KEYS
[ GO FIGURE: PIANO, PART 3 | Ed Kerr ]
In the last 2 articles I’ve written, you’ve seen is a stark contrast to what is usually heard in a example 3 from part 2 of the series for an
how some common piano figures can be used modern worship song’s accompaniment. So, accompaniment. (EX. 2)
effectively as a piano part for many worship do you think there’s a way to present a hymn songs. I use these figures and others like them instrumentally so that it can sound compatible You can even adapt these figures to triple
often. I’m now seeing this usefulness in a new with the modern song? I have discovered that meters like 3/4 and 6/8. Many hymns use
context since I’ve recently begun serving as it can be done, and using the piano figures these meters. One of my favorites is “Be Thou
Worship Arts Pastor for a church in Seattle. presented in my previous 2 articles has been My Vision”. Check out how example 1 from the
Within the last year this church made the the answer. same article can be adapted for the start of this
hymn. (EX. 3)
transition from having one traditional service
and one contemporary, to having a single First, one of the most well known hymns in the service. Elements of both the traditional and Church around the world is “Holy, Holy, Holy”. As a final example, you could tie in the numerical
contemporary services are now combined, By slightly reordering piano figures from part 2 references in the titles of two songs, “10,000
and my job is to lead the music in this single of this series, you’ll be able to see (and hear Reasons” and “O For A Thousand Tongues To
service. As you might anticipate, those in the if you head to your keyboard and play these Sing”. There’s a meter change here from 4/4 to
congregation who’d attended the traditional examples) how well figures that supported 3/4, but the lyrics give cohesion. (EX. 4)
service enjoy singing hymns in the service, the modern worship song fit with the hymn’s while those in the contemporary tended to sing melody. Here example 5 from “Go Figure part My recent experiences at my church in Seattle
only modern worship songs. As I build my set 2” is reordered a bit as the hymn begins. (EX.1) have reminded me how many great truths are
lists, I often have a hymn and a worship song
placed one after the other.
expressed in the hymns of our heritage. It can
This sparse piano part is a significant contrast be a powerful experience for your congregation
to the way a church pianist might traditionally when you combine lyrics from a modern
Often hymns are presented with very thick accompany the hymn. That’s exactly why you songwriter with those composed many years
chord voicings, generally including the hymn’s might find it more stylistically compatible with before. Using the concepts I’ve shared here
melody as the top note in the right hand, with the modern songs that you most often sing. can help you and your team present the older
the alto, tenor, and bass parts played directly
songs in a new and fresh way. By God’s grace,
below it. The mere fact that the melody of the Next, say I’m using the hymn “All Hail The the result will be new and fresh revelations of
hymn is being played instrumentally as it is sung Power Of Jesus’ Name” after “What A Beautiful our timeless God who never changes.
Name”. Here, I don’t make any changes to
EX. 1 EX. 2
EX. 3 EX. 4
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August 2017
WorshipMusician.com