Near to the Heart of God - Piano Solo: Piano Solo

Martha Mier's selections showcase the full range of McAfee's compositional voice alongside other beloved hymns, each arrangement balancing approachability with genuine musical substance. The included performance times make program planning straightforward, while the harmonic language rewards careful pedal work and attention to voicing. This collection sits at exactly the level where students have the technical capacity to shape these pieces expressively without wrestling with excessive technical demands.

Each arrangement breathes with quiet intention. Mier's harmonies deepen the spiritual substance of these melodies without overwhelming them, creating space for the listener to meet the music emotionally. You're performing music that speaks directly, without artifice.

This collection works perfectly for students preparing festival repertoire or building a solid hymn-arrangement foundation. Teachers seeking music that develops musicianship alongside interpretive maturity will find thoughtful writing that respects both the tradition and the player's growing artistry.

• Shape the melody with intentional rubato in the slower hymns; these arrangements expect expressive flexibility rather than metronomic precision
• Explore the pedal as an instrument itself, changing it precisely with harmonic shifts rather than sustaining indiscriminately through full measures
• Balance the hymn tune against inner voices so listeners hear the emotional foundation without losing the supporting harmonies Mier has crafted
• Allow silence and breath between movements; the 40-page collection benefits from pacing that lets each arrangement settle with its own character

Draw from this collection throughout the year for recital closers that leave audiences in a contemplative space, or select individual arrangements as interludes in larger concerts. Several pieces work beautifully as standalone offerings at community events or worship settings where your students can experience the real-world context for which these hymns were written.

• Voicing independence between hands while maintaining melodic clarity
• Expressive pedal technique synchronized with harmonic rhythm
• Phrasing and shaping of familiar melodies with new harmonic contexts
• Interpretive choices within a reverent musical framework
• Sight-reading fluency across varied harmonic language