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Audio MP3 Tracks at HymnChartsLITE >home
From composer / arranger Don Chapman:
I've just begun the long process of creating
vocal demos and tracks for the HymnCharts
websites. Here's why:
First of all, I can't believe how people today don't know
the hymns! I was looking forward to doing
"Come Ye Thankful People, Come"
for Thanksgiving with my praise team. I whipped
it out at rehearsal and no one knew it! I thought it was a fairly well-known hymn
- I remember, growing up, singing it every
year at Thanksgiving. So I scrapped it -
we didn't have time that week to learn a
new song! I realized then that there was
a definite need to have audio versions of
the arrangements.
Secondly, when I want to use a hymn that the praise
team singers DO know, they usually turn their
noses up... as in "yuck, a boring hymn!"
The week we first did "Savior, Like
a Shepherd Lead Us" I got yawns from
the singers. I pushed it because this is
one of my favorite HymnCharts arrangements
and I knew how cool it could sound with a
full band.
Since I rehearse my band and vocalists separately,
the vocalists didn't hear the full band treatment
until Sunday morning's pre-service rehearsal.
Everything came together, they got in the
groove and we had a blast with it. Another
reason I need a vocal demo - the singers
need to hear the full version before they
can get excited about it! (Plus it gives
the band an idea of where to go with the
song.)
I'll be creating a vocal demo for each new
HymnChartsLITE arrangement. The audio will
be in the MP3 format. Here are a few ideas
for implementing them in your ministry:
>Rehearsal: burn a CD of the vocal demo and give it
to each vocalist and band member. They might
not know the hymn and this is a great way
for them to learn it during the week. Don't
feel like you have to follow my instrumental
version exactly - it's just a guide. Let
your band feel free to be creative - the
track will at least give them somewhere to
start.
>Prelude/postlude: burn a CD and play the vocal demos for prelude/postlude
music.
The first track, What Wondrous Love Is This,
was posted in February 2005. Download a short MP3 demo clip.
Hear an audio MP3 sample of how a HymnChart
arrangement can sound in your church.
If you're into synths, software and home
recording studios, read the article about my studio at WorshipIdeas.com.
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