Our offerings today (thank goodness we're out of that rather unfortunate "Creation" liturgy and back to something approaching normal (shame it isn't Cranmer's matchless prose, but you can't have everything):
He who would valiant be - Monks Gate When I survey the wondrous cross - Rockingham Brother, sister, let me serve you - The Servant Song Here is bread - Here is Bread* Here, Lord, we take - St Columba* Christ is our King - Christ is our King
* There were two Communion hymns as they were both fairly short.
Good to be back from our travels and playing. Our priest is on his holidays, so one of the lovely Indian chaps from the next door parish supplied. Couldn't understand a word he said, but he did chant his little bits in an Indian manner.
Here I am Lord.
Bread of life.
Unless a grain of wheat shall die.
Be not afraid.
We took the first and last at quite a lick. There are those who think that slow = meaningful. I just think slow = slow.
Trinity Something at Our Place, with a comparatively large congregation:
Fight the good fight (Duke Street) Immortal love, for ever full (Bishopthorpe) Broken for me (words and music by Janet Lunt) Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go (Song 34)
Jeremiah Clarke and Orlando Gibbons - both in the same service!
Now thank we all our God (Nun Danket)
Come you Thankful People Come (St Georges Windsor)
We Plough the Fields and Scatter (Wir Pfluegen)
Great is Thy Faithfulness (Faithfulness) -only one verse and chorus as we were running late
“God the Sculptor of the Mountains”/JENNINGS-HOUSTON
“Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil”/GOOD SOIL
“Touch the Earth Lightly”/TENDERNESS
“Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation”/REGENT SQUARE
Some unexpectedly welcome serious stuff this morning:
And can it be...? - (SAGINA)
All for Jesus - (ALL FOR JESUS)
My song is love unknown - (LOVE UNKNOWN)
Christ is made the sure foundation - (WESTMINSTER ABBEY)
at communion: Here is bread - (HERE IS BREAD)
My God, and is thy table spread - (ROCKINGHAM)
Mostly sung with gusto as our congregation recognise some absolute belters when we get them.
"Only begotten Word of God eternal" / ROUEN
Psalm 19, chanted.
"Not far beyond the sea nor high above the heavens" / CORNWALL
"My song is love unknown" / LOVE UNKNOWN
"Eternal Spirit of the living Christ" / FLENTGE
"Christ is made the sure foundation" / EDEN CHURCH
Good to be back from our travels and playing. Our priest is on his holidays, so one of the lovely Indian chaps from the next door parish supplied. Couldn't understand a word he said, but he did chant his little bits in an Indian manner.
Here I am Lord.
Bread of life.
Unless a grain of wheat shall die.
Be not afraid.
We took the first and last at quite a lick. There are those who think that slow = meaningful. I just think slow = slow.
The choice of hymns yesterday were quite unusual for our liberalish URC/Baptist church, as they mostly took me back to younger days in more conservative evangelical churches.... (apart from 'Touch the Earth Lightly')
Jesus is Lord (Creation's voice proclaims it)
In Christ Alone (even including the wrath of God line)
Take my life and let it be
Touch the Earth Lightly
We have a gospel to proclaim
...“Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation”/REGENT SQUARE
Is outrage. I was part of a discussion on Farcebark the other day with some Americans who said they'd never sung "Westminster Abbey". Imagine going through life without that glorious splat for the tenors in the last line!
"The strife is o'er, the battle done" / VICTORY
"Ye holy angels bright" / DARWALL'S 148th
"The King of love my shepherd is" / ST. COLUMBA
"Come with us O blessed Jesus" / WERDE MUNTER
"Amazing grace! how sweet the sound" / NEW BRITAIN
"Joyful, joyful, we adore thee" / HYMN TO JOY
...“Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation”/REGENT SQUARE
Is outrage. I was part of a discussion on Farcebark the other day with some Americans who said they'd never sung "Westminster Abbey". Imagine going through life without that glorious splat for the tenors in the last line!
