Glenn Zervas Music Productions

God's Own Strength

2011-10-03T14:34:00.002-04:00

God is bigger than everything or anyone. How could one express that grandness in a musical production?
Many people have tried. "God's Own Strength" is my musical picture of how big and powerful he is!

The acompanied video in no way pictures God's awesome being and greatness. This is where you come in!Let's team up with your film or video to express in our hearts who is he.

This song could be used for a triumphant ending , an exhilarating battle or the grand hope for a new tomorrow in a film, video or commercial project.

It is available for use at: http://www.glennzervas.com/royalty-free-pg1.html

Every sound was recorded and played by Glenn Zervas at Glenn Zervas Music Productions

Sea Breeze- Composing a tropical sounding instrumental

2011-09-23T17:59:00.000-04:00

The instrumental song "Sea Breeze" will take you on a journey into a pleasant vibe found on a tropical island.

For me the beauty of song writing and arranging is that you can go to places in your music that you want to be--- even if it isn't reality! I wrote this at a time when I needed a gentle sea breeze, white sandy beaches, and warm ocean waters to soothe my soul.

The summer of 2011 had been a time of healing and recovery for me. ( I had knee replacement surgery in July). Consequentially we had not been able to go away on any vacation.

I wrote this song " Sea Breeze" as a product of my imagining being on a Caribbean island. It helps me be in a vacationing mood even though I've never been to any tropical islands.

The video of this song is posted below!

The instrumental track "Sea Breeze"( minus the video) is available as royalty free music- for use in your film, video or commercial. Contact me at gzguitar@earthlink.net . To hear other instrumental tracks go to
http://www.glennzervas.com/royalty-free-pg1.html

"Seabreeze" is now the theme song to the internet radio show Bizzology Buzz-- http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bizologybuzz

Many thanks to Laura Brownlee who was once in Aruba and took these great photos. See:
Laura Brownlee's Natural Expressions
http://www.laurabrownlee.blogspot.com/
glaurab@embarqmail.com

Recording your voice with backing tracks

2011-02-18T13:38:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder if you can sing?--Jessica Chernes did and one night in november she found out for sure that she could. She confirmed what her family and friends already suspected. She is an excellent singer. This was proven when she booked studio time at Glenn Zervas Music Produtions located in Fredon a town in the Newton area of Sussex County.

Jessica purchased 2 of her favorite songs from Walmart Music Downloads: http://mp3.walmart.com/store/search?action=all&keyword=karioke

These are backing tracks with no vocals ( Karaoke). Both songs were then recorded at the studio with Jessica singing her vocals. Her singing was then blended together with the music. You can hear her version of "Temporary Home" -- a Carrie Underwood song below.

The results are stunning. A star is born. She may have a future on American Idol.

Glenn Zervas Music Productions is available for your singing or any other recording in general. Blues guitarists -- if you want to hear yourself soloing with a blues band -Call 973-383-7716 or see www.glennzervas.com or gzguitar@earthlink.net

Glenn having recorded 5 self produced albums is also avaible for guitar, bass, songwriting and digital recording lessons.

We Three KIngs + The Township Journal story

2010-11-13T07:58:00.000-05:00

We Three Kings --Video

This is a story posted in the Township Journal dated nvember 11th 2010:

NEW JERSEY > ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT UPDATED: NOVEMBER 12, 2010 Post a Comment Print this story Email this story Fredon guitarist releases CD named for local park By Laurie Gordon þ FREDON — Just in time for Christmas, local artist Glenn Zervas, has released a new CD featuring blues-rock guitar renditions of classic Christmas songs.

“The inspiration for this production was my love of Christmas music and my love of blues-rock guitar,” the Fredon resident said. “I wanted to bring attention to these classic songs to people who enjoy blues-rock music. My goal was to play the best guitar I could, within creative arrangements.”

The CD was recorded at Glenn’s Guitar Studio, located in his Fredon home. The studio is used for teaching guitar and bass, and also for recording projects for others.

