MIDI & KARAOKE
ARRANGEMENTS BY

BOB SOREM

Born 1949.  Grew up on a dairy farm in southern Minnesota. 
Played tuba in school band from 4th-12th grade.  Had a few accordion
lessons at about age 10, then later self-taught the accordion, 
piano and organ.  Played tuba with several polka bands before joining the Navy in 1970.  

Family were not strong church-goers, but my sisters sang in the choir at the country
Methodist Church near us, and I got my first exposure to sacred music this way. 
My mother played piano, and even gave lessons,  but not in my recollection.  I used to
beg her to play a couple of my favorites whenever she was at the
keyboard, but arthritis took away her abilities when she was only in her 40s.  

After a short Navy career in electronics, I worked first in
electronic instrument calibration, and then as a computer programmer.  My interest in
music was always present, and I played keyboards well enough to perform for a
few weddings, funerals, and other functions.  When I discovered the MIDI world, my two 
great interests came together wonderfully.  After becoming disabled in 1999,
 I have more or less dedicated myself to this pursuit.  Active in my church from the
time I joined the Navy until ... about the same time I became disabled. 
I live alone (in a northern Minneapolis suburb) and have few responsibilities,
so I enjoy helping others via the internet.  I feel blessed to
have the God-given gift of music appreciation and a smattering of talent.

You Are Of God

You Will Be My Witnesses

Yours Is The Day (SATB)

You can hear and download hundreds of additional
Bob Sorem MIDI arrangements (including our songs!)
at these wonderful sites

Bob's MIDI Hymn Site
(includes over 100 New Hope Music songs!)

Bob's MIDI Christmas Site

Bob's Web Site

Visit our Karaoke Video Page

"Chris Has Risen From The Grave" Copyright Ralph Merrifield and Daisy Augustine.

All other songs copyright Ralph Merrifield
New Hope Music, PO Box 1612, Westboro MA 01581
 

You have our encouragement and permission
to duplicate and share these song for all "not-for-profit" purposes
(web site background, recordings, corporate worship, give-away copies).
Please contact New Hope for other uses. Thanks !!!

If any of you have the time and resources to create MIDI files,
I'm looking for people to help arrange
50+ more New Hope songs!

Ralph Merrifield's E-mail

My general approach for background/accompaniment MIDIs is

1) Use a brief Intro
2) Keep the melody out front, but the accompaniment interesting enough to support it.  Descants, countermelodies and a variety of instruments are fun!
3) Have sufficient repeats to cover all verses.  OK to use an occasional, brief interlude between verses.
4) When appropriate, repeat the chorus at the end.
5) A simple ending after the last verse/chorus helps wrap things up...

Yes, it's a very basic approach, but these MIDIs serve well as backgrounds on our web sites, and as accompaniment in group singing around the world.  They are also popping up all around the Internet!

Other types of arrangements of our songs are encouraged (classical, jazz, SATB), and each finds its place in our web sites.

Want to use our MIDIs on your web site ?
 

Karaoke version of some NHM MIDIs

New Hope Music MIDI page

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