the early 1990's, this piece is presented in a more robust arrangement than before!

Didn’t Our Hearts Burn? This was the question that the disciples of Jesus asked each other after He joined them on the road to Emmaus. Written for a children’s choir and performed at a sunrise service long ago.

This was written for a 24-hour prayer service in 2009. As the psalmist notes there are times that we find ourselves praying in the ‘watches of the night’ when our souls are longing for the Lord.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Ye Christians All - Copyright © & ℗ 2020 Bob Lewis ASCAP The text of this hymn by Balthasar Hubmeier (1484-1528) resonates with me in its' reverence for the Word of God. Thanks to TB for bringing it to my attention!

To my knowledge the English translation of this hymn has never been set to music. It just seemed like a wonderful message that needed to be heard!

Repentance - Copyright © & ℗ 2020 Bob Lewis ASCAP As we have humbled ourselves to seek the forgiveness of God, and as we have sought from Him deliverance from pestilence and healing for our sicknesses, we have learned what it means to repent. The text is derived from the second and third chapters of the Book of Lamentations.

As we have humbled ourselves to seek the forgiveness of God, and as we have sought from Him deliverance from pestilence and healing for our sicknesses, we have learned what it means to repent. The text is derived from the second and third chapters of the Book of Lamentations.

Hallelujah

Dance Of The Fallen Leaves - something I observed on my driveway in November

Old Books - Copyright © & ℗ 2017 Bob Lewis ASCAP Originally a piano piece, this work continues to grow - seemly of it's own accord. Scored in this edition for single woodwinds, strings, harp, and piano. 4/29/2020 - added French horn, removed choir

There are so many delights to be found in a collection of old books. I hope you have a stash of your own somewhere.

Independence Strings - Copyright © & ℗ 2019 Bob Lewis ASCAP Three short pieces for strings. Trying out new plug-ins and I am really liking what I hear! The viola is a grand improvement over what I was using before.

If I ever have a string orchestra. I’m ready.

Small orchestra

Adagio - Copyright ℗ 2017 Bob Lewis - I have never written expressly for string quartet before this. It is harder than I thought, but rewarding!

First time writing for string quartet.

God have Mercy. Christ have mercy. Orchestra and choir.

Double bass, piano and mens choir.

May This Cup Be Taken Original creative work Copyright ℗ & © 2015 Bob Lewis. Jesus prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane to be spared the crucifixion, but deferred to the will of the Father each time. Here is that prayer for choir and small orchestra. With narration.

Choir, orchestra, narrator - the prayer in Gethsemane.