“All instrument sounds were played on acoustic and electric guitar, bass, and guitar synthesizer,“ Zervas said, “And the ambient night sounds on Silent Night were recorded from a microphone placed outside our house at night.”

The CD is entitled “Lodestar,” which, as locals know, is the name of a popular park located on Route 94 across from The Fredon School. Zervas said, “I always wondered what the name of the park in Fredon “Lodestar” meant. I looked it up and it’s defined as a star that shows the way and also something that serves as a guide or on which the attention is fixed. Well this describes who "Jesus is to me". Zervas added, “I didn’t want this album to have a typical ‘Christmassy’ look about it so I chose Lodestar because it is different.

Included are “Silent Night,” “The First Noel,” and other classics.

Zervas will be debuting this CD on Nov. 20 at Crossroads Coffeehouse in Flanders, and also at The Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council’s art opening on Dec 4 and the Sparta Library on Dec 8th

For time and directions to the debuts or to purchase the CD, contact Zervas at gzguitar@earthlink.net.

To hear and download Lodestar go to: http://www.audiolife.com/store/GlennZervas/Albums.aspx for more info about Glenn see: http://www.glennzervas.com/

Here is a new video from Lodestar---------We Three Kings

Angels We Have Heard on High

2010-11-10T20:50:00.000-05:00

From the new album "Lodestar"- here is a video of the song "Angels we Have Heard on High"

Performed with a blues - rock guitar sound- this is my interpretation of this classic christmas carol.

Thats me playing all the instruments!

To download this album go to http://www.audiolife.com/store/GlennZervas/Albums.aspx

For more info see http://www.glennzervas.com/

The First Noel

2010-11-06T12:40:00.000-04:00

From the Album "Lodestar"- Glenn Zervas - A Christmas instrumental album Lodestar - Glenn Zervas's 5th instrumental album- is a fresh approach to Christmas music played in a blues - rock guitar style! ...

Taking on classic Christmas songs, Glenn plays all the instruments to give these sacred songs a new twist. Among those included are Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, The First Noel, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, We Three Kings, O Come All Ye Faithful and more.

The purpose of this album is to bring fans of Blues - Rock guitar to be reacquainted with traditional sacred songs as Jesus is proclaimed as the Lodestar!

To download as mp3’s and also hear Glenn's other albums go to http://www.audiolife.com/store/GlennZervas/Albums.aspx

Copies can also be purchased by contacting Glenn at gzguitar@earthlink.net or from Glenn directly

For more info see www.glennzervas.com

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"Heart at Rest" - The art of playing instrumental guitar and scripture meditation

2010-04-20T06:32:00.000-04:00

Meditating on God's word is vital and playing instrumental guitar can help! Being immersed in Godly thoughts from the scriptures helps me keep my thoughts on God's purposes, brings me peace, gives direction, helps me deal with stress, and brings me an awareness of his presence! Often I use my guitar for background soothing sounds as my mind meditates on the Word of God. It works for me in many ways. This is an example of how:

Sometimes the worry's of the day can overtake me! Problems too big to solve! Mysteries with no clues! and so on........-- I need to take these to the Lord and cast them specifically on Jesus.

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you "1 Peter 5:7

Rather than contemplate over and over again the heaviness in my heart , I try to take immediate positive action by casting my cares on the Lord. I will name these troubles , desires, needs specifically --one by one. I need to be rid of them! -- And as I do this I am meditating on -1 Peter 5:7.

Meanwhile--with the guitar I will play groups of chords that I know will go well together or other combinations that I've never tried.(It doesn't really matter!) I don't necessarily play any songs.

For example I could start with a "D" major chord-- than add or remove fingers to add melody to the chord. Changing chords could follow- I am just letting a flow of melody notes and chords resonate. Listen to the guitar in the "Heart of Rest" video posted below for an example of this style of guitar playing.

