Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Song Ideas for Sunday, 3/2/2014

Here are some song possibilities for March 2nd, 2014, 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time


Be Not Afraid by Bob Dufford (OCP)

Be With Me, Lord by Tom Booth (spiritandsong.com) (from the CD "Find Us Ready")

Bless the Lord by Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin (EMI/CCLI) (purchase and download here)

Come to Jesus by Joshua Blakesley and Sarah Hart (spiritandsong.com) (from the CD "Waiting")

Fear is Not an Option by John Angotti (WLP) (from the CD "Extraordinary Love")

Have No Anxiety by Ed Bolduc (WLP) (from the CD "Word for Word") - consider a more reserved, prayerful arrangement as a second communion song or mediation...perhaps just piano or acoustic guitar and vocals.

In God Alone by John Angotti (WLP) (from the CD "Joy Beyond Our Dreams")

In the Arms of Jesus by John Angotti (WLP) (from the CD "Extraordinary Love" and the collection "More Voices as One vol. 1")

Lord, I Need You by Nockels/Carson/Reeves/Stanfill/Maher (worshiptogether.com) (purchase and download here)

*No More Fear by Aaron Thompson (WLP) (from the collection "Voices As One vol. 2")

Only In God by John Michael Talbot (EMI/BMG/CCLI) 

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Houston/Crocker/Lighthelm (Hillsong/EMI/CCLI) (purchase and download here)

Psalm 23 by Kathy Troccoli (Sony/CCLI)

Restless by Audrey Assad and Matt Maher (EMI) (purchase and download here)

Word of God Speak by Bart Millard and Pete Kipley (Word/CCLI) 

You Never Let Go by Matt and Beth Redman (EMI) (purchase and download here)

*Your Grace Is Enough by Matt Maher (spiritandsong.com) (from the CD "Empty and Beautiful")

* indicates instrumental parts available for these titles in the Voices As One series. All titles from this series have C and B-flat instrument parts. Select titles have Saxophone and Brass parts. 


** available as an eBundle (contains various instrumentation depending on the specific title)

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

New song? Plan your approach.

Whenever we bring out a song that is either new or unfamiliar to our assembly, we have to really take a look at the score in order to decide how to best ‘perform’ the piece so that all present can participate in the singing.  Again, this is always my goal…to get the assembly to join in the song.  (except for the occasional ‘meditation’ type piece)

This past Sunday, 2/9/14, we sang Paul Tate’s ‘You are the Light of the World.’  This is not a new song at all, but it was for us.  We’d never sung it before.  (Maybe once…but it was awhile ago.) The lyrics are taken right from the readings for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A. It was the perfect song to use as a gathering song, but I was a little concerned that the people wouldn’t join right in since it was new to them.

If we were to rehearse and sing it as written in the score, it would’ve gone like this:
1.      Start with a 7 bar introduction which uses the last half of the refrain melody (which is helpful)
2.       Sing the Refrain in unison
3.       Sing Verse 1
4.       Sing the Refrain with harmonies and descant
5.       Sing Verse 2…etc.

This is a perfectly good ‘map’ or flow for this song if all are familiar with it.  But since it was new, I asked everyone to play it this way:
 


1.       Play the entire Refrain as the introduction, with the melody very pronounced (RH of piano or solo instrument.  Consider switching instruments on the second half of the Intro for variety.) This enables everyone to hear the melody clearly before it is sung.  It gets it into their ears.

2.       Sing the Refrain in unison (as written) – no harmonies

3.       Repeat the Refrain – sing it again!  Why not?  They’ve only heard it once.  This time around they will feel more comfortable and more inclined to join in singing.  Ask the band to play out a little more fully.  Also…don’t sing the descant part, yet.  That’ll just confuse things for their ears. Remember, you’re not trying to impress them.  You’re trying to get them to sing with you.  Make it easy for them.  I’d be okay with adding some of the harmonies this time around, but still no descant.

4.       Sing Verse 1 – change up the texture.  Drop out some extra instruments (synth, flute, tpt, extra guitars, etc.) Have a cantor sing this first verse.  It will be a welcome change from the 3 Refrains they just heard (counting the intro). They can really focus on the lyrics sung well by a soloist.

5.       Sing the Refrain – now it will be very familiar to everyone.  Add the harmonies, but still no descant. Build it up!

6.       Sing Verse 2 – perhaps the whole choir/group of singers could sing this verse together. The assembly may or may not catch onto it at this point…but at least they have the Refrain firmly under their belt, so it’s ok.  Don’t forget to bring the band back down for the verse. Texture.

7.       Sing the Refrain – by this time, everyone knows it very well.

You’ll notice that I never added the descant part in the middle of the Refrain. Why?  Since the song is so new I think it just confuses things for the assembly.  After you’ve sung the song once or twice, then maybe.  But remember…just because it’s there does not mean you have to sing it!  Do what’s best for your church.

As for the end of the Refrain, the descant part wouldn’t be ‘in the way’ of anything, so it’d be safe to use it.  Another option is to put some solo instruments on those parts, perhaps an octave up.
 
This approach can apply to any song or arrangement of a song. Every one is different. You really need to think through the best way to introduce the music to fresh ears.

