The Church Pianist: Choir or Congregational Accompaniment:Part Two (When the Roll is Called Up Yonder)

New website: http://thechurchpianist.com/

Here is part two of yesterday's article providing

a free choir/congregational arrangement of

When the Roll is Called Up Yonder.

I love dressing up the chorus with an alternate

melody that fits within the chords being used.

Please note: This arrangment does agree with

all four voice parts in the hymnal.

I'm unable to use chord substitutions to prevent

clashing with the written chords but I do add

chord extensions here and there.

A chord extension is created by adding another

third above the root chord.

For example, this song is in A flat Major.

The A flat chord = A flat, C and E flat (consecutive 3rds).

Well, add a minor third above the final note and you land

on G flat. It adds a rich flavor (oops!..I'm hungry so I have

food on the mind).

For more information on chord extensions, click on the link

below:

http://thechurchpianist.blogspot.com/2009/01/church-pianist-chord-extension-for-ii.html

Audio for the full arrangement of When the Roll is

Called Up Yonder:

( I did play all four voice parts to give the full effect of

the added accompaniment).

http://www.box.net/shared/kepd9kp6m5

The Church Pianist: Piano Accompaniment for When the Roll is Called Up Yonder

New website: http://thechurchpianist.com/

When the Roll is Called Up Yonder is a nice upbeat
hymn but contains alot of repeated chords.

This song needs a facelift when it comes to piano
accompaniment.

For this type of hymn, I like to use alternating
bass notes in octave format for the left hand.

Example: This particular hymn is in A flat. Therefore,
the one chord is A flat. The notes of the A flat chord are:
A flat, C and E flat.

Look in measure three:

The main chord for this measure is A flat. I played an
A flat octave in the left hand on beat one. On beat three,
I changed (alternated) the bass note to an E flat which
belongs in the A flat chord. (the 5th of the chord).
Makes a big difference!

Notice how I inserted some rests here and there for the
right hand. It's just another way of adding variey to the
piano accompaniment.

Several triplets are sprinkled throughout to add extra zest.
(See measures: three and eight).

In the next article, I will provide the rest of the piano
accompaniment for When the Roll is Called Up Yonder.
(chorus section).

Audio sample:

http://www.box.net/shared/hkf832ek5u

The Church Pianist: Piano Accompaniment for Christ Arose: Part Two

New website: http://thechurchpianist.com/

Here is the rest of the piano
accompaniment for the chorus
to: "Christ Arose".

Editor notes for today's example:

Measure #8

The right hand begins breaking up
the beat with eighth notes due to the
slight rit.

Measure #9 and 10

Right hand triplets for the militant tone

Measure #10

Left hand plays alternating bass octaves
for the chord: E flat

Measure #11

Full chords on the end for a grand finale sound


"Christ Arose" is a beautiful hymn and should sound
triumphant!

I hope the piano accompaniment ideas for
this hymn will help you as you prepare for Easter.