I’m almost finished with a tutorial showing how to add sixteenth note runs to hymns. (For the late intermediate pianist and beyond)
This particular tutorial will deal with adding runs to congregational accompaniment.
There will be five pages of examples for this particular run in various keys, time signatures and different hymn excerpts.
Each example will not only show the run application but will also share a graceful way to work out of the run.
This Sixteenth Note Run tutorial will be available in my online store asap.
I’ll publish a brief you tube commercial before publication.
For adequate preparation on my part….What questions do you have about playing runs in hymns or what difficulties do you face when playing runs etc.? Thanks in advance for any feedback!
For those wanting more written examples… I’m sharing two more visuals of right hand runs using sixteenth notes.
Runs add a nice driving force to the music and creates energy if played correctly 🙂
Tip:
Emphasize the 1st note in each sixteenth note group for a more shapely sound. Emphasizing every note can sound mechanical.
In my earlier days of being church pianist, I would often rush a run. It’s so easy for our fingers to speed too much when viewing a sea of black notes that need to occur in a brief moment! I had to make myself slowly practice the run and count the main beats as I conquered the sea of notes in front of me. In time the run sounded like it fit! Just remember….not all runs mean “super fast!”
Click on the following title to download free pdf with two more examples of this right hand run:
I checked the most recent recording of our congregation singing Dwelling in Beulah Land and discovered they didn’t sing it as fast as I was thinking.
My son led this hymn in a more moderate tempo. But…the arrangement is quite suitable for medium speed.
Some hymns just seem more demanding than others. This is one of those hymns! Once you see the chorus…you may understand why I’m tired after playing just one verse and chorus! 😉
I get very emotionally involved in the text as you’ll notice in the chorus 😉
I’m sure you all may have even better ideas for this particular hymn. Special note: I did add several corrections to this arrangement as of June 8th, 2021
Chorus Sampler for Beulah Land (piano congregational style)
Part Two: Chorus coming this Monday!
I LOVE adding zest to the old hymns. Over the past several years…I have become more free with congregational accompaniment…meaning…I play less melody IF the hymn is familiar to the congregation.)
The congregation REALLY gets in to this particular hymn. They sing it with much enthusiasm!
I will publish the chorus for Dwelling in Beulah Land this Monday.
As promised, here’s the verse of Dwelling in Beulah Land like I might play for congregational singing at my church. (link contains verse and chorus)
Editor notes:
This arrangement was written to be handled at about quarter note = 120 tempo
I ironed out the excessive wrinkles (dotted quarter note + eighth note) and played more even rhythms to make it easier on the hands of the pianist…as in measures: 1,3,5,6 etc.
I also inserted 6 quarter note rests during the verse to break up the right hand movement and for interesting rhythm!
The quarter note + half note rhythm in the left hand created more rhythmic drive.
I have more freedom with this song because our congregation knows it very well. You would need to add more melody if your congregation is not as familiar with this song. Notice: I used just enough melody to prevent me from being disorientated and to provide some melody stability for the singers 😉
My goal is to make the congregational style accompaniment support the singers and to make it enjoyable/comfortable for the pianist to play