As far as I know, WESTMINSTER ABBEY wasn’t in any American hymnals, at least not any mainline ones, until it appeared in the Episcopal Church’s Hymnal 1982. Prior to that, REGENT SQUARE seems to have been the usual tune for “Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation,” at least for Episcopalians, Presbyterians and United Methodists. The 1989 United Methodist Hymnal uses WESTMINSTER ABBEY, as does the ELCA’s 2006 Evangelical Lutheran Worship, while the 1991 Presbyterian Hymnal provides both tunes. The PC(USA)’s 2014 hymnal, Glory to God, only uses WESTMINSTER ABBEY (but melody only except in the accompaniment edition), although a note at the bottom of the page gives REGENT SQUARE as an alternate tune.
I was racking my brains to remember the words I was used to singing to Regent Square - it was Light's abode, celestial Salem.
Our offerings at St Pete's today were:
Hark! a herald voice is calling - Merton (felt a bit unseasonal, but what would I know?) Put thou thy trust in God - bloody Doncaster again Why couldn't they use Sandys like it says in the book? Jesus calls us, o'er the tumult - Marching My God, and is thy table spread - Rockingham Rejoice, the Lord is king! - Gopsal
I'm not quite sure what this morning's organist was thinking, but all the hymns were set so low we were singing from our boots!
Come, people of the risen king (Getty / Townend)
All through history (Becky & Nick Drake)
You alone can rescue (Redman)
I will offer up my life (Redman)
O Jesus, I have promised (Bode, sung to HATHEROP CASTLE)
Thy hand, O God, has guided (Thornbury)
A special hymn, whose words I couldn't hear properly, to the tune of Hills of the north, rejoice (Little Cornard)
Caribbean Lord's Prayer Let all mortal flesh keep silence (Picardy) Praise, my soul, the king of heaven (Praise, my soul)
From the Facebook video, there seemed to be a fairly good attendance, with some visitors (including the retired Bishop!).
A fine selection - and it sort of answers my question (on the Epiphanies thread) as to what mention was made of the conflict in today's intercessions.
The whole service was centred on the conflict - including the "children's talk" which was David McKee's "Two Monsters".
I'm sure it was mentioned at our Patronal Festival service - I haven't watched the whole service yet - but the hymns had been chosen a while back, and are (I think) subject to the Law of the Medes and the Persians.
Our Place had a two-verse ditty (couldn't catch the words on the video) during Communion. The tune was the grisly and gruesome Aurelia...which I am sure must be the eternal theme tune of some Circle of Hell...
We had gremlins at work with two of the hymns today.
The first was caused by the power point of the hymn words playing up in some way that we ended up repeating verse two and three of 'Christ Triumphant ever reigning' before finally managing to escape into verse 4.
The second was caused by our organist being unaware or forgetful of the unconventional verse/chorus structure in 'Beauty for Brokenness' ... we sang V1, V2, Chorus, V3 all correctly (and matching with the words on the power point) but next should be another chorus ... correct words appeared on the screens, but our organist started playing another verse ... nobody sang as it didn't fit, the music stopped, the minister and organist exchanged words, and displayed frustrated hand gestures then finally the hymn resumed! You can see it here! https://youtu.be/VJjW9w8Umh8?si=F5fyt-8eax2bUDYJ&t=2915
There actually seem to be two versions I've just discovered. The way my church does it is reflected on this page http://www.christianwebresources.co.uk/hymns/hymn/603/ So I guess our organist was used to the alternative version. Its worth watching the video clip of our service to see him throwing up his hands in heartfelt frustration!
There actually seem to be two versions I've just discovered. The way my church does it is reflected on this page http://www.christianwebresources.co.uk/hymns/hymn/603/ So I guess our organist was used to the alternative version. Its worth watching the video clip of our service to see him throwing up his hands in heartfelt frustration!
I did watch the video, and yes, the organist was obviously rather vexed...the Minister seemed to handle it well, though, as did the rest of you!
"God the omnipotent" / RUSSIA
Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23, chanted
"Sing praise to God who reigns above" / MIT FREUDEN ZART
"Glory, love, and praise, and honor" / BENIFOLD
"Be thou my vision" / SLANE
"Rejoice the Lord is King" / DARWALL'S 148th
Interestingly, my current church doesn't sing either of those very often. I had the sense with BfB that most of the congregation were thinking 'Ooh, that's a bit new' whereas I was thinking 'Wow, it must be 30 years since I sang that one'. The organist mentioned she was glad I was there with a strong voice! (Our choir never returned post-pandemic and now consists of a few stronger singers who sit in the front pews.)
