Description

PIANO Accompaniment Included

Previously, this setting was only available with an organ accompaniment that required two organists — a big problem for most wards and stakes in the church. This new accompaniment is not merely a “transcription for piano.”  It acknowledges the different characteristics of the piano while remaining as close as possible to the intent of the organ accompaniment. Here is a video play-through with piano, exported from Sibelius (to see/hear the original organ accompaniment, click on the link below).

The Story Behind the Music

A few years ago, we got a new choir director in our ward. Knowing how I enjoy composition, she “commissioned” me to write a few Hymnal+ type arrangements for the choir to sing in our Sacrament service. She gave me complete flexibility to choose which hymns to set. One of my favorite composers of hymn tunes is former Tabernacle Organist, Alexander Schreiner. I selected his God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son to include as one of my first hymn settings for ward choir.

It’s Easy! (But it doesn’t sound easy)

All the voice parts are “right out of the book.” It’s easy, but it doesn’t sound easy! To add interest and variety, I took some minor liberties with the rhythmic structure. Finally, I left off verse 5 (This sacrament doth represent…) and changed the order of the remaining verses so that the triumphant verse (Oh, Love effulgent…) is positioned at the end, and verse 4 becomes verse 3. I hope you will enjoy it and welcome your comments. If you use one of my pieces, I’d love to hear what the occasion was, and how it went!