The Church Pianist: Improvising ideas for "The Light of the World"

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I'd like to share some improvising ideas with you

for the hymn: "The Light of the World is Jesus".



This hymn has beautiful words that can be brought
to life by some simple improvisational ideas.



Editor notes for today's example:



Measures #2 and #4



The left hand eighth note/quarter note pattern
creates a rhythmic drive to portray a sense of
urgency (see the words).



Measure # 3



Contrasting octaves are used on beats one through
three.



Measure # 3



Right hand plays a stepping up pattern (altered melody)
on the sixth beat.



Measure # 4



The right hand plays a broken chord pattern on beats
two and three to break up the repeated note melody.



Measure # 5



Left hand flows with sixteenth notes to create a com-
forting tone for the word "Je-sus".

I also altered the melody on the word "Je-sus" to
enhance the comforting mood on this word.



The right hand plays a climb down pattern for a
smooth transistion into the middle register ot the piano
for the next section of the verse.



Measure # 6



Left hand begins a new rhythm pattern for variety while
the right hand plays a simple one-note melody.



General tips:



I would play this arrangement at about 52 (metronome speed)

Meaning: One tick per dotted quarter note.



Basically, this arrangement should be treated at a medium-slow
speed so as not to sound rushed.



Just feel the music as though you were speaking it in a
conversational style with ebb and flow.



Hope these improvising ideas are a help to you.



Sincerely,



Jenifer