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In my previous blog posts I have shared recommendations of preludes and postludes for church pianists. In many services you will also need to play an offertory or provide special music. In this article I am going to share my favorite pieces from my Piano at Daybreak series to offer in the middle of services. I will share links to YouTube and the sheet music so you can instantly download them as we go, but remember you will get much better value by purchasing the whole collection than if you buy individual arrangements from sheet music websites. Your congregation is sure to enjoy these beautiful pieces of music, and I’m sure you will enjoy playing them, so let’s get started! My first pick is Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah. This arrangement would work well as a prelude too, but since it is very tender, I would play it when there’s less noise from people entering the sanctuary. It is one of my personal favorites from my collection, so I would definitely pick it for an offertory or special music. Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee was included in my selections for preludes, but I’m including it here because I have played it myself for special music. There are some interesting subtleties in this arrangement that merit the attention music in the middle of the service receives, and you will be able to play it with full expression. My arrangement of Nearer, My God, to Thee is a very tender arrangement and your congregation will love hearing this during communion or special music. The interlude is a little bit of a harmonic journey but it returns to the home key for the second statement of the melody. The closeness of the accompaniment notes is not common but has a lovely effect when used with the sustain pedal. Now Thank We All Our God is one of my longer arrangements at 3 and a half minutes, which makes it a great selection for special music. It is in a gentle, meditative new age style. The interlude at measure 31 builds from piano to forte, and you can play it with passion. My arrangement of Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow uses the tune Old 100th, which is commonly used as a doxology. It is also associated with the text All People That on Earth Do Dwell. The ending drifts away with pure, exposed repetitions of the melody in the upper register that are lovely to listen to. This makes it a much better selection for special music than as a prelude in my opinion. The next arrangement, Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies, is from Volume 2 of Piano at Daybreak. It has a gently undulating accompaniment that moves among first-inversion chords in a stepwise fashion. There are many nice embellishments and the extended interlude at the end holds a special place in my heart. Next is Come, Come, Ye Saints which is based on the tune All Is Well. It is a very quiet, exposed arrangement that you can play with maximum expression. The interlude and ending are in the mixolydian mode, giving it a slight air of mystery, so I might play this during Lent. It is three and a half minutes in length. My arrangement of The King of Love, My Shepherd Is begins somewhat in the style of Satie’s Gymnopedie, but picks up in the middle section with a more rhythmic jazzy feel. After a fun improvisatory interlude, it returns to the meditative style of the opening. This arrangement is 3 and a half minutes long and is for intermediate pianists. Leaning on the Everlasting Arms is reminiscent of recordings by George Winston and your congregation will love to hear this during an offertory or special music. It is two and a half minutes long. Another good hymn arrangement selection is Take My Life and Let It Be. It is more meditative and leans towards minor modes. The improvisatory interlude can be played passionately, and the ending sparkles nicely in the upper register of the piano. That concludes this blog post on recommended hymn arrangements for piano to be played during an offertory or special music. However I wouldn’t stop there, any of my arrangements would be great selections. I have friends who are church musicians, and they use these for their offertories and have told me their listeners love them! For more recommendations, check out my articles on preludes and postludes, as well as easy and intermediate selections. Comments are closed.
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AuthorIan Good is a published composer and arranger. |