MMaC is another song where the chorus can turn up in different places. I've come across versions where the 'O Master' chorus is sung after every verse, and others where it's after
every two verses (and not at the end). I've also come across many slightly different wordings of the last verse, all of them rather clunky.
I remember learning BfB when it first came out, and to my recollection it followed the classic Kendrick pattern of 'Two verses so people get used to the tune, then the chorus, and from then on, verse chorus'. I suspect that at some point, someone said 'Tighten it up a tad, Graham old chap, nice song but it does go on a bit' and the third and fourth verses were smushed together as a result.
I still don't think either of them work particularly well on the organ, though our organist did a sterling job. The folksy lilt of both seems to cry out for piano or acoustic guitar.
MMaC is another song where the chorus can turn up in different places. I've come across versions where the 'O Master' chorus is sung after every verse, and others where it's after
every two verses (and not at the end).
I was at a meeting on Saturday which left out the refrain after v.2 ... and repeated v.1 at the end. Which Didn't Work!!!
I still don't think either of them work particularly well on the organ, though our organist did a sterling job. The folksy lilt of both seems to cry out for piano or acoustic guitar.
MMaC is an odd one. I have been known to plough on to the chorus after verse 1, probably because that's the structure we are used to. I've never tried to play it on the organ. We (piano and guitars) sing it to a gentle Bossa Nova rhythm and harmonies which would come a cross as a bit "fairground organ" on the organ.
Somehow the last line of the text about rising to eternal life, has its meaning sucked out by the descending tune.
Not a favourite.
I'm not quite sure what this morning's organist was thinking, but all the hymns were set so low we were singing from our boots!
Pitched to suit the men in the congregation! Congratulations to the organist, usually the pitch is far too high.
The women sing an octave above the men, so a good pitch for one is usually a good pitch for the other, as long as they're not trying to sing each at other's pitches.
@Gee D you've said before that you're a tenor - if you're finding the pitch of hymns too high I honestly think you're trying to sing at the womens' pitch, given that choir Basses are expected to sing the tune during unison verses! Highest note I've ever seen in a hymn is a top line F, which men would be expected to sing as the F above middle C - tenors usually have a good third or so above this available.
Last night I was at a service where I found the pitch of one song really awkward: in the higher octave it was uncomfortably high, in the lower one it was too growly. I'd have loved it to have been somewhere in the middle ...
Generally I choose hymns so they don't rise above Eb (ideally D) or go much below D. There are of course the Awkward Tunes such as "Londonderry Air" where every pitch will be wrong for someone.
However we may be shifting away from this thread's prime purpose ...
On the matter of pitch I am finding that I have lower hymns as the congregation gets older.
Playing for a Requiem today which includes Amazing Grace. Our book has it in G which means a lot of high Ds. So I will drop it a tone.
Modern hymns and songs seem to be pitched at a comfortable range.
Comments
“Praise the Lord, you heavens adore him” - Austria.
“All the law that God has given” - All for Jesus (a rather jazzy version, Stainer probably rolling in his grave - but it worked in the context!)
“Step by step”.
“Ancient words”.
“A new commandment”.
“Living Lord”.
He who would valiant be - Monks Gate
When I survey the wondrous cross - Rockingham
Brother, sister, let me serve you - The Servant Song
Here is bread - Here is Bread*
Here, Lord, we take - St Columba*
Christ is our King - Christ is our King
* There were two Communion hymns as they were both fairly short.
We plough the fields and scatter
Think of a world without any flowers
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Our God is a Great Big God
Here I am Lord.
Bread of life.
Unless a grain of wheat shall die.
Be not afraid.
We took the first and last at quite a lick. There are those who think that slow = meaningful. I just think slow = slow.
Fight the good fight (Duke Street)
Immortal love, for ever full (Bishopthorpe)
Broken for me (words and music by Janet Lunt)
Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go (Song 34)
Jeremiah Clarke and Orlando Gibbons - both in the same service!
