I recently published fill-in ideas for The Old Rugged Cross.
One of my readers asked me today if I could include the fill-ins on the printed hymnal version for ease of use.
I had to cut and paste and resize the fill-ins to fit the printed copy of the hymnal version so it’s kind of rough looking but it’s the best I could do with time allowed in my schedule.
Thanks for the suggestion Becky! 🙂
Click on following titles to download your free copies of the following:
How many church pianists have ever heard of the hymn “Ready”? One of my readers recently requested an offertory arrangement for this hymn.(actually just yesterday) Thanks Nancy!
I googled the hymn because I didn’t recognize the title right away. Once I saw the music score, I realized it was one I grew up with… but rarely heard.
One main idea comes to my mind after skimming through the words of each verse…Total Commitment to Christ No Matter What. How convicting when I insert the words “Am I…” before each phrase.
After reading the words to each verse I thought, “This is a hymn worth reviving!” The writer of this hymn, Charles Tillman, was the son of an evangelist. He painted houses and was also a traveling salesman for a music company out of Raleigha, NC in the late 1800’s. Charles began his career as a singing evangelist in 1887. He died at the age of 82 in 1943.
Lyrics to “Ready”
Ready to suffer grief or pain,
Ready to stand the test,
Ready to stay at home and send
Others if He sees best.
Ready to go, ready to bear,
Ready to watch and pray,
Ready to stand aside and give,
Till He shall clear the way.
Ready to speak, ready to think,
Ready with heart and mind,
Ready to stand where He sees fit,
Ready His will to find.
Ready to speak, ready to warn,
Ready o’er souls to yearn,
Ready in life or ready in death,
Ready for His return.
Refrain:
Ready to go, ready to stay,
Ready my place to fill,
Ready for service, lowly or great,
Ready to do His will.
I hope other church pianists can use this old but wonderful hymn to enrich their music ministry at church.
Family coming into town any minute and just finished a quickie for church pianists to use for Easter…fill-in ideas for The Old Rugged Cross when playing for congregational singing.
Sorry I didn’t have time to share more!
Happy Easter!
Click on title to download your free copy of fill-in ideas for: THE OLD RUGGED CROSS
Just published a new sacred vocal solo by Mina Oglesby that’s never been recorded until now..called “Rest Will Come in the Morning”.
I first discovered this piece in a songbook collection by Mina called “I Would See Jesus” published in the 1980’s. After playing through the piece, I immediately called Mina and said, “This song needs to be shared! It’s beautiful!” She allowed me to create an arrangement of this comforting song. I can’t wait to look through her books and share more of her wonderful songs filled with her love for Christ.
Appropriate song for any time of the year and would also make a nice funeral vocal solo too.
Thanks to Casie Schmidt for the wonderful recording of Mina’s song. I played in E flat for the recording. In case that’s too low for some people…I also included the arrangement in F Major but didn’t charge extra for having both arrangements.
The “Assurance Medley” has been one of my favorite sacred piano arrangements to play. I arranged this after asking the Lord to be my Savior at the age of 29.
The order of the hymns in this medley were meant to portray the feeling I had when accepting Christ as my Savior.
I hope this arrangement is an encouragement to you as it has been to me.
My piano teachers always stressed…not using the pedal as a crutch but to demand more out of my fingers by using a smoother touch as though crawling through the keys like a spider; creating a smooth touch even before adding the pedal.
Now to Robert’s clear presentation on playing the piano without the pedal…
Sorry for the delay in publishing this free piano congregational arrangement of Saved, Saved, Saved!
The words of this hymn carry the message of joy a Christian has in having Christ as their personal Saviour 🙂
For that reason, the music should sound happy and upbeat to support the text.
Generally…the faster or more wordy a hymn goes, the lighter the note texture (in my opinion). 😉
Why a lighter texture? Playing frequent big; heavy right hand chords (chords with 3 to 4 notes) throughout… wouldn’t allow for easy mobility; thus causing the pianist to “drag” the tempo.
The occasional full chords can still occur with a fast tempo…especially on long held words such as in measure #8 (see dotted half note for right hand). Full chords also sound nice and feel comfortable toward the end as tempo gets slower (see measures #19 & 20…right hand).
I also use occasional rests to provide more ease of hand movement as in measure #8…allows right hand time to ease into the fill-in. Same idea applies in measures 10, 15 and 17-19.
The rests just seem to create a more balanced “feel” when entering busy fill-in passages.
You’ll notice I use a lot of eighth notes in groups of 3’s to drive the majority of the first verse and chorus. I would change fill-in rhythms on the remaining verses to give my hands a break! 😉 Well…actually it also sounds nicer to use a variety of fill-ins for a fresher sound.
I’m thinking of a couple interpretation tips to share as well.
Hmmm….sounds like another post in the works for Saved, Saved, Saved!
Click on song title below to download your FREE copy of Saved! Saved! Saved! (one verse and chorus)
Remember I recently asked everyone to list an awkward hymn to play for congregational singing?
I received a good many responses here on my site as well as on facebook. I made a list and rolled a dice and the winning hymn for my free arrangement will be “Saved Saved (I Found a Friend).
I will provide a free arrangement of Saved Saved sometime next week 🙂
It’s always interesting to hear from other church pianists. Thanks for participating!
Some friends of ours just published their first sacred vocal CD this past summer entitled “His Name is Wonderful”. I absolutely love it!
Thanks to Faith Music Missions for doing an outstanding job on this CD! You can hear samples HERE (offsite link)
You may contact me at jenifer@thechurchpianist.com to order the CD. (I do have a limited number of these CDs for $12 each plus postage.)
I was suppose to accompany them for the recording but distance prevented me from doing so but their pianist, David Chamberlain, did a wonderful job!
Hunter and Morgan commuted to our church for at least four years while attending Bible college. They served in several areas of ministry while there.
We miss them! (Hunter was the inspiration behind the congregational booklets I’ve been publishing.)
Hunter now serves in a church located in New York City while Morgan is serving in a church out in Kansas.
Back to the CD…The songs are fresh! (some haven’t been published yet)
I plan to publish at least 6 out of the 10 from this sacred vocal CD. (“God Can” by Lynndale Hardeman) is already available in our online music store HERE.
Here is a sample of one of their songs “His Name is Wonderful” written by Reece Yandle (my Dad 🙂
(Information for CD drawing is below the video)
To enter this sacred vocal cd giveaway: (a max of 2 comments per person…details below)
1. First comment (like it, nice cd, etc.)
2. Second comment: Share this article link on facebook, twitter, or other social media and leave a 2nd comment providing your social media link.
3. Winner will be notified via email from jenifer@thechurchpianist.com
Just curious…what seems to be one of the most awkward hymns for you as a church pianist to play for congregational singing?
As soon as I collect a sizable list (at least 10)…I will number them and draw a number out of the hat and write a free congregational piano arrangement of that particular hymn. *Please: One hymn suggestion per person
Special note: Please only choose hymns that are in the public domain.
Here’s how a public domain hymn may appear
Public domain hymn
*Sometimes a public domain hymn will have no credits at the bottom like this:
