Contemporary

Brother/Sister Duo committed to the Lord Jesus Christ, uses their God-given abilities to glorify him.

A Beautiful Song !! ... A Must Hear!! God will Always Make Something Beautiful Out of Your Situation !!

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Some examples of what you can do to make an old hymn sound more contemporary using Revive Us Again, originally attributed John Jenkins Husband and William Paton MacKay.

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX in the key of G.
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I can't call this a tutorial or instructional video as I'm not really teaching. Informational? Inspirational? You can pick a word after you've watched it! : )

A hot topic in worship right now is how to rearrange an old hymn into something that fits into a contemporary worship setting. A lot of the older hymns have some great words to them; but because they were meant for 4-part harmony (SATB), there are chord changes all over the place and they can really make the flow of the song sound rather jumbled and busy.

So, here I present some tips/guidelines/thoughts/whatever that might help to explain how to take hymns and turn them into contemporary arrangements-- without touching the melody!

Original time - The hymn as it's in the hymnal
First Repeat - Illustration of simplifying the chord changes

Second Repeat - Illustration of making the chording more interesting

Third Repeat - Illustration of contrasting dynamics and instrumental bridges

Fourth Repeat - Illustration of changing the arrangement of the verses and choruses

Fifth Repeat - Illustration of additional improvisation and a new vocal bridge

I hope this is helpful to someone! And if anyone has any specific questions, please let me know! Thanks!

An original arrangement of Higher Ground, originally attributed to Charles Hutchison Gabriel and Johnson, Jr. Oatman.

This (or something like it) was performed for today's offertory.

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX.
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I'm pressing on the upward way
New heights I'm gaining every day
Still praying as I onward bound
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground

Lord, lift me up and let me stand
By faith on heaven's tableland
A higher plain than I have found
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay
Though some may dwell where these abound
My prayer, my aim is higher ground

I want to live above the world
Though Satan's darts at me are hurled
For faith has caught the joyful sound
The song of saints on higher ground

I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright
But still I'll pray 'til heaven I've found
Lord, lead me on to higher ground

An original arrangement of Near the Cross, originally attributed to Fanny Jane Crosby, and William Howard Doane.

This (or something like it) was performed for yesterday's offertory.

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX..

(And, sorry, Thumpy didn't come to church with me today.)
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Jesus, keep me near the cross
There a precious fountain
Free to all a healing stream
Flows from Calvary's mountain

In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river

Near the cross, a trembling soul
Love and mercy found me
There the Bright and Morning Star
Sheds its beams around me

Near the cross, O Lamb of God
Bring its scenes before me
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadows o'er me

Near the cross I'll watch and wait
Hoping trusting ever
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river

An original arrangement of Everlasting God, originally attributed to Brenton Brown and
Ken Riley (and I think Chris Tomlin somewhere in there too).

This (or something close to it) will be tomorrow's offertory... sans Thumpy.

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX.
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Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our Hope, our strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint, You won't grow weary
You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

An original arrangement of Glory To His Name (sometimes known as Down at the Cross), originally attributed to Elisha Albright Hoffman and John Hart Stockton.

This (or something close to it) was today's offertory.

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX.
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And introducing Thumpy, PianoPounding's official mascot! You can't see it in the video but he had to dig his little claws in pretty hard to hang on-- especially during the last chorus!
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Down at the cross where my Savior died
Down where for cleansing from sin I cried
There to my heart was the blood applied
Glory to His name

Glory to His name; glory to His name
There to my heart was the blood applied
Glory to His name

I am so wondrously saved from sin
Jesus so sweetly abides within
There at the cross where He took me in
Glory to His name

O precious fountain that saves from sin
I am so glad that I entered in
There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean
Glory to His name

Come to this fountain so rich and sweet
Cast thy poor soul at the Savior's feet
Plunge in today and be made complete
Glory to His name

An original arrangement of A Shelter in the Time of Storm, originally attributed to Ira D. Sankey and Vernon J. Charlesworth. This (or something close to it) was today's offertory.

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX.
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The Lord's our Rock; in Him we hide
A Shelter in the time of storm
Secure whatever ill betide
A Shelter in the time of storm

O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land
A weary land, a weary land
O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land
A shelter in the time of storm

A Shade by day, Defense by night
A Shelter in the time of storm
No fears alarm, no foes affright
A Shelter in the time of storm

The raging storms may round us beat
A Shelter in the time of storm
We'll never leave our safe retreat
A Shelter in the time of storm

O Rock divine, O Refuge dear
A Shelter in the time of storm
Be Thou our Helper ever near
A Shelter in the time of storm

An original arrangement of Therefore the Redeemed, originally by Ruth Lake. This (or something close to it) was Sunday's offertory.

I've always enjoyed this sound of this song although its exclusive, 'churchy' lyrics keep me from wanting to include it in our music rotation during congregational worship. I just can't get the image out of my head of someone new to the faith or the church hearing this song and really stumbling over their non-accessibility. Feel free to disagree.