In the meantime- I am naming my anxieties and casting them on the Lord . As this goes on there may be no musical plan or structure. There doesn't need to be. But the one thing happening is that the guitar is giving me a sound of musical peace and tranquility that the Holy Spirit can multiply. Sort of like a "peace that passes all understanding" -see Phil 4:7
These sweet sounds of Worship guitar create an environment of joy and thanksgiving as I present my requests to our Lord Jesus.

As this progresses I can enter a deeper place of worship. I am now able to go further into meditation of the Word.

Positive scriptures to meditate on:

Among many here are some of the bible verses that think and pray on while playing my acoustic guitar:

"surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"--1 Corinthians 2:9

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me" John 14:1

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" Proverbs 3:5-6

Gradually all of these thoughts lead me to this spiritual place:

" You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you " Isaiah 26:3

Now back to the guitar. These times of musical meditation and prayers may have led me to write "Heart at Rest" . Although not trying to write a song -as a songwriter it usually happens eventually anyway .

Incidentally "Heart of Rest " is one of my compositions that is not written in a key that stays in one place. In other words I don't know what key it is in.

Otherwise "Heart at Rest is the title track from my acoustic album -"Heart at Rest" Recorded in the summer of 2009 it is a collection of original solo pieces http://www.glennzervas.com/. It is available at http://www.audiolife.com/store/GlennZervas/Albums.aspx.

I hope you are blessed by the ideas written here. Please share with me your comments as well as signing up as a follower or subscriber to this blog.-- God Bless -- Glenn

I Am Your God- Isaiah 43:1-3

2010-04-09T14:27:00.000-04:00

I Am Your God- Guitar worship music using acoustic fingerstyle guitar and guitar synths to make scriptures come alive

As a guitarist, songwriter and worshipper of Jesus - and traveler through this life- I need to keep my focus on Jesus Christ and his promises of hope , love, and redemption. Life is difficult, sometimes joyous, sometimes painful as you all know. I use bible scriptures to remind me of the good things God promises. This helps me " be transformed by the renewing of the mind" -see Romans 12:3.

Putting scripture to music is my way of - expressing those words as mine , making them even more beautiful and sharing them with you.- This is why I wrote " I Am Your God"--Here's what it says to me:--- no matter what I go through , God is with me-- "Never will I leave you nor forsake you"- see Jos 1:5

The Lyrics

"When you walk through the waters"--Water can be a lyrical allusion to our experiences both good and bad. As water can be refreshing sometimes flooding can make the waters too deep--( puzzling, challenging, strenuous, tiring ,ect)

" I will be with You"- Nevertheless, God promises to be with us, to give us strength , wisdom , support . But we don't get these things without his help!--"Not by might nor by power but by my spirit say's the Lord" --see Zech 4:6

" And the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you"-- no problem or situation is too much for God's saving grace.

Chorus "For I am Your God

I am with you

For I am Your God

I love you" ---- This is all I need to know. God loves me and cares about me.-
"Surely I am with you even to the end of the age" see Math 28:20

" When you walk through the fire"---Circumstances that, hurt, destroy, --extreme sufferings ( sickness, loneliness, being misunderstood, death, financial loss, ect)

"you shall not be burned"--eventually God will cause good to come out of everything--" in all things God works for the good of those who love him" see Rom 8 :28

" you shall not be burned" he will use the heat to reshape you not hurt you .

"the flames shall not overwhelm you" --Good will eventually come from the extreme heat of sufferings

"do not fear I have come to redeem you"--God will buy back the ravages of suffering.

" I am near, I have called you by name- you are mine"--In the video you will see many people pictured (both family and friends). These are examples of all of us who God calls as his.

Song Performance and Production

This recording is more than 20 years old. It was recorded on a cassette 4 track. (remember those). It was played on a "Martin spd -16" in a dropped "d" tuning. All sounds are performed by me on guitar synth and bass guitar.Hopefully " I Am Your God " will bring you into God's presence as you meditate on his word and worship him for his Holiness---- God bless-- Glenn Zervas