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This past Sunday I had to play in E Major (four sharps) for a male vocal solo and survived! He was singing “The Call for Reapers” out of the hymnal. The hymnal version was in the key of A flat major.
In his first practice I discovered E Major was the most suitable key for his baritone range. I decided I would brave the sea of black notes and make it work!
Usually I would have had the vocalist go to another nearby key that I could reasonable transpose to.
As I’ve mentioned before….E major is NOT my most comfortable key to play in. Some of my readers are sharp key lovers but I’m quite the opposite!
A simple sketch of “The Call for Reapers” was all I needed to keep me on track. It worked wonders! I was able to follow the piece fairly easy. The gentleman sang two verses and choruses but I just wrote out one verse and chorus as more of a guide.
Most hymns in the church hymnal don’t go beyond three sharps or five flats. That explains why I don’t feel as comfy beyond the hymnal key range.
Maybe there are other church pianists who could benefit from this simple sketched out arrangement of “The Call for Reapers”.
This particular hymn makes a great choice for Mission’s Conference or other mission related meeting.
I’m sharing the verse in this post and will publish the chorus by hopefully next weekend.
Click on following title to download your FREE copy of the verse
Part Two (chorus) by next weekend. (March 8 – 10, 2021)
I’m thrilled to FINALLY have this arrangement in print of “His Name is Wonderful to Me” written by my Dad, Reece Yandle.
This new vocal solo is now available for purchase at Sheet Music Plus. Available in two different keys! (E flat and F Major)
PROMO SPECIAL: Buy this arrangement on Sheet Music Plus and email us your receipt of purchase and we’ll email you one piano solo arrangement of your choice…FREE! from Jenifer’s online music store. Email: jenifer@thechurchpianist.com
Dad has written many songs over the years. He has published nine of them on Sheet Music Plus over the last couple of years.
Click here to see what he’s published on Sheet Music Plus.
In addition, Dad has at least three published songs through Lorenz. The songs are included in three different books of various composers. They are listed below:
Book Title: No Greater Love: Song Title: “Nevertheless Thy Will be Done” VIEW SAMPLE PAGES
Book title: Face to Face Song title: “By the Grace of God” VIEW SAMPLE PAGES
Book title: Day by Day Song title: “Who Will Go?” (nice mission theme song) VEW SAMPLE PAGES
Below is a video of Alton Beal, President of Ambassador Baptist College, singing my Dad’s song, “His Name is Wonderful to Me.”
Just thought I’d share a couple links to patriotic songs.
My Dad, Reece Yandle, wrote this vocal solo years ago and it remains one of my favorite vocal patriotic songs.
The song is entitled, “In God We Trust”. It has been used as the theme song for a teacher’s convention and sung by dad at different meetings. People were always asking for a copy of the song so I wrote it out and published it a while back.
Dad has written many songs! I need to publish more of them. Presently, Dad has at least six songs of his available in digital format (pdf sheet music) on Sheet Music Plus’ site found by clicking HERE.
Dad’s song of “In God We Trust” can also be purchased by clicking the “Buy Now” button below which will direct you to Sheet Music Plus’ site.
The final selection is a patriotic piano solo (early advanced) of “God Bless America” that I wrote several years ago.
I entered this patriotic piano arrangement in a contest sponsored by Sheet Music Plus and was surprised to hear I won first place in the sacred piano solo contest.
“God Bless America” is still under copyright so I’m unable to create a video recording of the arrangement. I received special permission to create the written arrangement.
If you’re wanting to purchase this arrangement…be aware that it’s only for sale on Sheet Music Plus due to the copyright agreement.
When you click on the “buy now” button…you’ll be re-directed to Sheet Music Plus’ site where you’re able to purchase the piece.
My dad was singing for a very special occasion here…50th year of SCACS (South Caroline Association of Christian Schools) teacher’s convention. He was the executive director of SCACS for at least 30 years.
I believe God gave Dad extraordinary strength to sing his heart out with this touching medley centered on the wonderful gift of salvation that only comes from the Lord. (He was 80 years old in this video)
I’m very excited about publishing “When I Looked Up to the Cross”, sacred vocal solo by my dad, Reece Yandle.
This is our family favorite. My youngest son had this song sung at his senior graduation.
You will enjoy this uplifting melody with a salvation emphasis! The video below was recorded before the written arrangement and differs slightly… but will give the listener the writer’s intended interpretation of the song….especially since the writer himself is singing in this video 🙂 Thanks dad for allowing God to use you through this song!
Today, I’ll share a video of me accompanying
one of my voice students… Chesney… singing
“Trust and Obey”.
Hopefully, you will be able to observe some of
what I’ve discussed in other articles regarding…
accompanying the vocalist. Please excuse the loud
piano:(
Related links:
http://thechurchpianist.blogspot.com/2008/12/church-pianist-accompanying-vocal.html
http://thechurchpianist.blogspot.com/2008/10/church-pianist-improvising-tips-for.html
I do use some melody here and there in the
accompaniment.
Listen for the altered vii diminished chord in
the last verse. What word did it occur on? 🙂
Related article discussing the altered vii diminished chord:
http://thechurchpianist.blogspot.com/2009/01/church-pianist-stately-chord.html
Youtube link for video of Trust and Obey:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNfKYhQJe-A