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Sing Praises to God
SATB, Piano
Hymn Challenge Level: Easy
Hymn Arrangement Challenge Level: Moderate
Free-for-All Challenge Level: Challenging
Hymn: Sheet Music Sound File
Arrangement: Sheet Music Sound File
Free-for-All: Sheet Music Sound File
This is an original composition, not an arrangement. My sister wrote the lyrics and graciously asked me to do the musical setting. The lyrics are a well-crafted classic four verse praise hymn. They are written so well and I found them so stirring that I wrote three musical settings. The first is a simple, stirring hymn with four verses. The second setting is an arrangement of that hymn. In the arrangement, both the women and the men split into four part harmony on different verses. Both the hymn and the arrangement are appropriate for Sacrament Meeting and other church settings. I think you and your listeners will enjoy them.
The third musical setting is what I call the "free for all," and it is entirely different from the other two settings. It is a joyful, free-spirited, exuberant piece. It captures the joy of the lyrics in a playful way, with parts coming in and out, bouncing through different keys every few measures. It has surprising chord progressions and a piano accompaniment that doesn't sound anything like what the choir is singing, but somehow fits in anyway. If you need a piece for a more concert-like venue and you're up for a real challenge, try the free for all version of Sing Praises to God. You and your listeners will find it thoroughly exhilarating. | 