Check out the Assembly Editions

If you’re unsure how to treat a song, take a look at what is published in the Assembly Books (or pew books).  Most of the time the publishers have done the work for you by laying out– in these books– what the assembly is expected to sing.  If the verses are missing, or just exist as text blocks, that usually means the composer and publisher agree that the assembly is not really expected to sing those parts right away, or sometimes at all.  They may be meant for soloists or just the choir alone.

Put yourself in their shoes

Strip away all of your trained musicianship for a moment and imagine a choir asking you to sing along with them.  What would you want?

Instrumental Books

There are some wonderful instrumental parts available for this song and many, many others in both the Voices As One Instrumental Books, as well as the C Instrument Companion, both by World Library Publications. 

Song Ideas for Sunday, 2/23/2014

Here are some song possibilities for February 23rd, 2014, 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

*Be Holy by Ed Bolduc (WLP) (from the collection "Voices As One vol. 1")

Bless the Lord by Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin (EMI/CCLI)

*Build a Family by Ed Bolduc (WLP) (from the collections "Voices As One vol. 1" and "Love One Another")

Cry the Gospel by Tom Booth (spiritandsong.com) (from the CD "Cry the Gospel")

Every Day by Jacob and Matthew Band (WLP) (from the CD "Every Day" and the collection "More Voices As One")

Holiness is Faithfulness by Danielle Rose (WLP) (from the CD "Mysteries")

I Will Choose Christ by Tom Booth (spiritandsong.com) (from the CD "Find Us Ready")

I Will Follow by Jacob and Matthew Band (WLP) (from the CD "Every Day")

I Will Follow by Chris Tomlin (EMI/CCLI)

Jesus, My Everything by Matt Maher (spiritandsong.com) (from the CD "Welcome to Life")

Just Like You by Matt Maher (spiritandsong.com) (from the CD "The End and the Beginning")

Look Like a Fool by Matt Maher and Bill Staines (EMI) (from the CD "Empty and Beautiful")

Lord, I Need You by Nockels/Carson/Reeves/Stanfill/Maher (worshiptogether.com)

Love by Chris Tomlin et al (EMI/CCLI)

*Love One Another by Feargal King (WLP) (from the collections and "Voices As One vol. 2" and "Love One Another")

*Take My Life by Scott Underwood (Vineyard/CCLI) (from the collection "Voices As One vol. 2" and the CD "Fountain of Mercy")

The Lord Is Kind and Merciful/Psalm 103 by Craig and Kristen Colson (spiritandsong.com) (from the CD "Fill Us With Your Love")

*The Lord Is Kind and Merciful by Ed Bolduc (WLP) (from the CD "The Face of God" and the collection "Voices As One vol. 1")

The Lord Is Kind and Merciful by Ed Bolduc (WLP) (from the collection "Love One Another")

We Belong to You by Trevor Thomson (spiritandsong.com)

Whatever You Do by John Angotti (WLP) (from the CD "Joy Beyond Our Dreams" and the collection "More Voices As One vol. 1")

Word of God Speak by Bart Millard and Pete Kipley (CCLI)


* indicates instrumental parts available for these titles in the Voices As One series. All titles from this series have C and B-flat instrument parts. Select titles have Saxophone and Brass parts. 


** available as an eBundle (contains various instrumentation depending on the specific title)

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Song Ideas for Sunday, 2/16/2014

Here are some song possibilities for February 16, 2014, 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Beautiful One by Tim Hughes (EMI/CCLI) (check out the recording by Trevor Thomson)

*Come, Now is the Time to Worship by Brian Doerkson (Vineyard/CCLI) (from the collection "Voices As One vol. 2")

Come to Jesus by Blakesley/Hart (spiritandsong.com) (from the CD "Waiting")

Every Day by Jacob and Matthew Band (WLP) (from the CD "Every Day" and the collection "More Voices As One")

*God So Loved the World by Paul Tate (WLP) (from the CD "Let All Creation Sing" and the collection "Voices As One vol. 1")

I Am the Way by Craig Colson (WLP) (from the CD "I Am the Way")

I Will Choose Christ by Tom Booth (spiritandsong.com) (from the CD "Find Us Ready")

I Will Follow by Jacob and Matthew Band (WLP) (from the CD "Every Day")

I Will Follow by Chris Tomlin (EMI/CCLI)

I Love You, Lord by Matt Maher (spiritandsong.com) (from the CD "Welcome to Life")

Jesus, My Everything by Matt Maher (spiritandsong.com) (from the CD "Welcome to Life")

Our Help Is from the Lord by Paul Melley (GIA) (from the CD "Humbled")

Show Us Your Way, Lord by Ed Bolduc (WLP) (from the CD "The Face of God")

*Sometimes by Step by Mullins/Strasser (BMG/CCLI) (from the collection "Voices As One vol. 1")

Take My Life by Tomlin/Giglio (EMI/CCLI) 

*Take My Life by Scott Underwood (Vineyard/CCLI) (from the collection "Voices As One vol. 2" and the CD "Fountain of Mercy")

**We Bring Our Gifts to Your Altar by Brian Flynn (WLP) (from the CD "Born Again")

*You are My Rock by Michael Pierce (WLP) (from the collection "Voices As One vol. 2" and the CD "Forever Will I Sing")


* indicates instrumental parts available for these titles in the Voices As One series. All titles from this series have C and B-flat instrument parts. Select titles have Saxophone and Brass parts. 


** available as an eBundle (contains various instrumentation depending on the specific title)