Holy Holy Holy (real advanced piano solo) is almost complete!  I hope to publish it very soon.

I’m REALLY enjoying the creation of the second collection of Congregational Piano Hymn Arrangements. What’s neat about these collections is they could be used for unison choir arrangements or accompaniment for flute or violin special.  See Congregational Piano Hymn Arrangements Collection One by clicking HERE.

The words of the hymns mean even more to me… in the light of what’s going on around our nation.  My heart is truly being poured out on the pages of this collection. I try to convey the text in the piano accompaniment. What a  comfort the words of these hymns have been to me!

Here’s the list for the ten hymns in this collection:

1. And Can it Be

2. At the Cross

3. Come Thou Fount

4. Heaven Came Down

5. Higher Ground

6. I Shall Know Him

7. It’s Just Like His Great Love

8. My Faith Has Found a Resting Place

9. Near the Cross

10. What a Friend We Have in Jesus

My dad, Reece Yandle, wrote this patriotic vocal solo at least eight years ago or more. It has been used as the theme song for a teacher’s convention and sung by dad at different meetings.  People have been asking for copies of the song and now it’s possible.

“In God We Trust” as stated on our American currency…takes on a deeper meaning for those who have trusted in Christ as their Saviour.

I have published this prior to Father’s Day as a Father’s Day gift for my Dad 🙂

Listen to the audio sample below as you sing the following words (wait for the introduction)

“In God we trust no matter come what may,

In God we trust though dark and drear the way.

Always trusting in His love and pow’r we must,

This is our cry, “It is in God we trust!”

In God We Trust

Medium range sacred vocal solo; 4 pgs *Great for a patriotic special! *Price covers two copies.

Price: $6.00

I had a nice visit with my parents this past weekend.  I wrote A LOT of music before and after the trip….so much….I forgot that I had already entered the entire  arrangement of “Holy, Holy, Holy” advanced piano solo. I’m allowing some settling time before publishing this one…..which usually means I have several of my piano friends “test drive” it before publishing…especially the real advanced ones like this one.

I also just finished my dad’s patriotic song, “In God We Trust”. I’m awaiting his approval after he proofreads it tonight 🙂 Hope to publish it tomorrow.

Now my attention will focus more on the second congregational notebook.  John W. Peterson Company has given me permission to include “Heaven Came Down” in the next congregational collection. I will have to pay royalties for using this particular hymn since it’s still under copyright… a topic which ALL church pianists need to be briefed on! ( in a later post….I’ve said that at least once before)   😉

Wanted to share a list of patriotic music resources with my church pianist readers before visiting with my parents starting tomorrow through Sunday. I consider this list of songs a treasure find!

1. I Love America by Frank & Flora Jean Garlock

Published by Majesty Music. Available in “Sing Praises Two” book

*Taken from Sing Praises Two (still in print) If you want multiple copies…Majesty Music ask that you own at least four copies of the book Sing Praises Two, then pay $1.00 per copy made of the song. There is a limit of making multiple copies for up to 3 songs per book.

2. We Pledge Allegiance by Shelly Hamilton

Published by Majesty Music. Available in “Sing Praises Two” book

*Same copying instructions from above apply to this song.

3. If My People by Frank & Flora Jean Garlock

Published by Majesty Music. Out of print. Instructions below.

*Majesty Music provides a way to obtain this song through their office. Call customer service department at (1-800-334-1071) to order copies of this song for $.50 per copy (This song is from the book “Choral Arrangements Everybody Can Sing-Volume 1)  *I love the words to this song…very well-written!

4. It’s Time to Pray by John W. Peterson

“It’s Time to Pray”
vocal solo arrangement

I will be providing the cost details on this asap since I have updated this song to a different arrangement.

*Special note: The words to this song call Christians to the important matter of prayer for our country.

5.  We Stand by Niki Lott  *GREAT! for Men’s group or SATB choir

I just purchased a downloadable SATB arrangement of this song  off Niki’s website called Christian Compositions  This is a very moving piece!

You can view a page of the music HERE

Niki also sells a choral arrangement with piano accopmaniment version HERE

You can also view a youtube video of Niki’s husband and friends singing it for special in church HERE

6.  We Pledge Allegiance by Derric Johnson

Published by Derric Johnson. Instructions below.

Just got off the phone with Derric Johnson. How exciting to have talked with the composer of this well-known tune!  He was very helpful. He said this choral arrangement was available by “print on demand” which means it’s also out of print but you can order a copy of this 14 page arrangement for $5 per copy. I think this arrangement would make a nice mini-patriotic cantata! Here’s my best description of this arrangement:

Chorus (sung twice)

Narration section explains meaning of the flag colors with piano background

Verse of “We Pledge Allegiance” sung slow & reverently by choir

Transitions back into chorus of “We Pledge Allegiance”

Short narration section about heroes/patriots, another song beginning with lyrics “The lawyer came from Georgetown to visit Baltimore….”

