The Church Pianist: Offertory Ideas

As church pianists, we could use some inexpensive, creative
ideas for offertories, right?

Did you know you can use a piano arrangement written for
a vocalist to accompany say...a violin or flute solo?

Or...use a piano accompaniment written for one of these instru-
ments to accompany a vocalist.

Not too long ago...I shared a free vocal arrangement of
"Haven of Rest". One of my church pianist readers used it
to accompany her sister, who plays violin.


It turned out so nice that I decided to share this offertory
idea with you. Links to music included below the video.



Haven of Rest part one
Haven of Rest part two
Haven of Rest part three

New website: http://thechurchpianist.com/

The Church Pianist: The Haven of Rest (part one)

"The Haven of Rest" is one of my favorite hymns.
I usually hear this hymn performed as a vocal solo.

As a pianist, we must learn to make the text come to life
by animated accompaniment...making the message even
more real and meaningful.

The first verse begins with a troubled scene of a lost soul
but ends with a rescue by the Saviour!

So...we begin with a mood of turmoil. I use an up and down
pattern in the right hand to depict the boistrous waves of the
sea.

Then...the waves suddenly grow calm...when the lost soul hears
the sweet voice of the Saviour. (Notice the movement lessens
in the accompaniment for a calm affect).

I just want to keep going and explain the next part of the accomp-
animent because the mood of happiness increases...creating a
cascading wave of crescendo as Jesus floods the 'saved' soul with
unexplainable peace!

Please go to the following link to see part one and two of this
free vocal arrangement of "The Haven of Rest".

http://thechurchpianist.com/accompaniment/the-church-pianist-haven-of-rest-part-two/