Selah, Selah (Psalm 61), Original Christian Song, Produced by Dan Holder & Gary Dugan
This song is based on Psalm 61, taking some of the words verbatim and some with poetic license. In the middle of the chapter, we find the word “Selah” which means “pause” or “reflect” on what is written. The cello and orchestration was composed by co-producer, Gary Dugan.
** Words and Music: Dan Holder * * Produced: Dan Holder and Gary Dugan * * Orchestrations: Gary Dugan * * Acoustic Guitar, All Vocals: Dan Holder * * Cello, String Ensemble: Gary Dugan * * Forest photo by Valentin courtesy of Pixabay ** ]]>
The Word, Original Christian Song, Produced by Dan Holder & Gary Dugan
This song comes right out of the first chapter of John, taking some of the words verbatim and some with lyrical license, sort of a Biblical play on words. The electric guitar solo was graciously provided by Carm Vecchio. The orchestration was provided by co-producer, Gary Dugan.
** Words and Music: Dan Holder * * Produced: Dan Holder and Gary Dugan * * Orchestrations: Gary Dugan * * Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Bass, Drums, Vocals: Dan Holder * * Electric Guitar Solo (ES-335): Carm Vecchio * * Brass, Strings: Gary Dugan * * Milky Way photo courtesy of Pixabay ** ]]>
Original Christian Song, Produced by Dan Holder & Gary Dugan
Back in 1981, inspired by a parable in Matthew 13, I wrote the lyrics and a basic melody for this song, then revised both lyrics and melody in 1986, but it still didn’t merit recording. I was playing around with an “open” (DADGAD) tuning and its chord patterns the other day, and melodies for the verse and bridge emerged that fit the lyrics well. The chorus is all that remains of the ’81 & ’86 versions.
Gary Dugan plays B3 on it and orchestrated the horns – Chicago-style.
* Words and Music: Dan Holder * Produced, Mixed & Mastered: Dan Holder * Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Bass, Drums, Vocals: Dan Holder * B3 Organ, Baritone Sax, Brass Ensemble: Gary Dugan * Cover Graphic AI-Generated courtesy of Grok ]]>
Music: STILLE NACHT, Arranged & Performed by Dan Holder , Lyrics by Joseph Mohr, Translated by J. Freeman Young
In honor of my wife’s request for a Christmas song, I based this 4-day project on the traditional “STILLE NACHT” with words by Joseph Mohr (translated to English by J. Freeman Young). The melody is interspersed with an original ditty that I thought fit very well.
The guitars and vocals are all me, plus, I added some atmospheric instruments as “orchestration.”
Cover Art Image by Александр Пургин (Alexander Purgin) from Pixabay
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Original Christian Country Song, by Dan Holder with Gary Dugan
This is a fresh original composed October 27, 2025, inspired by the crew at Turning Point USA (@TPUSA) and their firm stand for Christ. It’s written as a Country-Rock-Gospel tune, and includes Gary Dugan on piano.
* Words and Music: Dan Holder * Produced, Mixed & Mastered: Dan Holder * Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Bass, Drums, Vocals: Dan Holder * Acoustic Piano: Gary Dugan * Cover Graphic by CharlVera, courtesy of Pixabay ]]>
Traditional Hymn, Arranged by Dan Holder and Gary Dugan
Dan Holder’s latest release is a version of an old classic church hymn with a lovely melody from the late-1700s, lyrics by Robert Robinson (1735-1790), music by John Wyeth (1770-1858). The original was in 3/4 time, but for this light-rock version, I raised it to 4/4.
Production features a wall of acoustic guitars in places, and lots of vocals, along with bass and drums. Gary Dugan added orchestration, with cool rhythmic celli and orchestral bells.
Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Dan Holder Guitars, Vocals, Bass, Drums by Dan Holder Arranged and Orchestrated by Gary Dugan Sparrow photo courtesy of Pixabay
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Lyrics by Dan Holder , Music by Dan Holder & Gary Dugan
“I’m Thinking of A New Life” is another oldie that I wrote back in 1977 while on tour with Tranquility, but we never recorded it because I wasn’t satisfied with the chorus (its melody was almost identical to the verses), so the song sat on the shelf – while popular with audiences.
I sent an old concert recording from 1977 to Gary Dugan and asked him to help me rework the chorus, which he did the same day. After I had recorded the rhythm instruments, Gary then added piano and in one week, we had a completed song.
The cover art photo is courtesy of Karl Egger (Shogun) from Pixabay
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“I Want To Go To Heaven With You” was one of the most-requested by audiences of my touring band, Tranquility, in the late 1970s. Written in 1976 and originally recorded in 1979 with full orchestra, arranged by the late Dave Williamson; unfortunately, the recording was accidentally bulk-erased prior to the song’s release, along with one other song that we rebuilt last November.
I released a version in 2013, but without orchestration, and it’s been on my “bucket list” ever since to do the full remake. Now, with the expert help of Gary Dugan, we have rebuilt the song as it was originally intended, using a cassette copy of the original mix from 1979 to guide us.
Words & Music by Dan Holder
Dan Holder: Drums, Bass, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Vocals
Orchestrations Arranged by Gary Dugan
Gary Dugan: Strings, Piano, Clarinets, Flutes, Flugelhorns, Marimba
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, A. Nota (ESA/STScI), and the Westerlund 2 Science Team
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On Sunday, April 20, 2025, Dan Holder released his latest composition, “In The Key Of The Lord”, a country song just in time for Easter. It answers the question of why we write, play and sing Christian songs in the first place. Special thanks to Gary Dugan for his orchestration and piano (among other things) on this single.
Words & Music by Dan Holder
Drums, Bass, Acoustics, Electrics, Pedal Steel, Vocals by Dan Holder
Orchestration by Gary Dugan
Piano, Lap Steel by Gary Dugan
Image by Silvia Gaudenzi from Pixabay
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On November 15, 2024, Dan Holder released another 5-song EP with the title song, “How The Story Ends” – a summary of the first 12 chapters of Revelation.
This EP was a collaboration between Dan Holder and Gary Dugan. The last song is a recreation of the 1979 original recording of “Worthy Is The Lamb” that was accidentally erased before its release. There is a mix of Rock, Ballads, and Jazz, so there’s bound to be something you like!
Here are the credits:
1. How The Story Ends (4:55)
2. He Gave His All (3:07)
3. Eyes (5:41)
4. Be Light To Me The Lost (5:16)
5. Worthy Is The Lamb (2:52)
Words and Music by Dan Holder, A.S.C.A.P.
Produced by Dan Holder and Gary Dugan
Orchestration Arranged by Gary Dugan
Guitars, Bass, Drums, Vocals by Dan Holder
Keys, Strings, Brass, Misc. Percussion by Gary Dugan