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For Today...
'Jesus, we enthrone you'
Slow, versatile golden oldie.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jkyiT1_J6I - a light rendering, and an interesting variation.(17/05/2021)
Recent links
'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.(15/05/2021)
'Abba Father'
Golden oldie, still useful, both to sing and to improvise around. A song which especially lends itself to the "transpose up" cliché, somehow: I once did this 12 times and got back where I started. (Not with the congregation actually singing, I hasten to add...)
www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=5rPGn_KTYuU&start=4 - the Divine Hymns recording - it should start just after their introductory jungle...(14/05/2021)
'Go Peaceful'
Marvellous, brilliant song of blessing from Paul Field - it takes an effort not to overuse it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRj4ExcxZso - - from Paul Field's album 'In the long run'(13/05/2021)
'You are my anchor'
Something of a golden oldie now, but still a good and useful song. And oh dear, yet another one I like to take a tiny bit quicker.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N6tihSBZow - from 'The best of Stuart Townend live'.(12/05/2021)
'O my soul, arise and bless your Maker'
An uplifting hymn from Stuart Townend which makes a good start to a morning service.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-3vCOdf0Ag - lovely rendering by Phatfish folk.(11/05/2021)
'I will wait'
Thoughtful, useful song by Maggi Dawn. Long sustained bass notes.
www.facebook.com/WhitefieldMethodist/videos/648184942409670/ - an extended version: the arrangement captures the essence of the song.(10/05/2021)
'At the name of Jesus'
A hymn with many possible tunes: Camberwell is one of the few tunes from the 20th Century Church Light Music Group which has stayed in mainstream use - and it's our choice.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFI5l8v_0UY - a Songs of Praise version, heavily truncated, as is usual for them with longer hymns.(09/05/2021)
'Shepherd, Lead me - I will follow'
A simple yet powerful song which can be useful in a number of contexts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcq7v47dLkE - an extended 'big' version of this song.(08/05/2021)
'You are beautiful beyond description'
A worship song by Mark Altrogge. Lends itself to guitar in A, a gently driving rhythm with a persistent open A in the bass at the start.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkKHhNIySd0 - a different approach, finger-picked (in G) on a classical guitar. Nicely done.(06/05/2021)
'The Awesome God you Are'
A lively one from Matt Redman - makes a good opener. If I'm leading on my own, I prefer guitar to keyboard. (I also go a wee bit quicker than Mr Redman.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGUP4fD0ZaE - sung by Matt Redman.(05/05/2021)
'Your word is a lamp unto my feet'
Beautiful and moving song by Amy Grant. Needs to be piano based. I rather like an old-fashioned electric piano kind of sound for this. Also, the middle section is a gift if you're playing bass.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=npWJZwgmKMo - this version by the Maranatha Singers.(04/05/2021)
'All Hail the Lamb'
Dave Bilborough four-liner from the 1980s, standing the test of time - as far as we're concerned.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC-cEsuXsfw - slow rendering with a coda borrowed from a Reuben Morgan song.www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYSVznoWq5Y - a Robin Mark recording... more energy, very good but also a teensy bit slow.
(03/05/2021)
'Be Thou my vision'
Two decisions have to be made before singing this song. The first involves Eleanor Hull's versification:- do you go with the original (10.10.10.10), or do you use the 10.11.11.11 version (as used in the 1951 BBC Hymnal and adopted by two subsequent generations of Baptist Hymn Book) which improves it for congregational singing? The answer to that question is... the latter, without doubt. The second decision is... to syncopate, or to play it straight? That largely depends on whether you're playing the organ or leading a worship band... and what mood you're in.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05kgpcw - a Songs of Praise recording from St Patrick's, Dungannon. (Only 4 verses, though.)www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiukM6WHQEQ - syncopated version, nicely done, but not using the improved words.
(02/05/2021)
'When I call on your name you answer'
Top-drawer worship song. One of those songs that works well with a congregation and can also be improvised upon.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEpSOcyLB14 - Ben Cantelon's own recording.(01/05/2021)
'O let the Son of God enfold You'
John Wimber's classic song.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cfbJVYMMi0 - a slightly twitchy rendering, straightforward but nicely done.(30/04/2021)
'Jesus, Jesus, Holy and anointed one'
Beautiful and useful worship song, standing the test of time.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=olBnC2nxCNw - nicely done.(29/04/2021)
'Yakanaka Vhangheri (English version: Listen Now for the Gospel)'
A lively Zimbabwean (Shona) song with a cantor and repsonse chorus.
hymnary.org/text/come_holy_spirit_melt_and_break_these_he - we use these words, published by the Wild Goose Resource Group.www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYdsskFFAkE - couldn't find a recording of the version we use: here's a slightly different one.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQfw63wKxB4 - and another.
(28/04/2021)
'Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me'
An old but potentially useful short worship song. I use it with a different tune to the original, as I find it easier to mix in.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlpopincjTk - with an alternative tune.(26/04/2021)
'Love Divine, all loves excelling'
One of Charles Wesley's masterpieces, and a top-drawer Welsh hymn tune.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hmfqe_8SEI - from Keswick, with piano-led band accompaniment.www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkThxONfQ7Y - sung in a traditional church setting, with organ accompaniment, nicely done (except for playing a whole verse of introduction and then only singing three!).
(25/04/2021)
'Still my soul, be still'
A gem of a song for times of adversity, from Keith & Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9t5_ZNmaw - from the Getty's album 'Awaken the Dawn'.(24/04/2021)
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