Making hymns contemporary without changing them

[Believer1997]

No, you aren't weird - we all have our different tastes in music.

Like me - I can't stand hymns sung to the piano or organ. For some reason, the words just never sink in. Never have. That's why I like the upgrade that makes it more compatible with modern instrumentation.

I play piano. I play a lot of classical and hymns. I like instrumentals, too...

[Gerioke]

You can play just about any tune with 3 chords without changing the melody. I do it all the time when I'm jamming with less experienced musicians.

Old style hyms sound clunky to me. I like it when they throw a bit of "feel" into it.

[pine]

Idol Contestant Puts New Twist on Hymns

By Mark Martin

CBN News Reporter

April 12, 2009

CBNNews.com - Call it traditional with a contemporary flare.

That's what composer-arranger Don Chapman creates for praise teams struggling to make the complex chord structure of hymns fit a more modern worship style.

Chapman found it hard to play a hymn out of a hymnal with guitar. So he rearranges them and gives a new chord structure but keeps the melody the same. "I just change all the guts of the song," he adds.

In hymns, chords change every beat and for a strumming guitarist, that can lead to what Don calls "worship wars."

He says the secret is smoothing out the chord structure and then giving it a little contemporary twist by mixing in other instruments.

Full article here

Listening to the video will eanble you to hear samples.

I like them.

Downloads on hymncharts.com

[Arthur Durnan]

Play & sing BOTH traditional & contemporary songs, the latter if they contain biblical substance rather than simply repetitive lines minus doctrinal praise. All Christian songs can be sung standing & sitting. A humble heart filled with praise will encourage all Christ-exalting & Bible-based hymns with all instruments including the piano. Be gone with one over another!

[Arthur Durnan]

Manie of Beautiful Rhode Island: As a "charismatic Roman Catholic Christian," do you still function with the Pope in the Vatican as your spiritual Head on earth? I can't find him in either the Douay or LB, etc. Isn't Jesus Christ our Sole Head of the Christian Church? Only asking in Christian love. Halp!

[nebula]

Thread hijack!

[nebula]

Play & sing BOTH traditional & contemporary songs,

Actaully, this is about traditional songs being played in contemporary ways - which is basically making it easier to play other instruments with.

[desi2007]

Idol Contestant Puts New Twist on Hymns

By Mark Martin

CBN News Reporter

April 12, 2009

CBNNews.com - Call it traditional with a contemporary flare.

That's what composer-arranger Don Chapman creates for praise teams struggling to make the complex chord structure of hymns fit a more modern worship style.

Chapman found it hard to play a hymn out of a hymnal with guitar. So he rearranges them and gives a new chord structure but keeps the melody the same. "I just change all the guts of the song," he adds.

In hymns, chords change every beat and for a strumming guitarist, that can lead to what Don calls "worship wars."

He says the secret is smoothing out the chord structure and then giving it a little contemporary twist by mixing in other instruments.

Full article here

Listening to the video will eanble you to hear samples.

I like them.

Downloads on hymncharts.com

i like both...

[AnnaMoodley]

I absolutely love hymns played with piano...classical and beautiful. I am an average musician so when i'm trying out a hymn i usually just play it with a few chord but it still sounds beautiful with the piano. Guess i'm a bit conservative but i like it when hymns are sung in church in the traditional way...it just sounds so sweet and simple and worshipful and beautiful lol. My favourite is Be Still...i almost get goose-pimples. Makes me feel like holding my hand to my heart like you do for a national anthem.

[Fez]

I like the old hymns especially if a choir is involved. Don't even need instruments then. When we get to the chorus "So sings my soul my awesome God to thee" I just love it when we lift the rafters in worship. (our worship group uses guitar, drums, keyboard, flute, etc), but often when we sing parts of the hymn they stop playing and we just sing - awesome.

I also like more contemporary stuff, like Hillsong, but give me the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" any day. (and no I am not a Mormon, but my, can they sing)

But then again I'm as old as dirt and have a singing voice like a rusty hinge (Jesus probably says "There goes Fez again!" "Bless you child, your worship is perfume to my ears, I gave you many gifts, but a singing voice?")