I love to look through old hymnals for long forgotten hymns that I can try to revive.
But I stumbled across this forgotten hymn in one of my devotional books this week, entitled, “Amazing Grace 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions” written by Kenneth W. Osbeck
I absolutely LOVE this book and not sure how I acquired it.
“May the Mind of Christ My Savior” had two authors: Words by Kate Wilkinson and Music by A. Cyril Barham-Gould (what a long name!) I couldn’t find much information about either author but had to share this hymn loaded with rich meaning!
Here’s an excerpt from my devotional book which introduced this hymn…
“Each day our prayer life should include the request that the Holy Spirit reveal the mind of Christ to us. It is vitally important that we nourish our minds daily with quality materials_ things “that are just, pure and lovely.” Philippians 4:8
Time to escape to an island where it’s just me and my piano and all I have to do is write music!
Working on…
Advanced piano arrangement entitled “Assurance Medley”…an arrangement I worked up after getting saved in 1991…so it’s about time I put it in writing.
Also VERY excited about creating piano accompaniments for Mina Oglesby’s music!! The one I’m working on now is her song “Rest Will Come in the Morning”…here are some of the lyrics:
“Rest will come in the morning, When the battle is o’er;
When the saved and blest enter to their rest On that hallelujah shore…”
What a blooper I made today in the Sunday morning service!
I prefer (congregation included) to play short and sweet arrangements which don’t last much longer than the offering. Occasionally I’ll play a longer offertory for extra special events.
I had a longer than normal offertory special this morning and decided at last minute (like right before offertory prayer)…to play a different arrangement…something shorter… since the preliminaries had lasted longer than usual.
So…right before prayer I dreamed up a home-spun offertory which worked out great since it was the same length as the offering 🙂
But….one major problem! I forgot all about accompanying my son and his wife to sing after the offertory. I was SO wrapped in the change of plans that I totally forgot them! After playing the offertory, I went out back to the restroom like normal and then to slip in quietly for the preaching portion.
As I came out of the restroom my husband was waiting for me in the foyer with a concerned look on his face. “Are you ok?” he said. “Weird!” I thought, “he’s never done this before.” “Well….yeah…why?”
He quickly replied, “David and Jenny were up on the platform waiting for you to play for them.” “Oh my goodness! I forgot all about them!” I quickly tried to explain myself away to him and one of the deacons who had come out back too. Both of them got this funny smirk on their face but also relieved at the same time that I was “Ok”.
Several years ago, I published a piano solo (elementary level) of “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus“. Later on, I came up with a simple accompaniment on a second piano while my student played the solo arrangement on another piano. We played it in church and I shared the video on my youtube channel.
Since that time, several church pianists have asked for the teacher accompaniment part which was in my head until now 😉
The teacher’s part may not sound identical to the youtube version…. but it’s close!
Hope you enjoy using this free accompaniment version for “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus.” (elementary piano solo)
Low to medium range sacred Christmas vocal solo; 4 pgs *Price covers two copies.
The haunting melody of this selection takes our Lord from the manger to the cross.
I’ve been sick for the past three weeks and feeling much better now!
Unfortunately I was unable to finish “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” piano solo but will be publishing a brand new Christmas vocal solo arrangement by my dad, Reece Yandle, sometime this week. The song is entitled “Hallelujah, Christ is Born!” and is just beautiful! The verses begin in a minor key and the chorus changes to major…I will say this has become my favorite Christmas song written by my Dad. Yes, he has written others but just haven’t published them yet 🙂
Here’s an audio sample of Dad’s song with printed words below to follow along as you hear the tune…
I have also posted some Christmas piano arrangement books for sale on our “Used Music” page. These books come from a growing stack of books I purchased this past year and just don’t need them all. I plan to post more for sale as time allows.
VERY excited about this beautiful song, “We Have a Saviour Who Cares” by Mina Oglesby!
You and your congregation will be blessed by this heart-warming song which reminds believers of God’s constant presence in their lives.
A very appropriate song for those going through a difficult time…who need that extra encouragement….to know that God cares!
The following video was recorded before the written arrangement took place so I will try to provide a more accurate recording asap but this will give you a general idea of the song.
Vocal solo or duet (medium range) 8 pgs. *Price covers two copies * No audio included. Video below.
Heart-touching melody and words by Mina Ogelsby.
You and your congregation will be encouraged by this uplifting song about God's abundant love.
*See youtube video link below to hear this song. This recording took place before my written version on sale above..so it's not an exact note replication but close enough.
So glad to have finally finished this collection of Congregational Piano Hymn Arrangements! I always enjoy writing in an accompaniment fashion…much more can be played than the melody 🙂
I may have strayed more from melody in this second collection but not enough to lose your congregation 😉
Hope you enjoy this collection! A special thanks to the John W. Peterson company for working with me to include “Heaven Came Down” which I REALLY had fun writing!
10 Late intermediate to early advanced piano congregational arrangements. 37 pages
Songs include: And Can it Be, At the Cross, Come Thou Fount, Heaven Came Down, Higher Ground, I Shall Know Him (My Saviour First of All), It's Just Like His Great Love, My Faith Has Found a Resting Place, Near the Cross, What a Friend We Have in Jesus)
*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.
