Surrender Your Cards

WELCOME to my blog page! I'm so ecstatic to share with you what you'll find is my envisioning of contemporary music with some Christian flair. Here on Surrender your Cards, you'll primarily find original compositions in which I combine what's thought of as the more classical as well as the popular; the minimal, as well as the more ornamental; the contemporary worship structures and secular; the electronic and the acoustic.  My works are influenced by musicians such as the Japanese pianist-composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and, very heavily so, Debussy (who influenced him), but not without some other stylistic considerations from today (prog rock, video game, chip-tune and electronic music). I aspire to be a voice from within God's people with the music I create as a composer. For written literature (lyrics or poems), you may locate the green menu bar at the top left and select Labels; for music, lyrical/instrumental or just the "music" Label will do. For anything ...

*This is an instrumental.* --- Musically inspired by Japanese musician, Ryuichi Sakamoto. A catchy tune

Instrumental based on: Addressing the good Pastor,/ "Isn't it about surrendering, then?" I think./ "Proceed," He spoke, "in the promotion/ Of Jesus, your Lord, your payed-for portion."/ Learning that there is even liberty/ In not rejecting so glorious an option/ (Option so glorious)/ Glorious portion/ I praise Him, He payed for me/ Your sun shines over me and brings peace/ If anything I know, it is that you are more/ More, more, more, more, more/ More than a story/ More than a song/ You are neither euphoria/ Nor error/ It is basic to sustain/ That you created sky and sea/ How greatly is the One who is alive worshipped/ You helped me understand/ My origin and destiny/ How not to praise the God who is more/  --- Originally this was meant to be much slower, but it took a life of its own and I just wrote it out

Lyrics to this instrumental follow as such: Indestructible love/ Nothing can separate me from your love, God/ Neither hunger nor thirst/ Indescribable  love/ Nothing is going to distance me from your hand/ Neither world nor pleasure/ Change what is necessary/ I look around/  I see you, Lord/ I'm not turning back/ You are with me/ Darkness leaves/ Darkness flees/ Because you are God/ You are King/ Nothing can separate me/ From so much love, from so much grace/ Love He spilled for me/ Love/ So much love, so much love/ The love that He spilled in my place/ His life, He gave/ So much love/ So much love/ He spilled His love/ How can I return the favor/ The veil was torn in two/ The Earth shook/ If the guards saw Him/ Feared and felt/ Renounced denying Him/ Saints awoke/ Dead He cannot be/ Oh, He's alive/ Resurrection/ So much forgiveness, forgiveness/ Like a sinner,/ He was killed in my place/ His life, He gave/ So much love, so much love/   --- Because someone has to be able ...

The lyrics inspiring this melody are as follows: I put my life in your hands/ What are they really worth, the Earth's demands/ You can be sure, won't compromise/ What you've done for me has no price/ I put my life in your hands/ What are they really worth, the Earth's demands/ You can be sure that I won't compromise/ What you've done for me has no price/ So, I'm not giving up/ My Savior died for me/ I will keep my head up/ And believe in the Lord/ Said I'm not giving up/ My Savior died for me/ I will keep my head up/ And believe in the Lord/ I will keep my head up/ And believe in the Lord/ I'm not letting up/ I'm not giving in/ I'm not giving up/  Rest assured, my soul/ Rest assured/  --- Originally this was meant to be much slower, but it took a life of its own and I just wrote it out

*This piece is instrumental.* --- Inspired by film music and unintentionally like another one of my songs...if you listen reeeal close you can hear it.

*This piece is instrumental.* --- Sounds like the Windows start up theme... 😆. But more pervading. And the second half recapitulates on the theme...

The lyrics upon which this instrumental is based are as follows: I want to turn in my life to you, King/ And thank you for all that you are/ In the action of examining myself, I see/ That's why I give everything/ Everything, Lord/ Exalt yourself, great King/ You are God/ I will always love you/ I have to praise you/ I have to follow you/ You are my God, the great I Am/ I will not settle for only a drop/ Lord, my God/ Act here, act here/ In me, act in me/ Act here, act here/ Help me to fly/ Your presence will accompany me/ Every day/ You will never leave me, no/ Your hand will hold me/ I will rise like the eagle/ I will always love you / --- Listening to this brings me back to when I was watching the sequel of a show I'm completely taken by and yet the music was so different from one of the scenes that I was proud of the end product. The buoyant strings are just what is needed to finish off. Loads off!

:Based on the following lyrics /Be my guide Show me the way/ Lead me to the path/  Of no more pain/ Shelter me/ From the great storm/ Creature, ruler, healer/ Change my form/ All I want/ And all I need is you/ For God you are my everything/ God, oh, be my everything/ My faith and shield, my sword and thirst/ Is you/ For God you are the answer/ God, oh, be my answer/ And through the dark/ I know that you'll never leave me/ As God is my witness/ I'll stick out the fight/ I'm sure/ Your life, for me, is enough/ You've always healed me/ Despite all my wrongs/ --- One of the songs that came almost completely naturally to me...I loved writing it and hope you enjoy it too.

*This piece is entirely instrumental.* --- Modulations done in an unbelievable way...loads off!

*This piece is entirely instrumental.* --- Fast licks, Picardy thirds, and romp in the end, yet retains the softness and delicateness in the piano

*This piece is entirely instrumental.* --- This song is a revision of the improvisation I performed at the Conservatory in Puerto Rico. Thank God for them! Otherwise I don't think I would've had nearly as much the motivation I do now...this a chill song that can really be looped nicely. Inspired by video game music, particularly that of anime.

*This piece is entirely instrumental.* --- One piece of my college entrance portfolio but one of the first songs I actually kept alive until I was finally able to write music.

*This piece is entirely instrumental.*   --- I composed this in the eighth grade! First comp ever! Give it a listen, who knows you might like...

*This piece is entirely instrumental.*     --- This piece is my attempt to commemorate the musicality of aivi & surasshu's music duo in chiptunes which I love, and they're really good too

*This piece is entirely instrumental.* --- mixes with film score music during the latter parts while still maintaining the integrity of the song classically

*This piece is entirely instrumental.* --- Quirky version of the song from which it is derived, mixed with the feelings of busy roads and alleyways in the city

*This piece is entirely instrumental.* --- When you just can't contain how well things are going for you and your enemies try to get back at you...but can't...

*This piece is entirely instrumental.* --- Just hold on and see the silver lining to those clouds, there will come anew a horizon

*This piece is entirely instrumental.* What would you do...if you could put on a cap, and in doing so...you could be as true to the stellar identity you were always meant to be, in tune to the sounds all around that reflect heavenliness and freedom... ---

*This piece is entirely instrumental.* Had a lot of time to develop this one. Even if it was just improvising the song out the many times I would sit on the piano and do nothing but musically ramble through songs I liked...until I didn't. Give it a listen. It really comes together ---

*This piece is an instrumental.* -- Triumphing and pervasive synth square sounds singing...a tune of life

*This is an instrumental.* --- When our time's up here on Earth...where do we go...