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX in a single take with no post-processing.
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Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return
And come with singing unto Zion
And everlasting joy shall be upon their head

They shall obtain gladness and joy
And sorrow and mourning shall flee away
Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return
And come with singing unto Zion
And everlasting joy shall be upon their head

An improvisation of In Moments Like These... which was today's offertory.

Originally by David Graham..

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX.

Video captured on my iPad. (Yes, you finally get to see me play. Happy now? ;) )
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In moments like these, I sing out a song
I sing out a love song to Jesus
In moments like these, I lift up my hands
I lift up my hands to the Lord

Singing I love You, Lord
Singing I love You, Lord
Singing I love You, Lord
I love You

An improvisation of He Loves Me... which was today's offertory. It starts slow and builds--stick with it! : )

Originally by Isaac Watts.

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX.
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Alas and did my Savior bleed
And did my sovereign die
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

He loves me. He loves me
He loves me this I know
He gave Himself to die for me
Because He loved me so

Was it for crimes that I have done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown
And love beyond degree

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut His glories in
When Christ, the mighty Maker died
For man, the creature's, sin

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe
Here, Lord, I give myself away
'Tis all that I can do

An improvisation of Stand Up for Jesus... which will be tomorrow's offertory. : )

Originally by George J. Webb and George, Jr. Duffield.

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX.
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Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross
Lift high His royal banner; It must not suffer loss
From victory unto victory, His army shall He lead
Till every foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed

Stand up, stand up for Jesus; the trumpet call obey
Forth to the mighty conflict in this His glorious day
Ye that are men, now serve Him against unnumbered foes
Let courage rise with danger and strength to strength oppose

Stand up, stand up for Jesus; stand in His strength alone
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own
Put on the Gospel armor and watching unto prayer
Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there

A piano improvisation of Your Grace Is Enough.

Originally by Matt Maher.

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX.
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Great is Your faithfulness, O God
You wrestle with the sinner's restless heart
You lead us by still waters into mercy
And nothing can keep us apart

So remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise, O God

Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me

Great is Your love and justice, God of Jacob
You use the weak to lead the strong
You lead us in the song of Your salvation
And all Your people sing along

Yeah, Your grace is enough
Heaven reaches out to us
Your grace is enough for me
God, I sing Your grace is enough
I'm covered in Your love
Your grace is enough for me

An off-the-cuff arrangement of Blessed Be the Lord God Almighty just because.

Originally by Bob Fiits.

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX.
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Father in heaven, how we love You
We lift Your name in all the earth
May Your kingdom be established in our praises
As Your people declare Your mighty works

Blessed be the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
Blessed be the Lord God Almighty
Who reigns forevermore

A piano improvisation of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

Originally credited to John Mason Neale and Thomas Helmore. Additional credit to Marshall McDonald and Steven Sharp (The Piano Guys) for their inspirational arrangement.

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX.
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O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high
And order all things far and nigh
To us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go

O come, Desire of nations bind
All peoples in one heart and mind
Bid envy strife and quarrels cease
Fill the whole world with heaven's peace

An off-the-cuff arrangement of Go Tell It On the Mountain.

Stick with it; I know it starts slow but I didn't arrange that part!

I'll be honest: I'm not a fan of this song. I just dislike it a little less after doing this to it. Now I can finally move on! : )

Originally attributed to John W., Jr. Work.

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX.
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Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And brought us God's salvation
That blessed Christmas morn

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

While shepherds kept their watching
O'er silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light

The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth

An original arrangement of God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (unknown author, public domain).

The picture is a lie; this song contains no piano (except that it was still performed on my digital piano).

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX in a single take with no post-processing.
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God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
When we were gone astray

O tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From God, our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name

"Fear not", then said the angel
"Let nothing you affright
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure virgin bright
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's power and might!"

The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind
And left their flocks afeeding
In tempest storms and wind
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The blessed Babe to find

And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Savior lay
They found Him in a manger
Where oxen feed on hay
His mother Mary kneeling down
Unto the Lord did pray

A piano version of Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground)... since I learned it as an improvised accompaniment for a vocal solo!

Originally by Chris Tomlin and Ed Cash.

Performed and recorded on my Roland RD-700NX.
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What hope we hold this starlit night
A King is born in Bethlehem
Our journey long, we seek the light
That leads to the hallowed manger ground

Emmanuel, Emmanuel
God incarnate here to dwell
Emmanuel, Emmanuel
Praise His name: Emmanuel

What fear we felt in the silent age
Four hundred years can He be found?
But broken by a baby's cry
Rejoice in the hallowed manger ground

The Son of God here born to bleed
A crown of thorns would pierce His brow
And we beheld this offering
Exalted now the King of kings
Praise God for the hallowed manger ground

Praise His name Emmanuel