Man of Depravity - Tyler Braun's posts on Church Ministry, Worship, Seminary, and Theology.

The New Arrangement of a Hymn

2010 August 11

by Tyler

Being that I play guitar, I’ve never been a big fan of hymns. About 95% of them are impossible to play on guitar because there are too many chord changes.

However, I am a big fan of re-arranged hymns. In fact, when done right I believe it is a powerful way to bring the ancient to today.

There are a fair share of people at my church who cringe every time we do a new arrangement of a hymn but I believe it helps keep the song fresh. Too often we sing songs that are familiar and never meditate on what they mean.

My favorite rearranged him is “Jesus Paid it All” by Kristian Stanfill. I love it because it holds to the well known melody line as it was originally written and also has a powerful added bridge.

What is your favorite rearranged hymn?

Name a good one and we might do it at my church.

Filed under: worship Tags: worship

http://www.contentunderpressure.net Josh

“O Love That Will Not Let Me Go” by the Robbie Seay Band. Love it.

“Before the Throne of God Above” by Shane & Shane (Pages album)
http://www.manofdepravity.com Tyler

Love Before the Throne by Shane and Shane. I sang it a couple years back and wow is that arrangement crazy high. It owned me.
http://www.contentunderpressure.net Josh

Yeah, I have a girly-high voice, but I still take it down a few steps. No congregation can hit S&S notes.

Another great hymn re-worked is “Glorious Day” by the guys over at The Village Church with Matt Chandler. If you go to their worship blog, you’ll see Michael Bleeker showing you how to play it. I had never heard that hymn before, and it’s a great one to sing. Check it out.
Jordan

“Here Is Love” by Brian Johnson. It’s on Bethel Live’s album by the same name.
http://www.danceswithklingons.wordpress.com Steven McDade

I did an arraignment of “This Is My Father’s World/How Can We Name a Love for a church I was with. I need to put that up on my YouTube account sometime.
http://www.carusophotography.com Jay

I like what the guys in Kutless did with ‘It Is Well.’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqjqoBcJmEg
http://mrshields.com Adam Shields

It is well rearranged by Todd Fields (I love the original hymn and this was very faithful to the spirit of the original).

Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) by Chris Tomlin

In general I really like hymn rearrangements. I like almost all of them.
marshall frimoth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sApYYmxhWQ

sufjan stevens doing come thou fount.

raw but really pretty.
Mando Escamilla

I really like Sufjan Steven’s “Holy Holy Holy” -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FpQuGRlNg8
http://www.aworshipfulheart.typepad.com Jan Owen

I suppose my favorite would be “I Stand Amazed” off of some Passion CD. My 44 year old brain cannot remember who actually sang it but it really worked with our congregation. Sorry I can’t remember it better. Of course I had to lower the key……
Ken

I really like Todd Agnew’s “Grace Like Rain,” a remake of Amazing Grace.
http://manofdepravity.com Tyler

Finally get a chance to listen to all of your recommendations everyone. Thank you so much!
Jason

Come Thou Fount by David Crowder Band…the acoustic is amazing. There version of Rock of Ages is beautiful as well…basically any hymn they re-do is great and is a must to check out.

A good CD full of hymns rearranged is the Songs inspired by the motion picture AMAZING GRACE. definitely check that one out
http://auroramorealis.com Morealis

You should check out PageCXVI.com — they’re coming out with their third Hymns album. Their version of Solid Rock (from the first album) never fails to send chills down my spine