A conversation about the different music in our lives and how it impacts us. Sometimes serious, often not.
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Hills and Valleys
New addition to the Orthodoxy playlist: Hills and Valleys by Tuaren Wells. Can we do this one at Unite? We'd have to drop it an octave - I can barely hit it in my falsetto as is - and another key might be better too, but it's solid.
He also has an acoustic version that night be an easier translation. Sounds like he already changed it up.
In other thoughts, we should make No Longer Sleeves our summer song, and there was another song I heard the other day that I learned from you that I miss singing since we haven't done it in at least a few weeks... Can't remember what it was tough. I have to check the playlists.
Really, I want to make a playlist of all my favorite songs and "suggest" you play them all the time. Or maybe we just need a Unite night of worship where we just sing and share testimony.
It's a song we sing at group that I added to my personal playlists. I love good Christian music, I'm just not a fan of most of the artists or stuff that's released... But that's a diatribe for another day, or the end of the day once I've settled a bit.
Found it : Christ Be All Around Me. I feel like there was another one I was thinking about the other day too, but no idea what that was.
Hills and Valleys - acoustic duet with guitar and lower range: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyzQH6E-NVE
I'm a natural alto and I can hit both parts in this key, so I think this arrangement or similar would work for both guys and girls, and your baritone should pick it up no problem. I usually have to sing an octave down to help Brendan find his range when it's a tenor or girl lead, but I think he might even be able to hit off this recording as is.
Also, this: https://youtu.be/BZT8jqsc8lQ Unfortunately, it really requires a choir or large lead team to work. That scope is what gives it depth. Not a huge fan of the way the voices are slightly off at 5min, but otherwise I could listen to it over and over.
Gorgeous songs to listen to but the rhythms are really unnatural for me. Unpredictable. Lovely melody line though.
I don't think I've asked you about your prep - do you typically edit the rhythm to make songs easier to sing for group? Being completely honest, I wouldn't be able to follow you on either of these as-is, but I do think they could be excellent with a modified arrangement. And if I'm being really honest, I would add the word 'place' after 'dwelling' at the 1min mark in Psalm 43 (which is my favorite of the two). Rhythmically and lyrically it makes more sense.
Really wish you were here face to face for this discussion because I have no idea how these words are coming across but I feel like they aren't reading back the way I hear them in my head. In short, know that I like your song choices overall and do like these two songs, which is at the core of why I'm being picky about them.
Don't worry, I feel the same way about the rhythms. I love listening to it because it's so natural and free. It's horrible to try and sing, and even to try and play along.
I've resorted to doing all my own arrangements of her music, especially with "Song for Rachel". The piano is so sparsely used that to recreate it on guitar would just sound hollow and off, however I do try and recreate the same feel to it.
I don't know if you notice, but I have LOADS of give and take in my rhythm. I try my best to keep on a steady beat - but when I play solo I just flow with the music. It's more fun, but not always the best way to play and it's a pain trying to play in a group again.
Sometimes I modify lyrics if I don't exactly like what they say, but not often. That is more accidental or spontaneous.
But the question is about prep. 90% of the time I learn the song the way it's written. I can't stress how important this is for musicians to do. If you learn a song incorrectly, even though it might not be bad, you will carry that over into every other group and it's a nightmare trying to work differences out and relearn. I do tend to do my own arrangements for everything though. Anchor, by Hillsong, is one I always do my own way. Last Sunday I played it a bit straighter than I normally will, but it will typically be very rhythmic.
Keys will float from one to another depending on how I feel. If I want more punch and energy, it'll typically be a higher key for me. If the song is more laidback and not as dynamic in regards to note range, I'll try and sing it lower. Sean Rowe kind of style.
I get what you mean for Psalm 43, I try to smooth out difficult phrasing, but most of the time create new problems. Your words were fine, I understood exactly what you meant. I hope mine make sense : ))
Listened to both. I turned the first one off because of the harmonies. It's a good starting point though, still too high for me. I'll play around with it in the coming weeks. The second song is alright, but not really my style. I'd have to listen to it a few more times. It really does need that strong backing of a full group though...
Probably! It's a neat song. I'll have to work on it to translate it to guitar.
ReplyDeleteHe also has an acoustic version that night be an easier translation. Sounds like he already changed it up.
