The Struggle

Here is the true account of how "The Struggle" came to be.

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In May of 2018 I received an anonymous letter that explained the reason for the included five - one hundred dollar bills. It said that God had said that I was to use this money to produce a CD. The writer suggested that maybe this would "prime the pump" so-to-speak for more public interest in my music. Looking at my calendar I calculated that I would only have only about two months to complete the project before I would have to return to my teaching position for the fall.

I immediately began to perusing through my various compositions, partial tunes, and thematic ideas to create, record, and mix sixteen instrumental songs because even though I own vocal compositions, at that time I did not have any high quality recording equipment for my voice.

Here is the song list:

The Struggle song list includes various genres
(disco/rock, easy listening, classical, blues, Latin beat, solo piano, orchestral)

The Struggle - album of the instrumental songs are listed in alphabetical order
Abounding Glory - a melody on the piano depicting an old steam engine
BirDance - a dance beat with a rock lead guitar solo
Cool Mornings - a tone poem of a spring morning sunrise
Dusty Blue- a melancholy mood expressed on the piano
I'm Amazed - piano easy listening
Kali's Song - a guitar and flute
Let The Horses Run!
Light Blue Lite - a lively orchestral melody
Michele's Song - a piano solo
The Cinder Block- piano chordal piece
The Procession - a piece that adds instruments as it progresses
The Struggle - a Latin-style percussion piece
The Turn Style - a tone poem of the "daily grind"
'Twas The Gown - guitar & flute, a tone poem - a twirling sassy lass admiring her dress
Walking With You - piano solo, a vision of peace in heaven
Waves- piano solo. a tone poem of gentle waves washing up on the beach

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I designed the cover graphic, secured the ISRC/USP codes, officially copyrighted the songs, hired WTS duplication services for 300 CDs with a "budget-level" one color cover, purchased mailers and postal stamps. The generous $500 gift was quickly consumed by the project. Soon the low budget project morphed into a $1,017.22 endeavor, but my optimistic adrenaline was able to dismiss the pain at the time. 

I created three hundred copies of the album "The Struggle" in August of 2018. I personally gave away a couple hundred and mailed out over sixty (which added postage to the cost). I was hoping that this would generate more interest in my music. I suppose that it has had some positive effect, but nothing that would help me to recoup my investment. However, I am only a little discouraged. "The Struggle" CD shows what I can do and that may help me build some credibility with those that do not yet know me personally.

Since the album was released in August of 2018 most of my music income has been through teaching privately, playing for church services, and a few performances. Of course most of that income ceased when the pandemic hit and I lost all my students.

The music business is very competitive and many of those who do appear to enjoy great success have had to make sacrifices that I am not willing to make. I am going to try another angle.

The Triano is a real eye-catcher so I am going to use it to draw attention to my music and hopefully sell CDs and USBs.

Hence my second album project: HonkyTonk Hymns

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Here is a list of the thirty-two songs as presented on the album:

1. Medley (Are You Washed in the Blood, There's Within My Heart A Melody, When We All Get To Heaven)

2. This Train

3. At The Cross

4. The Lily of the Valley

5. Bless That Wonderful Name of Jesus

6. Just A Closer Walk With Thee

7. Glory, Glory, Hallelujah

8. Faith Is the Victory

9. I Know Whom I Have Believed

10. Medley (Amazing Grace, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, When the Saints Go Marching In)

11. Down At the Cross

12. I Love To Tell the Story

13. Leaning On the Everlasting Arms

14. My Jesus I Love Thee

15. Oh How I Love Jesus

16. Praise Him! Praise Him!

17. Sweet By and By

18. To God Be the Glory

19. Only Trust Him

20. Oh Happy Day

21. When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder

22. Wonderful Words of Life

23. There Is Sunshine In My Soul

24. We Have Heard the Joyful Sound

25. 'Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus

26. What A Friend We Have In Jesus

27. Love Lifted Me

28. Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory of the Coming of the Lord

29. Holy, Holy, Holy

30. A Wonderful Savior

31. Near the Cross

32. All To Jesus I Surrender

All the original melodies are public domain, but my renditions of them are not. 

HonkyTonk Hymns on the Triano, by Charles Van Deursen

In August of 2018 Charles Van Deursen independently published "The Struggle" album of sixteen instrumental songs of various genres. Click here to stream them. They are available on 29  streaming platforms in 259 countries.