Church Pianist Tip: Rock of Ages with “Weighty Chords”
Recently, I’ve been working on an arrangement of “Rock of Ages”. The introduction contains what I call “weighty chords”…chords with three or more notes. Thus, the following tip…
Scenario: A pianist sees a chord with three or more notes…(brain computes)…HEAVY touch! Your brain thinks….I can’t possibly mash all those notes down at once without attacking them 😉 Word of caution: Relax and apply gentle even pressure as though you’re lightly kneading dough… to avoid a “chunky” or “weighted” sound…especially when the full chords occur on the weak beats.
For example, in 4/4 time, the 1st and 3rd beats are naturally accented. Therefore the 2nd and 4th beats are weaker. In 3/4 time…only the first beat of each measure receives the accent. Why? To produce a more shapely rhythm and to avoid a mechanical/laboured sound.
The following excerpt is from an arrangement that will be included in a “Funeral Collection” which I hope to finish within the next several months. Notice the full chords in the left hand. I will give a brief demonstration of a suggested way to interpret these chords…fighting against the natural tendency of “heavy hand” treatment.
Click here for: video clip of following example
Tags: church pianist, funeral, pianist, pianist tip, rock of ages, weighty chords