ReplyDeleteIn other thoughts, we should make No Longer Sleeves our summer song, and there was another song I heard the other day that I learned from you that I miss singing since we haven't done it in at least a few weeks... Can't remember what it was tough. I have to check the playlists.
Really, I want to make a playlist of all my favorite songs and "suggest" you play them all the time. Or maybe we just need a Unite night of worship where we just sing and share testimony.
Listened to that version first because I thought the same thing. Didn't really help, but I'll figure it out.
DeleteCan you remember any words or themes in this song? I don't remember sending you much Christian music so I can narrow it down probably.
So really you just want me to be a human jukebox? I'll make sure to leave my guitar case open for tips. 😁
It's a song we sing at group that I added to my personal playlists. I love good Christian music, I'm just not a fan of most of the artists or stuff that's released... But that's a diatribe for another day, or the end of the day once I've settled a bit.
DeleteFound it : Christ Be All Around Me. I feel like there was another one I was thinking about the other day too, but no idea what that was.
And YES, but I feel like the ice cream would melt before I let you be done. 🤣
DeleteHills and Valleys - acoustic duet with guitar and lower range:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyzQH6E-NVE
I'm a natural alto and I can hit both parts in this key, so I think this arrangement or similar would work for both guys and girls, and your baritone should pick it up no problem. I usually have to sing an octave down to help Brendan find his range when it's a tenor or girl lead, but I think he might even be able to hit off this recording as is.
Also, this: https://youtu.be/BZT8jqsc8lQ
Unfortunately, it really requires a choir or large lead team to work. That scope is what gives it depth. Not a huge fan of the way the voices are slightly off at 5min, but otherwise I could listen to it over and over.
I'll check those out.
DeleteThis one is next on my list, and will most likely be done on the 18th.
https://youtu.be/OaWS-1Ud0t0
Or this one, whichever I know better. I haven't practiced yet for that week.
https://youtu.be/aURMG1iNVXQ
Gorgeous songs to listen to but the rhythms are really unnatural for me. Unpredictable. Lovely melody line though.
DeleteI don't think I've asked you about your prep - do you typically edit the rhythm to make songs easier to sing for group? Being completely honest, I wouldn't be able to follow you on either of these as-is, but I do think they could be excellent with a modified arrangement. And if I'm being really honest, I would add the word 'place' after 'dwelling' at the 1min mark in Psalm 43 (which is my favorite of the two). Rhythmically and lyrically it makes more sense.
Really wish you were here face to face for this discussion because I have no idea how these words are coming across but I feel like they aren't reading back the way I hear them in my head. In short, know that I like your song choices overall and do like these two songs, which is at the core of why I'm being picky about them.
Don't worry, I feel the same way about the rhythms. I love listening to it because it's so natural and free. It's horrible to try and sing, and even to try and play along.
DeleteI've resorted to doing all my own arrangements of her music, especially with "Song for Rachel". The piano is so sparsely used that to recreate it on guitar would just sound hollow and off, however I do try and recreate the same feel to it.
I don't know if you notice, but I have LOADS of give and take in my rhythm. I try my best to keep on a steady beat - but when I play solo I just flow with the music. It's more fun, but not always the best way to play and it's a pain trying to play in a group again.
Sometimes I modify lyrics if I don't exactly like what they say, but not often. That is more accidental or spontaneous.
But the question is about prep.
90% of the time I learn the song the way it's written. I can't stress how important this is for musicians to do. If you learn a song incorrectly, even though it might not be bad, you will carry that over into every other group and it's a nightmare trying to work differences out and relearn.
I do tend to do my own arrangements for everything though.
Anchor, by Hillsong, is one I always do my own way. Last Sunday I played it a bit straighter than I normally will, but it will typically be very rhythmic.
Keys will float from one to another depending on how I feel.
If I want more punch and energy, it'll typically be a higher key for me.
If the song is more laidback and not as dynamic in regards to note range, I'll try and sing it lower. Sean Rowe kind of style.
I get what you mean for Psalm 43, I try to smooth out difficult phrasing, but most of the time create new problems.
Your words were fine, I understood exactly what you meant. I hope mine make sense : ))
Listened to both. I turned the first one off because of the harmonies. It's a good starting point though, still too high for me. I'll play around with it in the coming weeks.
ReplyDeleteThe second song is alright, but not really my style. I'd have to listen to it a few more times. It really does need that strong backing of a full group though...