Category: Congregational Songs

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Church Congregational Songs Demos Retuned hymn

All Hail, funky retune

Imagine Earth, Wind & Fire (rest in peace, Maurice White) retired from touring and set up residence in a local church. Now imagine that in a dusty hymnal on the shelves of that church they came across the hymn All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, but decided it needed new music to fit their sound.

earth_wind_fireThat’s pretty much what this version of “All Hail” aspires to be.

Now, this two-bit demo doesn’t do much to help you imagine what I’m hearing in my head, but suffice it to say this is a fat funk sandwich filled with a deep meaty groove slathered in buttery vocals, and topped with spicy horn licks.

Email me for the score if you’ve got an Earth, Wind & Fire cover band that would like to cover this. (Or if you’re Earth, Wind & Fire.)

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Choir Church Congregational Songs Live Psalms

Psalm 148 – Creation’s Chorus (for chorus)

This graphic was unwittingly donated by C148, an independent musician who is doing some great electronica, including contributions to the Minecraft soundtrack. Check him out at http://c418.org/.
This graphic was unwittingly donated by C148, an independent musician who is doing some great electronica, including contributions to the Minecraft soundtrack. Check him out at http://c418.org/.

Update 12/11/21: Sheet music for this song is now available at gregscheer.com.

I wrote Creation’s Chorus in 2000 hoping to forge a daring new path of Motown Psalmody that I was sure others were sure to follow. But it turns out people prefer to keep their Sons of Korah and their Jackson Five separated by family…

However, when Psalm 148 came up in the lectionary this week, I thought I’d give it another try. Unlike the 4/4 syncopated funk of the original, I decided to reimagine the song in a 3/4 Black Gospel groove. It’s easier for musicians and congregations who are not steeped in pop styles, and there is, perhaps, less of a gulf between the words and music style.

I was pleased with the basic shift in meter, but I’ve marked dozens of edits I plan to make to the choral arrangement. (This may have something to do with my finishing it 5 minutes before rehearsal started.) If you’re interested in seeing the choral score, just follow the link above. Otherwise you’ll have to wait for the release of Creation’s Chorus 2.1!

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Arrangement Church Congregational Songs

God Himself/O Rejoice

Update 12/18/21: Sheet music for this arrangement is now available at gregscheer.com.

This is not a new arrangement, per se, but it’s newly notated and recorded. Plus, it segues right into Wendell Kimbrough’s “O Rejoice in All Your Works,” so that warrants its own post.

“God Himself Is with Us” is a stately hymn that goes underused in most churches. My church sings it so confidently that I can count on them to hold their own against a tricky violin descant, so I kind of went over the top with what I gave the violin…

Appearing here for the first time is the score for the violin descant you hear above. If you use it in your church, why don’t you head over to my “orders” page and plunk down $3 to let me know you care.

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Arrangement Church Congregational Songs Live

We Sing the Mighty Power (Christ Church Davis)

While it’s fun to have your music played on your home turf, there’s something special about learning that a church far away is using one of your songs or arrangements. My friends Phil and Sarah Majorins used my string arrangement of “We Sing the Mighty Power” (KINGSFOLD) at Christ Church in Davis, CA this Fall. As you’ll hear, they did a splendid job. While you’re checking out my song, make sure to take a listen to Sarah’s “Psalm 8,” “Sanctus,” and “Mystery of Faith.” I am a thorn among roses!

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Arrangement Choir Church Congregational Songs Global

Kwake Yesu, GIA recording

One of the nice things about getting a choral piece published is that the publisher often makes high quality recordings of the pieces for promotional purposes. Here’s a new recording of “Kwake Yesu/Here on Jesus Christ I Will Stand” by GIA:

What’s that? It’s so lovely you want to purchase 40 copies for you choir? Well, head on over to the GIA website and they’ll be glad to help you out!

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Arrangement Church Congregational Songs Retuned hymn

Do not I love Thee, Oh my Lord​?​ (DETROIT)

Update 12/18/21: Sheet music for this arrangement is now available at gregscheer.com.

I’m proud to be included on the latest Cardiphonia compilation. This time around the the theme was “shape note” hymns in new arrangements. If you’re not familiar with the shape note singing tradition, do yourself a favor and watch the documentary Awake, My Soul, or visit The Sacred Harp Musical Heritage Association. Until then, listen to The Hollow Square Hymnal.

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Church Congregational Songs FAWM 2016 Hymn tunes

Rhyme or Reason

I was challenged to write music for a somewhat irregularly metered hymn text based on Ecclesiastes. (Okay, not directly challenged, but I accepted it as such.) Since the text talked about stretching and striving, I thought this rising melodic figure (with a chromatically descending bass) fit the them quite well.

The author commented that he could hear the cast of Fiddler on the Roof singing it. I’m unsure whether I should take that as a compliment or not…

If you want to revel in the nitty gritty of the musical details, see this PDF.

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Church Congregational Songs Hymn tunes Jazz Live

Come, Join in Cana’s Feast

Herman G. Stuempfle, unwitting collaborator

Update 1/11/22: Sheet music for this tune is now available at gregscheer.com.

A few months ago I wrote a tune for a text by Herman Stuempfle. Strangely, when I went searching for a text to accompany this week’s sermon on the Wedding in Cana, I was led again to Stuempfle. Even stranger? The new text, “Come, Join in Cana’s Feast,” fits the same tune!

Because yesterday’s service was led by the Joyful Noise Orchestra, I had some cool instrumental options. I’m a huge fan of jazz with orchestra, so I broke out my hollow body Ibanez and wrote some string parts, a la Wes Montgomery’s Bumpin’. Throw in Lauren Figueroa on vocals and Joel Klamer on tenor sax, I figure you can’t go wrong.

Here’s the the MP3 of the service. Below, for your listening pleasure is some real music: Wes Montgomery’s Bumpin’.

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Arrangement Church Congregational Songs Live

Fear Not, Rejoice and Be Glad

In 1971, Priscilla Wright wrote a song based on the prophesies of Joel. It was a scripture song like many of its era, with verses that quote a biblical passage verbatim and a music style that mimics Jewish folk song. We ended up singing it on a Joyful Noise Sunday, so I wrote a quick little arrangement for strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion. Email me if you need a score.

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Arrangement Congregational Songs

PUER NOBIS (On Jordan’s Banks)

Update 1/10/22: Sheet music for this song is now available at gregscheer.com.

I’ve been using this arrangement forever, but for some reason have never posted it to my blog. PUER NOBIS is one of the great hymn tunes of the Church and is matched with many texts, including “O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright.” I tried to bring out its folk song flavor with a piano accompaniment that is energetic. As one pianist put it, “I’ll send you the bill for the physical therapist.” Keyboardist complaints aside, I feel like this arrangement brings out the sprightly nature of this tune in a way that often gets lost in the four-part hymnal.