The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste

contains an inspirational story from the days of the old Roman Empire. It is the story of forty soldiers who became martyrs just five years before Christianity was made the official religion of Rome. This storytelling musical devotional was originally performed as a morning devotion at the forty sixth annual Primitive Music Worshop held July 14-17, 2008. The theme of the Music Workshop was "Soldiers of The Cross" so David told a story of literal soldiers who also lived up to the metaphor of being Christian soldiers.David tells the story over a composed drum track of his that suggests a marching cadence, and includes the continual playing on mountain dulcimer of a tune called Beach Spring. Beach Spring, from the Sacred Harp 1844 is often used as the tune for a lyric called:Come All Christians Be Committed.