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For Today...
'Though I feel afraid (of territory unknown)'
Easy to pigeon-hole this song for overseas mission, but it deserves wider usage that that. Also, the brilliant and powerful chorus can be used on its own, or with other material.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=f32uz50sOD4 - live recording.(07/08/2020)
Recent links
'We are waiting to welcome Jesus'
Works well as an all-age song. (Quality writing from Bernadette Farrell as ever.) Plenty of verses - it can be used long or edited down.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVkFLHP0ucA - a choir of 4-7 year olds singing their first mass. (Had to smile at the conductor holding up cue cards to remind them which verse comes next - I have been known to do that with adult choirs!)(Added 01/08/2020. Shown 06/08/2020.)
'Give thanks with a grateful heart'
Useful golden oldie - though I've always played my own version of it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=047xtru0ZR0 - playing it straight(Added 01/08/2020. Shown 05/08/2020.)
'Hide me now (under You wings)'
Another Reuben Morgan song that has added to the richness of expression in worship. And great to play keyboard in.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv3eJgqq2aw - solo voice and guitar (mainly), nicely done.www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FrEmqyM4-k - Hillsongs live recording (loud and extended).
(Added 01/08/2020. Shown 04/08/2020.)
'God beyond all names'
Lovely reflective and meditative song - not really for congregational singing, but good to use when you can.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Htrmq0g_Nk - beautifully done.(Added 01/08/2020. Shown 03/08/2020.)
'I, the Lord of Sea and Sky'
Top-drawer song by Dan Schutte: along with Bernadette Farrell, he's one of the best Catholic songwriters who is widely known.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgLwH5RdtPk - a Songs of Praise recording (a verse short) - and an interesting arrangement. Includes roughly the same echo line I use in the chorus, too.www.youtube.com/watch?v=6grXk3e5bs0 - another Songs of Praise recording - a bit quicker, so they fit in 3 verses. A more conventional accompaniment, and a different chorus echo.
(Added 25/08/2020. Shown 02/07/2020.)
'Beauty for brokenness'
A very direct, wide-ranging, challenging and powerful song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=08utbDFP9AE - the 'official' Graham Kendrick rendering, modulation and all, as featured on his website.(Added 25/08/2020. Shown 01/07/2020.)
'What love is this?'
The Doug Horley one. Allegedly a children's song - works well as all-age. Can be lively.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=68czwG1AJoo - someone called Julie Mayers has kindly provided a solo guitar alternative to the rather long official video.(Added 25/07/2020. Shown 31/07/2020.)
'Jesus, we enthrone you'
Slow, versatile golden oldie.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jkyiT1_J6I - a light rendering, and an interesting variation.(Added 25/07/2020. Shown 30/07/2020.)
'God of the moon and stars'
Not really part of our repertoire, but a song with a difference. One we have tried and which I'd like to use again.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VvAydYFyRQ - Paul Field himself - solo vocal and accompanying himself on guitar, with a little backing from piano.(Added 25/07/2020. Shown 29/07/2020.)
'Into the darkness of this world'
Another brilliant Maggi Dawn song. Part of the Advent repertoire, but it's good to use it occasionally at other times too.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8NzE5wNqus - a light but lovely, subtle rendering.(Added 25/07/2020. Shown 28/07/2020.)
'Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise'
A golden oldie, less used now, but used to be core repertoire.
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8NzE5wNqus&start=41 - an arrangement which builds nicely before modulating. (Includes an extended lead-in, and stops slightly abruptly as the next link begins.)(Added 25/07/2020. Shown 27/07/2020.)
'Come, see this glorious light'
Part of our core repertoire, and one I prefer to lead from guitar (C, capo 3) rather than the keyboard.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xq2j2Ubmjw - a Stuart Townend recording.(Added 18/07/2020. Shown 26/07/2020.)
'Soon and very soon'
This song needs singing in the style Andre Crouch wrote it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxarZBxK0iQ - gospel rendering, with a few additions that don't appear in the average hymnbook.(Added 18/07/2020. Shown 25/07/2020.)
'Jesus shall take the highest honour'
Top-drawer song from Chris Bowater. A gift to church musicians and congregations alike.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GaiRYYOB0Y - done well, but the recording isn't perfect.www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGYVN5RyL1c - an alternative rendering with no recording glitches.
(Added 18/07/2020. Shown 24/07/2020.)
'Thy hand O God has guided'
The hymn Thornbury was written for, and if you're going to use it, you wouldn't want to use any other tune, really.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLQk7m7Edzg - a recording from Blackburn Cathedral, who do the sort of thing you'd expect them to do on the last verse.(Added 18/07/2020. Shown 23/07/2020.)
'Be still, for the presence of the Lord'
A very popular, top-drawer 'modern' hymn. Like all the best ones, the opportunities for improvising harmonies and riffs are endless.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZugvUQ4m90U - with a piano-led band.www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5S_-zhHfDA - an organ-led rendering - (not always a good idea with modern songs, but this one works) - from Songs of Praise. The verse intro/links have a hint of Geoffrey Beaumont in their inspiration?
(Added 18/07/2020. Shown 22/07/2020.)
'Majesty'
A golden oldie, well used in its time but worth hanging on to. For church musicians, it's an opportunity to bring out all those old riffs and tweak them anew.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaRwD2Y7C0s - a 'big' arrangement, fairly restrained but works well. Nice coda.(Added 18/07/2020. Shown 21/07/2020.)
'Behold I Make All Things New'
A short song and a great opener for large/special gatherings- you can split the congregation into two (or two and a half) parts, and sing it a capella. It's fun to teach, fun to learn, and fun to sing.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LycLo27SLyo - this version is organ accompanied and all in unison - the only recording I could find.(Added 18/07/2020. Shown 20/07/2020.)
'Praise Him you heavens'
Driving opener, pacey and great fun. (For the keyboard player, plenty of scope to use a variety of sounds. Synth or Hammond on the chorus, as is your taste.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBo9yIUWEEc - Hillsong Worship live recording.(Added 12/07/2020. Shown 19/07/2020.)
'Christ's is the World'
A song of challenge and hope.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTIwZ3XNyEY - a Songs of Praise recording, shortened. (With the choir of Liverpool Met., rather than congregation.)(Added 12/07/2020. Shown 18/07/2020.)
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