Easter…. a time to celebrate our Lord’s return. At our church, we include songs about Christ’s crucifixion and return.

I’ve created a list of suggested hymns that I would use for an Easter prelude service.  I’ve also placed the hymns into groups that seem to go together.

 Easter Prelude Master List

Usage tips for Easter Preludes:  (to avoid getting disoriented when applying the transitions)  😉

• Print the hymns listed below for prelude of your choice.
• Cut and paste each transition to the appropriate hymn

Easter Prelude #1 and #2 (transition sheet)

Hymns for Prelude #1

Redeemed

He Lives (page one)

He Lives (page two)

*Jesus is Coming Again (under copyright so not able to furnish a copy…just find it in hymnal in key of B flat)

Hymns for Prelude #2 (COMING SOON!)

Click link below to download & print FREE handout for Easter Prelude #3

Easter Prelude #3 (transition sheet)

* I HAD to write “Man of Sorrows”  in C because of the neat sounding transition from E flat to C  🙂

Crown Him with Many Crowns

At the Cross

How to play with a conversational style on wordy hymns…a topic that’s been on my mind lately.

A good example of a wordy hymn is “My Savior First of All”.  I’ll share tips on how church pianists can play this particular hymn with a natural/conversational tone…making for a more meaningful delivery even when playing for congregational singing.

Coming soon….next week 🙂  Hmm…next week has come and gone due to unavoidable circumstances 🙁  I will do this asap!

Looking forward to attending a lady’s retreat to hear Mina Olgesby speak and sing!

If you ever listen to BBN or Rejoice Radio… then you have probably heard Mina sing.

She has recorded 20 Cds which are available on her site. For a limited time…. 3 Cds for only $20!

A nice assortment of Mina’s songbooks are also available for only $1 each (on sale).

One of my favorite songs by Mina is “We Have a Savior Who Cares”…such a comforting piece!

Today I added the solo version arrangement for “The Potter’s Hands” (words & music by Mina and arranged by Jenifer Cook.)

A nice Easter selection by Mina about the Lord’s return is “Rest Will Come in the Morning” …very upbeat 🙂

From an accompanist’s point of view..

I like it when a person looks me up at least two weeks in advance to practice their scheduled vocal or offertory special instead of waiting until the last minute to rehearse.

This doesn’t include those who have to fill in at the last minute.

Which brings me to another topic…

It would be great if we all had a standby song/arrangement ready to play at a moment’s notice.  People do get sick or have other unavoidable circumstances arise that makes for last minute cancellations. If we could get all of our special music crowd (vocal or instrumental) to do this (including ourselves).

Which reminds me…it’s time for me to rehearse standby offertory specials! 🙂

What I’m reviewing: (Click on titles to go to source of arrangement)

“It is Well” arranged by Faye Lopez (my favorite “It is Well” advanced arrangement!)

“I Am Thine O Lord” arranged by Faye Lopez

“Jesus Paid it All” arranged by Mary Lynn Van Geldren (beautiful arrangement!) *Checking on availability

“Rescue the Perishing” arranged by Jenifer Cook (practicing for upcoming mission’s conference)

I came across this touching hymn story about “All Hail the Power” while reading the book entitled “Famous Hymns and Their Writers” by Michael Daves.

Edward Perronet, an Englishman, wrote the words to this uplifting hymn  in 1779.

Edward was a survivor of religious persecution and was known for his deep piety and religious enthusiasm.   His last words before death in 1792:

Glory to God in the height of His divinity!

Glory to God in the depth of His humanity!

Glory to God in His all-sufficiency!

Into His hands I commend my spirit.

Oliver Holden, a carpenter in the United States, wrote the coronation tune to Edwards’s words of “All Hail the Power”.  Interesting…Oliver & Edward joined hands across the ocean to share this regal hymn of praise to the world.

Now to the touching part of the story. Missionary E.P. Scott to India took a daring hike through the mountains, in spite of friend’s warnings, to a blood thirsty tribe. Along the way, this hostile tribe confronted E.P. with spears in hand. Scott believing to be near death, took out his violin, closed his eyes, and began to sing these words with all his heart:

All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall;

Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all;

Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all!

The natives lowered their spears and wanted to be friends! God’s power was evident!

My daughter-in-law, Jackie Cook and I finally got together to create this video of my sacred violin arrangement of “Nearer My God to Thee.”

Thank you Jackie for suggesting that I create a violin arrangement for “Nearer My God to Thee”.  It was also a blessing to hear you play this piece!

I am not a violinist by nature 😉 so….Jackie gave me several great pointers in order to maintain the intermediate level of this arrangement.

I hope this arrangement of “Nearer My God to Thee” is a blessing to you as well.  Sheet music available HERE

Side note:  Jackie’s next violin solo request “This is My Father’s World”.

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus uses only two chords through the entire song! (The I and V)

This hymn is crying out for “dress-ups” from the church pianist.

Here’s several ideas I use to dress up the verse of “Nothing but the Blood”.

Notice the melody of the verse contains a lot of repeated notes.  A great time to add some spice! 🙂 You can even hold a right chord through repeated notes here and there.  You’ll notice I kept the left hand moving during the right hand chords to maintain forward motion/rhythmic drive.  The following example can be used for an entire verse if repeated.

Click here for your free download of “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus” improvising ideas.

I’ve been spending a little extra time organizing our choir music at church.

We were using 1 inch notebooks that were overloaded with music!

Each notebook was divided into:

1. Choruses
2. Easy Specials
3. Arranged specials (more involved)

Our repertoire list began to grow…causing overloaded notebooks.

I removed all the arrangements from the notebook and  filed all of

our sheet music arrangements in alphabetical order in a file drawer.

We ordered 1/2 inch 3 ring notebooks and I created a simple (black & white) cover design.

Basically, the notebooks will only house what’s needed for am & pm Sunday services.

We have a very small classroom designated for the choir and don’t have the space to hang

wall storage of any kind…so we are making use of the file cabinet which already exists.

Our music repertoire is limited but expanding 🙂

Feel free to share how your choir keeps their music organized.

Many of you have purchased my advanced or real advanced arrangement of “Abide With Me”

Someone recently requested I share fingering suggestions for measure #30. Another tip about this measure…I take it slow enough to handle the excessive movement in the left hand.

*See video below to hear measures #22 through #30  (time marker 1:01-1:26) It will give you a better idea of how this transitional section flows into the new key.