Short narration section with choir Ooo’s to transition to next song

Choir begins slow and soft version of The Star-Spangled Banner verse and soars triumphantly into the chorus followed by a majestic ending!

7. In God We Trust by Reece Yandle (my Dad)

*In the works. I will do my best to publish this vocal solo arrangement  by the end of next week.

Just letting my readers know I’m in the process of posting the individual hymns from the Congregational Booklet One for sale on the Congregational Piano Hymn page of our online music store. (navigation buttons at top of this page)  So far I’ve posted: All Hail the Power, Are You Washed and Blessed Assurance.

Several have requested the Blessed Assurance congregational arrangement after seeing the first sample page of it in an older article.  It’s now sold separately or in the Congregational Booklet One.

Special note: Multiple uses for the church pianist!  The piano accompaniment arrangements from the Congregational Booklet One can also be used to accompany the following:  vocal soloist, flute or violin.

Our ladies’ ensemble LOVES to sing “The Reason I Sing” written by Niki Lott of christiancompositions.com

This arrangement can be purchased at christiancompositions.com as sheet music or in a book collection entitled “The Reason I Sing” two to three part arrangements for ladies.

We chose to sing the verses in unison due to our short practice time and we sang only a portion of the arrangement due to our limited vocal range which we’re working on.

This song is SUCH a blessing to sing and look forward to singing more songs from the book entitled “The Reason I Sing”.  One of the ladies in our church has already sang several of the songs as a solo too.

*Special note: I didn’t strictly follow the written piano accompaniment but the written accompaniment is pretty 🙂

Done! Finally!  I was extra picky with this collection and hope it’s useful to many church pianists.

I tried to create exciting accompaniments to enhance the congregational singing. Each arrangement contains an introduction as well as a couple verses/choruses worth of accompaniment.  Three of the arrangements even have key changes!

But relax 🙂  The arrangements are written in a lower key than the hymnal (at least two to three half steps lower). We have discovered that the congregation sings out even more when they can  sing in a reasonable key 😉

Congregational Piano Hymn Arrangements (Booklet One)

AUDIO SAMPLER: (product description below) *Downloadable product only

Price: $16.00

10 Late intermediate to early advanced piano congregational arrangements. (All Hail the Power, Are you Washed, Blessed Assurance, Does Jesus Care, Dwelling in Beulah Land, I Love to Tell the Story, Praise Him! Praise Him!, Rock of Ages, Sweet By and By, Sweet Hour of Prayer) 34 pages

The arrangements in this booklet are in lower keys; making it easier for the average congregation to sing. *Three of the arrangements have key changes!

Each arrangement contains an introduction and at least two verses & choruses…several of the hymns contain three verses worth of accompaniment.

*Special note: The arrangements in this booklet do not support the four-part singing found in most hymnals. *Other suggested uses: vocal solos, violin specials, unison choir specials. **Another special note: These arrangements can not stand alone as piano solos since some of the melody is absent during the piano accompaniment. *Complete audios not included with collections.

I just wanted to let my readers be aware of the latest products published in our online music store.  The following arrangements are also available in the Funeral Hymn Collection that was published earlier this summer.

Does Jesus Care

Early advanced sacred piano solo, 2 & 1/2 pgs. *Also available in the Funeral Hymn Collection

Price: $2.50

Rock of Ages

Advanced sacred piano solo, 2 pgs.Approx. 1:28 Excellent for short offertory or funeral prelude. Very flowing piece. *Also available in the Funeral Collection.

Price: $2.50

Trusting Jesus Medley

An early advanced piano solo of two well-known hymns: "Simply Trusting with Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus". Use for offertory or funeral prelude. 5 pgs. *Also available in the Funeral Hymn Collection.

Price: $3.95

What are diminished and augmented chords?  Where can I use them? The first article on diminished and augmented chords will answer these questions.

The other post I’m creating deals with tips for choosing vocal solos for the male voice.  I enjoy the challenge of looking for solos that fit a certain person’s vocal range/ability.  Singing a song that fits the singer’s range allows for a more positive experience for the soloist as well as the listeners 😉

It’s our responsibility as Christians to be as effective as we can to carry God’s message through whatever means possible and that includes singing.

Looking forward to sharing more soon!

Just wanted to let my readers know my dad has had some health issues so I’m going to spend some time with my parents this week.

In addition I will be tweaking several of the invitation arrangements when I return.  I just don’t want to do a half way job.  My husband is always reminding me…”It’s quality…not quantity”.

I will take the time to at least share something with you before I leave.  Below is a video of a vocal solo sung recently at our church.  What I like best about this song is…it’s a mission-based song.  It’s hard to find a lot of music on this theme.  The song was written by a friend of ours here in our home town.  I hope to see it published one day!