Posts Tagged ‘hymn’

Abrupt Chord Change in a Hymn

Thursday, August 27th, 2020

This video gives suggestions on how to ease through an abrupt chord change in a hymn.  The hymn in this lesson is entitled “Where Jesus Is, ‘Tis Heaven”.

I had NEVER heard of this hymn until one of my readers recently shared it with me. Thanks Karen!

Download the two pages below before viewing the video. (For ease of reference)

Where Jesus Is, ‘Tis Heaven (original version)

Where Jesus Is, ‘Tis Heaven (improvised version)

 

 

 

Free PDF Hymn! Just When I Need Him Most

Monday, August 14th, 2017

large baby-grand-piano

I never really noticed the time signature change in “Just When I Need Him Most” until today.

We sang this at our church last night for a congregational and the people REALLY enjoyed singing it.  The words are so comforting!

It’s just one of those seasons at our church where there’s a lot of physical needs and such a song reminds us of Jesus’ ever-present help 🙂

We sang this song in a prayerful mood with  a slow walking speed so I had time to add left hand flowing patterns similar to the following free pdf of “Just When I Need Him Most”.

Most importantly, notice the key change at the chorus….but the flow will still be pretty much the same 🙂  I actually changed to 6/8 timing one measure earlier than the hymnal shows… because it felt more natural to not hold as long before entering the chorus.

Maybe this will help a beginning church pianist to see what fill-ins could be used for a slow to medium hymn in 6/8 or 9/8 timing… such as my arrangement of “I Must Tell Jesus”.

Warning: This arrangement is NOT intended for piano solo use… due to missing melody notes at the beginning of the chorus…unless of course you know how to add them in 😉

Click on song title for free download: Just When I Need Him Most

 

 

 

Part Two: Modulating up a Fifth

Friday, July 21st, 2017

Modulating between hymns during a prelude or other background music event can create a seamless presentation.

The absence of this art makes for a disjointed sound when going from hymn to hymn. (unless of course the songs are in the same key)  🙂

Ah….but just because the songs are in identical keys doesn’t mean the songs will always sound seamless without some type of transition. (another lesson!)

Every church pianist should try and learn the art of modulation to the best of his or her ability…in small bits at at time. For starters, learn to modulate between songs with same time signature as I have provided below.  (The modulations will feel/flow a little different in 3/4 time versus 4/4 time.)

Below is a free pdf showing how to modulate up a fifth using the chord formula: ii7 to V7 of the new key.  I’ve also shared a list of these two chords in the keys found on the free pdf of modulations.

Key of C

ii7 = D-F-A-C

 V7 = G-B-D-F

Key of G  *see visual of these 2 chords HERE

ii7=A-C-E-G

V7= D-F sharp-A-C

Key of D

ii7= E-G-B-D

V7= A-C sharp-E-G

Modulating up a Fifth Free PDF

Free Piano Prelude on the “Blood of Jesus”

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

 

Blood-of-Jesus-PreludeJust thought I’d share a free sheet with key changes to connect the following hymns for a  piano prelude on the “Blood of Jesus”.

(Our prelude lasts anywhere from five to ten minutes…depending on how soon I can make it to the piano.)  I usually play two verses per hymn.

Prelude List:

Power in the Blood (B flat major)

When I See the Blood ( C Major)

Nothing but the Blood ( G Major)

Are You Washed in the Blood? (A flat major)

The sheet contains the final phrase of each hymn; followed by the key change to connect each hymn in the list above.

Click here to download Free Piano Prelude on the “Blood of Jesus”

 

Battle Hymn of the Republic: Free Congregational Arrangement (Part One)

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

It’s hard to believe that July 4th is so close!  Since I’ve been so busy…it takes less time for me to write an arrangement as opposed to a strict “teaching” article.  Today’s free piano arrangement of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” is arranged for congregational singing.

The hymnal version (voice parts) contain a lot of repeated notes making it necessary for the church pianist to create a more interesting sound to bring it to life!

In part one of this free arrangement…I added the vocal score above the piano score… so you could see what I’m playing as opposed to the written voice parts from the hymnal. I’ll provide an audio after I share the entire arrangement with you.

Click here for free congregational piano arrangement of: Battle Hymn of the Republic (Part One)

The Church Pianist: Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne (part two)

Friday, November 19th, 2010

Improving Ideas for Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne (part two)

The improvising ideas in this hymn are simplistic but are meant to add warmth to enhance the beautiful words of this old melody.

Improvising ideas for Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne: part one

*Keep in mind…the chords in the piano score will not match the four parts from the hymnal version.

Scales in Hymns (Part Three)… Upcoming Article

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

I plan to post part three of scales in hymns by the end of this week.

Some church pianists may not understand where to insert a scale in a hymn.

Scales can be placed in several different places in a hymn.  The upcoming article will show the church pianist how to add a scale to the very first measure of a hymn!

Looking forward to sharing the examples with you!

The Church Pianist: Jesus Loves Me

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

 JESUS LOVES ME Pictures, Images and Photos

A hymn which has truly stood the test of time…Jesus Loves Me.

This hymn was born from a story read by the co-author…William Bradbury.

The story goes…

A young boy was dying and a dear friend read the boy this beautiful poem for comfort…

“Jesus loves me!  this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, they are weak but He is strong.

Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gate to open wide; He will wash away my sin, let His little child come in.

Jesus loves me! He will stay close beside me all the way.; He’s prepared a home for me, and some day His face I’ll see.”

What comforting words!

William saw this poem as an excellent song for children. He wrote a melody for the poem and added the chorus as we all know…

“Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes Jesus loves me! Yes Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.”

This hymn has reached the hearts of  young and old alike.

The next article will provide a free piano arrangement of this well-loved hymn.

The Church Pianist: The Lily of the Valley (free piano sample)

Saturday, January 16th, 2010

“The Lily of the Valley” is a nice, uplifting hymn. Several factors make this hymn a challenge for most church pianists.

The hymn is loaded with repeated notes and a very busy rhythm…(what I call….the “wordy” hymns).

You don’t want it to sound like you’re trying to chop down a tree 🙂

The church pianist needs to basically outline or (play) the main beats of the hymn. This particular hymn is in 4/4 time.   So…the pianist should at least play on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th beats…creating a steady, rhythmic  tempo for the congregation.

It’s not necessary for the pianist to play “every word” of the song when accompanying. Playing every word would limit the pianist’s ability to improvise. 

The more familiar the congregation is with a hymn…the less dependent they are on hearing the melody.  This allows the  pianist more  freedom to stray from the melody…making it much easier to maneuver through the accompaniment.

Editor notes for today’s free piano sample of “The Lily of the Valley”

Notice the left hand plays the main beats (1,2,3,4) and the right hand skip words here and there for ease of movement.

Measure #3 (beats 3 through 4)  the right hand plays notes within the chord frame being used… “sweeping upward”…for a livelier sound.

Measure #4 (beats 1 through 4) the left hand begins with a dotted rhythm for a peppy tone and drives through with octaves to maintain tempo while the congregation holds the word “soul”.

Measure #4 (beat 4) into Measure #5…the right hand moves into middle range of keyboard for variety in location.

Click here for free piano sample of “The Lily of the Valley”