Had they all eaten ample breakfasts, then?
I think they might have all been hungering for spiritual food...
Two teenagers, three small children, and eight Asian students*, meant that one-third of the congregation was under 25 years old...
*We have about 10-12 Asian students who come pretty regularly, or as frequently as their courses permit.
What Gift of Grace is Jesus my Redeemer - a new one to me
Higher Than the Mountains that We Face (Your love never fails)
It Is Well With My Soul (When peace like a river)
Waymaker (You are here)
Jesus just 'the bearer' of the Holy Word? Jesus IS the Holy Word incarnate!
Now thank we all our God (Nun Danket)
Come you Thankful People Come (St Georges Windsor)
We Plough the Fields and Scatter (Wir Pfluegen)
Great is Thy Faithfulness (Faithfulness) -only one verse and chorus as we were running late
“God the Sculptor of the Mountains”/JENNINGS-HOUSTON
“Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil”/GOOD SOIL
“Touch the Earth Lightly”/TENDERNESS
“Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation”/REGENT SQUARE
And can it be...? - (SAGINA)
All for Jesus - (ALL FOR JESUS)
My song is love unknown - (LOVE UNKNOWN)
Christ is made the sure foundation - (WESTMINSTER ABBEY)
at communion: Here is bread - (HERE IS BREAD)
My God, and is thy table spread - (ROCKINGHAM)
Mostly sung with gusto as our congregation recognise some absolute belters when we get them.
"Only begotten Word of God eternal" / ROUEN
Psalm 19, chanted.
"Not far beyond the sea nor high above the heavens" / CORNWALL
"My song is love unknown" / LOVE UNKNOWN
"Eternal Spirit of the living Christ" / FLENTGE
"Christ is made the sure foundation" / EDEN CHURCH
Choral:
"Teach me O Lord" by Thomas Matthews
Yup.
Jesus is Lord (Creation's voice proclaims it)
In Christ Alone (even including the wrath of God line)
Take my life and let it be
Touch the Earth Lightly
We have a gospel to proclaim
Soloist: Pie Jesu by Andrew Lloyd Webber
"The strife is o'er, the battle done" / VICTORY
"Ye holy angels bright" / DARWALL'S 148th
"The King of love my shepherd is" / ST. COLUMBA
"Come with us O blessed Jesus" / WERDE MUNTER
"Amazing grace! how sweet the sound" / NEW BRITAIN
"Joyful, joyful, we adore thee" / HYMN TO JOY
Our offerings at St Pete's today were:
Hark! a herald voice is calling - Merton (felt a bit unseasonal, but what would I know?)
Put thou thy trust in God - bloody Doncaster again
Jesus calls us, o'er the tumult - Marching
My God, and is thy table spread - Rockingham
Rejoice, the Lord is king! - Gopsal
I'm not quite sure what this morning's organist was thinking, but all the hymns were set so low we were singing from our boots!
Grump, grump ...
Come, people of the risen king (Getty / Townend)
All through history (Becky & Nick Drake)
You alone can rescue (Redman)
I will offer up my life (Redman)
O Jesus, I have promised (Bode, sung to HATHEROP CASTLE)
Thy hand, O God, has guided (Thornbury)
A special hymn, whose words I couldn't hear properly, to the tune of Hills of the north, rejoice (Little Cornard)
Caribbean Lord's Prayer
Let all mortal flesh keep silence (Picardy)
Praise, my soul, the king of heaven (Praise, my soul)
From the Facebook video, there seemed to be a fairly good attendance, with some visitors (including the retired Bishop!).
Take our bread
Because the Lord is my shepherd. - Walker
Christ be our Light - Farrell.
“God is love, let heaven adore him”. - Blaenwern.
“Beauty for brokenness” - Kendrick.
“God of freedom, God of justice” - Rhuddlan.
“For the healing of the nations” - Corinth.
“Christ is the world’s true light” - Nun Danket.
A fine selection - and it sort of answers my question (on the Epiphanies thread) as to what mention was made of the conflict in today's intercessions.
The whole service was centred on the conflict - including the "children's talk" which was David McKee's "Two Monsters".
