Paul Cardall is not just a pianist; he is a survivor. Born with a severe congenital heart defect, Cardall has spent his life navigating the space between mortality and eternity. His music, therefore, carries a weight that standard "New Age" piano often lacks. When he arranges a hymn, he inserts his own struggle and hope into the rests and rubatos.
His version of "I Love to See the Temple" strips away the childish bounce. In its place, he builds a cathedral of sound. He uses:
The result is a piece that moves at 60–70 BPM, feeling less like a song and more like a prayer.
Because this is copyrighted material (Janice Kapp Perry wrote the melody; Paul Cardall holds the copyright for his arrangement), you cannot find this for free on public domain sites. To get the legal, high-quality Paul Cardall sheet music, you have three primary options: i love to see the temple paul cardall sheet music
Cardall’s genius is in harmonic expansion. The original hymn uses only I, IV, V (C, F, G). Cardall adds:
Form (typical version):
Intro (8 bars, sparse, rolled chords) → Verse 1 (melody in RH, open LH 5ths) → Chorus-like refrain (fuller texture, Bb chord surprise) → Interlude (rising arpeggios) → Verse 2 (melody in LH, RH decorations) → Climax (octave melody, ff) → Tag (return to opening, molto ritardando) Paul Cardall is not just a pianist; he is a survivor
The arrangement avoids a clear “bridge” or key change, relying instead on dynamic and textural contrast.
Before we dissect Cardall’s arrangement, we must honor the original. "I Love to See the Temple" was written by Janice Kapp Perry in 1980. With simple, repetitive melodies and a text that teaches children about the purpose of temple worship ("I'll covenant with my Father..."), it became an instant staple in the Children’s Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
For decades, the song existed primarily as a cheerful, staccato march for children. Then came Paul Cardall. The result is a piece that moves at
A major frustration for fans is the proliferation of unofficial, inaccurate transcriptions on user-upload sites. Do not rely on free PDFs from random blogs. They are often transcribed by ear incorrectly—missing the suspension chords or getting the rhythm of the arpeggios wrong.
Here are the three legitimate sources for "I Love to See the Temple" Paul Cardall sheet music:
The most reliable source. Cardall occasionally sells authorized songbooks directly. Look for "Paul Cardall: The Piano Collection" or "Primary Worship (Piano Solo)." These are the definitive editions, licensed by both Cardall and the original copyright holder, Janice Kapp Perry.
Before the final phrase ("For the temple is a house of God"), Cardall inserts a breath—a half-second of silence. The sheet music indicates a fermata or a rest here. Do not rush it. Let the silence echo.