Category: Arrangement

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Arrangement Commissions Global Live

Music Unites Us: Minka Variations

The first collaboration was with Nina Tritenichenko. She sings and plays Bayan Accordion, an all-button accordion that is common throughout the world, including her home country of Ukraine. The tune she chose was “Ikhav Kozak za Dunaj” (“The Cossack Rode beyond the Danube”). This folk song became popular throughout the world by its German name, “Schöne Minke” (“Beautiful Minke”).

Nina had a specific set of variations on the Minka tune that she wanted to perform. Because her accordion part was set in stone, my task was to build around it with the orchestra. I began by composing a grand overture-style introduction–a fanfare that established the tone of what was to come. Next, she sang a verse of the song to introduce the theme. Each variation became increasingly complex and exciting, with orchestration to match.

Some favorite moments in this arrangement include:

4:00 I turned this variation into a duet with the concertmaster! It added texture to the solo accordion and let an orchestra member momentarily come to the foreground.

4:42 I’m a huge fan of arpeggios that sweep through the orchestra like a harp. This one worked magnificently.

5:00 This interlude gave Nina a breather and created anticipation for the final, flashy variation.

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Arrangement Commissions Global

Music Unites Us: Overview

This year I was asked by the Holland Symphony Orchestra to work with four global musicians to choose and arrange a selection they would perform with the orchestra. I was thrilled: I have a lifelong interest in global music, have studied Ethnomusicology, played with an African drum ensemble, and edited a collection of global hymns.

In fact, my work with global worship music gave me good experience in what I call “musical transplanting”: taking music from one culture and helping it flourish in another context. It’s a delicate process. Non-Western music is full of timbres, rhythms, and aesthetic sensibilities that aren’t part of a Western context. Ideally, you want to engage with another culture’s music in a way that honors the sending culture but is also accessible to the receiving culture. This is made all the more difficult because many global musicians are play-by-ear musicians whereas Western-trained musicians–especially orchestras–rely on printed music.

In the next few blog posts, I’ll introduce each musician I worked with and discuss the unique approach required to transplant their music into an orchestral context. First, enjoy this overview video that explains how the Music Unites Us project came to be.

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Arrangement Church Commissions Live

Once in Royal David’s City Live at Baylor University

One of the great joys of composing is when a fine musician performs one of my pieces in a way that really makes it come alive. In the case of this recording, there were three fine musicians: Hunter Morris on violin, Kathy Johnson at the piano, and Chris Martin on cello.

This was the prelude at a recent Baylor University Advent service, and I couldn’t be happier with how it sounds!

If you need a last minute instrumental piece for your Advent or Christmas services, you can find the music at www.gregscheer.com. The original was written for violin. I recently completed a version for cello solo.

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Arrangement Church Live

Holy God, We Praise Your Name

My Just Add People! series of piano accompaniments for congregational singing has got to be one of the best-kept secrets of the church music world. Each one adds a new twist or little sparkle that enlivens the congregation’s singing. My new arrangement of “Holy God, We Praise Your Name” uses the traditional harmonies for verses 1, 2, and 4, but adds an intro, coda, and effervescent third verse. As you can see from the video below, it is easy to integrate pipe organ with the piano.

Watch for a PDF of the sheet music at my main website soon!

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Arrangement Church Live

Immortal, Invisible

Where have I been? You wonder.

When I’m not planning worship services for Fuller Ave CRC, learning a new notation program, or chipping away at my mammoth new composition based on Psalm 119, I’m writing arrangements like this piano accompaniment for “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise.” Counterpoint in a hymn accompaniment? You betcha!

Look for the sheet music soon in the Just Add People! section of my website.

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Arrangement Church Congregational Songs Demos Global

Anaweza, Bwana/You Are Able (Swahili)

I first heard this catchy little Swahili song in the video below, which was recorded at my previous church. I am ashamed to admit that I know little about it except that it is sung in Swahili, a language spoken throughout East Africa. However, I was able to get my hands on the Swahili lyrics and a literal translation; from that, I created the translation and harmonization above. The beauty of songs like this is their simplicity. The lyrics are not deep and the music is not sophisticated–but it is heartfelt. It also leaves lots of room for a good leader to create new verses that fit the moment. (“We are listening,” “We will follow,” etc)

Anaweza, Anaweza, Anaweza, Bwana.
Anaweza, Anaweza Bwana.

1. You are able, O Lord.
2. For you love, O Lord.
3. You have saved us, O Lord.
4. We will praise you, O Lord.
5. Hallelujah, O Lord.

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Arrangement Choir Church Commissions Congregational Songs Live

Jesus Cristo, esperança do mundo/Jesus Christ, Hope of the World

This fall, I was commissioned to write an arrangement of the lovely Brazilian milonga, “Jesus Cristo, experança do mundo.” It premiered last night in the second installment of Calvin University’s four-part Lessons and Carols. The whole program was lovely and it was great fun to hear my choral piece elsewhere than in my own head!

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Arrangement Choir Church Congregational Songs Global Live

Kwake Yesu in Singapore

Thanks to the work of my new friend Christopher Mazen, my translation/arrangement of “Kwake Yesu Nasimama (Here on Jesus Christ I Will Stand)” made its way to the International Baptist Church of Singapore. It’s not only a beautiful rendition of the song but very encouraging to see such a rich cultural exchange, from Africa to America to Asia.

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Arrangement Choir Church Commissions Congregational Songs Global Live

Keur Moussa Magnificat

Update 10/11/22: Sheet music for this song is now available at gregscheer.com.

This year, Church of the Servant (my “alma mater” church) commissioned me to arrange a lovely “Magnificat” by Keur Moussa. I don’t know a lot about the Keur Moussa Abbey, but my impression is that they are something like the Taizé of Senegal. The Keur Moussa community has developed its own style of singing that combines the beautiful austerity of Catholic chant with the insistent rhythms of West Africa.

If you listen to the original recording you’ll hear a simple perfection that is irresistible, with the vocals and rhythms held in perfect balance. You’ll also hear what I found most difficult about writing this arrangement: the more “interesting” my arrangement was, the more it betrayed the original song. I must have reminded myself a hundred times while working on it: “Greg, don’t gild the lily!” But it was not easy to remain simple when writing for choir, string orchestra, guitars, and a smattering of percussion!

In the end, I felt that I struck a good balance. The arrangement is complex, but not flashy; exciting, but still mesmerizing. But I am hardly an impartial observer. You be the judge. The above recording is from the December 15, 2019 premiere at COS’s annual Lessons & Carols service.

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Arrangement Church Congregational Songs Demos

Lead On, O King Eternal

Henry T. Smart, 1813-1879
Ernest W. Shurtleff, 1862-1917

Necessity is the mother of invention, and in the case of this Sunday’s service, I needed an arrangement of “Lead On, O King Eternal” for worship band. Henry Smart’s tune is triumphant, bordering on a march. That doesn’t work well with pop music instruments. So I softened the march rhythm and gave it a bit of a groove with a jangly electric guitar line a la early Elvis Costello. It might be the perfect blend of old and new; it might be an awkward marriage of substance and style. I will report back on how it works.

Interested in downloading the leadsheet? Go here.