I'm sure it was mentioned at our Patronal Festival service - I haven't watched the whole service yet - but the hymns had been chosen a while back, and are (I think) subject to the Law of the Medes and the Persians.
God of grace and God of glory (Rhuddlan)
The Church's One Foundation (Aurelia)
Come, people of the risen king (Getty / Townend)
Our Place had a two-verse ditty (couldn't catch the words
The first was caused by the power point of the hymn words playing up in some way that we ended up repeating verse two and three of 'Christ Triumphant ever reigning' before finally managing to escape into verse 4.
The second was caused by our organist being unaware or forgetful of the unconventional verse/chorus structure in 'Beauty for Brokenness' ... we sang V1, V2, Chorus, V3 all correctly (and matching with the words on the power point) but next should be another chorus ... correct words appeared on the screens, but our organist started playing another verse ... nobody sang as it didn't fit, the music stopped, the minister and organist exchanged words, and displayed frustrated hand gestures then finally the hymn resumed! You can see it here! https://youtu.be/VJjW9w8Umh8?si=F5fyt-8eax2bUDYJ&t=2915
There actually seem to be two versions I've just discovered. The way my church does it is reflected on this page http://www.christianwebresources.co.uk/hymns/hymn/603/ So I guess our organist was used to the alternative version. Its worth watching the video clip of our service to see him throwing up his hands in heartfelt frustration!
I love you, Lord, your mercy never fails me (All my life you have been faithful)
Everything I have comes from you - a new one to me
O for a thousand tongues
I did watch the video, and yes, the organist was obviously rather vexed...the Minister seemed to handle it well, though, as did the rest of you!
Pitched to suit the men in the congregation! Congratulations to the organist, usually the pitch is far too high.
"God the omnipotent" / RUSSIA
Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23, chanted
"Sing praise to God who reigns above" / MIT FREUDEN ZART
"Glory, love, and praise, and honor" / BENIFOLD
"Be thou my vision" / SLANE
"Rejoice the Lord is King" / DARWALL'S 148th
MMaC is another song where the chorus can turn up in different places. I've come across versions where the 'O Master' chorus is sung after every verse, and others where it's after
every two verses (and not at the end). I've also come across many slightly different wordings of the last verse, all of them rather clunky.
I remember learning BfB when it first came out, and to my recollection it followed the classic Kendrick pattern of 'Two verses so people get used to the tune, then the chorus, and from then on, verse chorus'. I suspect that at some point, someone said 'Tighten it up a tad, Graham old chap, nice song but it does go on a bit' and the third and fourth verses were smushed together as a result.
I still don't think either of them work particularly well on the organ, though our organist did a sterling job. The folksy lilt of both seems to cry out for piano or acoustic guitar.
Agreed, although it depends on the organist!
Somehow the last line of the text about rising to eternal life, has its meaning sucked out by the descending tune.
Not a favourite.
The women sing an octave above the men, so a good pitch for one is usually a good pitch for the other, as long as they're not trying to sing each at other's pitches.
@Gee D you've said before that you're a tenor - if you're finding the pitch of hymns too high I honestly think you're trying to sing at the womens' pitch, given that choir Basses are expected to sing the tune during unison verses! Highest note I've ever seen in a hymn is a top line F, which men would be expected to sing as the F above middle C - tenors usually have a good third or so above this available.
If you can't sing above an F, you really aren't a tenor. You're a baritone at most, quite possibly a bass with a decent upper register.
Last night I was at a service where I found the pitch of one song really awkward: in the higher octave it was uncomfortably high, in the lower one it was too growly. I'd have loved it to have been somewhere in the middle ...
Generally I choose hymns so they don't rise above Eb (ideally D) or go much below D. There are of course the Awkward Tunes such as "Londonderry Air" where every pitch will be wrong for someone.
However we may be shifting away from this thread's prime purpose ...
Playing for a Requiem today which includes Amazing Grace. Our book has it in G which means a lot of high Ds. So I will drop it a tone.
Modern hymns and songs seem to be pitched at a comfortable range.
Is the 80s still “modern”?
Just askin’…
I think modern has moved to this century at least.
Bloody HATE that one.
Once again I'm out of step with the SoF musical zeitgeist: I rather like it.