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For Today...
'Here, O my Lord I see you face to face'
Versatile communion hymn: although it can be sung (often with verses omitted) as a piece, I prefer to use all six verses, with half pre-communion, and half(starting with "Too soon we rise...") post-communion. At its best when set to the lyrical David Heneker tune.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0_OYCze14g - a 4 verse version.(27/04/2024)
Recent links
'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'.(26/04/2024)
'In Love You Summon'
This song from John Bell manages to say an awful lot in 4 lines.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucIrfFZPDaA - in 4 part harmony.(25/04/2024)
'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.(24/04/2024)
'Everyone needs compassion / Mighty to save'
Great fun for the band, and the congregation can certainly get stuck into the chorus.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt4_fxU94xA - a Hillsongs recording - lockdown style, from home.(23/04/2024)
'Our confidence is in the Lord'
I've checked several recordings of this, and the general verdict is, I play it with too much energy.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZtCpBQkXO0 - a 1991 recording, from the Noel Richards album 'By Your side'.(22/04/2024)
'Crown Him with many crowns'
A good solid hymn, which has been revised/updated by various editors. (I prefer versions without the 'rolling spheres'.)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vWRXvWZPUQ - an exciting arrangement of an old favourite.(21/04/2024)
'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.(20/04/2024)
'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...(19/04/2024)
'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'.(18/04/2024)
'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=s5eKj8CXWaU - an a cappella recording.www.youtube.com/watch?v=LycLo27SLyo - this version is organ accompanied and all in unison - originally, the only recording I could find.
(17/04/2024)
'He is Lord (He is risen from the dead...)'
A golden oldie... the potential for revitalising through different harmonisations and interpretations of the music can bring it back fresh.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjfXGCm7MR8 - an interesting, laid back take on it.(16/04/2024)
'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.
(15/04/2024)
'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!).
(14/04/2024)
'All for Jesus, all for Jesus'
The under-used closing hymn from Stainer's Crucifixion.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcwzvLhqAH8 - it has to be this tune.(13/04/2024)
'Tom's Song'
A song for the Easter season, based on John 20:24-29, when Jesus appears to Thomas.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOUHod4EGUw - The only online recording I'm aware of.(12/04/2024)
'Rejoice! Rejoice! Christ is in you'
I think this might have been the second Graham Kendrick song we learned as a congregation... just after it appeared in 1983. Still used occasionally. (My initial comment after sight-reading it was that no-one would have any of their own or anyone else's breath left in them by the end of the chorus!)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wtLsQ-HYJY - nicely paced.(11/04/2024)
'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.(10/04/2024)
'You chose the cross (Lost in wonder)'
It's been around a while, but we came to it relatively recently.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJiw2rwCKDk - album recording(09/04/2024)
'Now the Green Blade Riseth'
An Easter song I've played at a University Carol Service.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=27p98aLPZPI - Ely Cathedral choir, using the original unmodernised words.(08/04/2024)
'The Day of Resurrection'
A fairly successful re-cycling of Ellacombe (not that I could find any recordings of this hymn set to anything else).
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgIx_0jhW1Y(07/04/2024)
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