Modulating during any type of prelude (church, funeral, wedding or other occasion)…creates a smooth transition between songs. Without a smooth transition between different keys, the music will sound interrupted or very abrupt. The articles associated with this lesson and future lessons will deal with modulating to a higher key. Modulating to a lower key can also be effective but such a topic belongs in a different set of lessons.
The modulation chord formula that works for most any key change uses the ii7 to V7 chords of the new key.
(I personally like to use the V7 sus instead of a plain V7…but will will illustrate at the appropriate time).
*Part two will provide a FREE pdf with several examples of modulating up a fifth. (C Major to G Major)
Keyboard visuals of the ii7 & V7 chords in the key of G Major are shown below. (The upcoming examples will cover C to G, G to D and F to C using this chord formula)
ii7 of G Major
V7 of G Major
Working on the examples now and hope to share this week!
“The Sands of Time are Sinking” dates back to the 19th century. Anne Cousin, the daughter of a doctor and later the wife of a Pastor, wrote this hymn based on letters and deathbed sayings of another Pastor name Samuel Rutherford. The original hymn had nineteen verses! Anne was careful to not copy Samuel’s words verbatim. She used poetic images of her own to replace some of Samuel’s sayings.
Anne’s purpose of this hymn was to show the “beautiful Christian reflection on death and what comes after, and on the beauty of the Savior.” Kevin White
What a beautiful hymn to use for a funeral service. Someone in the recent past asked if I knew of a piano arrangement for this song. My online search yielded no results. The individual needed the song pronto…so in a few spare minutes….I jotted this arrangement down and provided the person with the following hymn.
Maybe other church pianists can make use of this free hymn for a funeral service or general worship.
This post is in reference to yesterday’s article about Ready-Made-Hymns.
How do you like this look? The “x” marks indicate original notes to help the church pianist see what note changes were made.
Is this beneficial to you? Feedback would be appreciated! Thanks for all the comments yesterday! Very helpful! 🙂
Just click on the following image to enlarge for easier viewing.
*Special note: THANKS for the feedback! After reading the comments here and on facebook….I will be putting these type of easy-to-play congregationals into print instead of by hand. I will do away with the original notes from the hymnbook and ONLY type in my (hopefully) easy-to-play congregational/piano solo arrangement. Thanks again for your helpful comments!
For the past couple of months…I’ve been creating “ready-made’ hymn arrangements for some of my church pianist students who are need of improvised hymns for congregational singing. (Can also be used as piano solo)
These hymn arrangements are nothing more than a copy of a hymn from the hymnal with my added improvised notes in red.
Just curious, would this meet the need for others as well? I’m considering adding them to our online music store if there’s enough interest.
The cost would be less than my regular “printed arrangements”.
Here’s a FREE copy of one of these ready-made hymn arrangements. (Also trying to decide what to call them….any suggestions?)
*Also…are you all ok with it being handwritten just as it appears in free arrangement below?
*Special note: THANKS for the feedback! After reading the comments here and on facebook….I will be putting these type of easy-to-play congregationals into print instead of by hand. I will do away with the original notes from the hymnbook and ONLY type in my (hopefully) easy-to-play congregational/piano solo arrangement. Thanks again for your helpful comments! I do have (more involved ) congregational piano arrangements for sale HERE.
Just arrived in Atlanta today for the annual Composer’s Symposium.
I’ve learned SO much already!
The afternoon sessions were given by well known writers: Joseph Martin, John Parker and Lloyd Larson followed by an open forum by all the writers…including James Barnard, music editor for Growing in Grace curriculum.
Just pray my sore throat doesn’t continue which just started today. I recently got over an infection and hope it’s not coming back.
Lord-willing I plan to attend the rest of the symposium which lasts through Thursday evening.
Sorry for the low profile lately. I’ve been recouping from being sick since returning from vacation a week and half ago.
My daughter-in-law requested a violin solo arrangement of Nearer My God to Thee. I finally finished tweaking it! 😉
I enjoyed weaving the melody back and forth from piano to violin. Nearer My God to Thee is a very comforting hymn; making if a nice solo piece for any occasion but especially a funeral.
Sacred violin solo w/ piano accompaniment; 4 pgs. *Price covers two copies.
A nice solo piece for any occasion. The beautiful melody of this hymn flows gently back and forth between the piano and violin. *Bowing & slur marks included for violin.
This thought has been on my mind lately, due to things I’ve seen via internet that is disturbing.
As musicians, we must be SO careful to draw ALL attention to God with our music…something I pray I always do!
The world’s pull is VERY strong and so easy to give way to its pressure but trying to stay far above reproach because I will answer to a holy God for my actions.
Praying for God’s wisdom and discernment as I seek to Honor Him and Him alone.
Music is my passion and appreciate all of your encouraging notes about my arrangements…it’s what keeps me writing 🙂
