Let me tell you how this music came in a sudden form of spiritual download. I was traveling home after the weekly international broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word. I had spent over a decade of touring the world giving choral concerts and broadcasts of religious music. I thought I had sung most of the famous Christian works, from Handel’s Messiah to the Berlioz Requiem—in London, Moscow, The Lincoln Center in DC, and even in Jerusalem. Imagine my surprise when a voice came to my mind saying, “Why has no one written music for the Intercessory Prayer (John 17 of the Bible)”. I was struck with amazement.
When I arrived home, I immediately sat at the piano with the Bible open to John 17. I started with the words, “Father, the hour is come. Glorify thy son that Thy son may also glorify Thee.” Immediately, I began thinking of alternating major and minor chords, symbolizing the contrast of the sorrow of the crucification and the majesty of the resurrection of Christ. No sooner had I struck these alternating chords, when I could hear music flowing in my mind tracking the scriptural text of the prayer. This continued for several days as I was continuously recording the music. Surprisingly, the various choral parts came in the very moment and in full eight-part harmonies. May I suggest that you listen and judge for yourself as to the source of the music.
About the Composer
Mr. North was born in 1945 in Liberty, Missouri, and grew up in Independence, Missouri, where he evidenced his inclination for science and music in his schooling and community activities. He attended Brigham Young University 1963-1970, graduating cum laude with a BS in chemistry and a minor in physics. The next three years he served as an officer in the U.S. Army in Germany, managing anti-aircraft weaponry as part of NATO forces. In 1973 he entered the University of Utah School of Law and afterwards took a position with the Patent Development Office at the University of Utah Research Park, doing patent work on diverse technologies from artificial organs to computer robotics and aerospace inventions.
In 1978 Mr. North moved into private practice, eventually forming Thorpe, North & Western LLP, a nationally recognized law firm with over 35 patent attorneys. During this period, Mr. North authored over 1000 patents covering virtually every field of technology. Mr. North is also a member of Who’s Who of American Inventors, having over 35 patents on his own inventions.
In addition to legal activities, Mr North was awarded the status of “Second Busiest Man in the USA” in 1996 by Southland Corp and 7-11 Stores and was first recognized as a “Renaissance Man” in nationwide news releases, referring to his activities as a scientist, inventor, composer, conductor, music performer on piano, cello and voice, member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for 16 years, civic organizer and published author, including A Father’s Handbook for Patriarchal Families. Mr. North is currently a member of the California Center for the Arts Chorale and Poway Symphony Orchestra. He has been awarded “Man of the Year” awards for community service in Sandy, Utah, 1993, and Escondido, California, 2016. He currently serves as President-Elect of the Rotary Club of Escondido and is active in local community and church service.
Mr. North has five children and 16 grandchildren and is married to Myrna Lynn North, who is similarly involved in community musical activities. He is currently consulting with Remside, LLC, a new business enterprise developing six of his patents in the field of sleep therapy and supporting remote patient monitoring services for seniors. In addition, his retirement years provide opportunity for public presentations of his chorale/audio visual work entitled, The New Testament in Christ, a musical anthology on the life of Christ.
