New website: http://thechurchpianist.com/
The church pianist can feel overwhelmed
at times trying to provide offertories especially
if he or she is one of the few pianists at their church.
It's so easy to get caught up in feeling like you
have to play a "rather involved/complex"
arrangement.
Instead, it's rather refreshing to hear just a plain
hymn without a lot of frills.
I will play special arrangements but not every time.
It's fun to create simply medleys such as:
His Name is Wonderful w/ Oh How I Love Jesus
Blessed Assurance w/ Saved by the Blood
What a Friend We Have in Jesus w/ Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know
The offertory should minister to the hearts of the people.
One thing to remember:
Make sure the melody is dominant in whatever
arrangement you play.
Why? So the people can follow along with the words without
abrupt or unusual interruptions in the music.
1 comment:
Jennifer, you may not see this comment as it is July now, and you wrote this back in January, but I agree so heartily with your words concerning keeping it simple, and ministering in a simple way to the hearts of the congregation. Though I am easily able to play flashy arrangements or classical music at church, I feel it draws attention to the pianist and interferes with personal meditation. Certainly not everyone will agree with me, but it is easy for musical performance to be a matter of pride for any pianist, when your thoughts should be on worship.
Dana
Post a Comment