Comments on: Random Question http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/08/random-question/ Resources for Leading Worship from Bob Kauflin Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:49:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Cindy Dryden http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/08/random-question/#comment-717 Cindy Dryden Tue, 12 Sep 2006 13:51:31 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=200#comment-717 Don't know if you're still interested in an arrangement of A Mighty Fortress, but, probably decades ago, the Second Chapter of Acts put out two "albums" Hymns I and Hymns II. This hymn is included in one of them as are others, some that might be of interest to you. I love the hymns and am excited about recent "reworking" of them that make them more effective and reach a wider audience than the elderly who grew up with them. Don’t know if you’re still interested in an arrangement of A Mighty Fortress, but, probably decades ago, the Second Chapter of Acts put out two “albums” Hymns I and Hymns II. This hymn is included in one of them as are others, some that might be of interest to you. I love the hymns and am excited about recent “reworking” of them that make them more effective and reach a wider audience than the elderly who grew up with them.

]]> By: mounty http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/08/random-question/#comment-716 mounty Wed, 06 Sep 2006 14:05:51 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=200#comment-716 Might not be as "new" as some of the other suggestions, but an excellent CD of traditional English church music done by a very well-trained English choir is "Sing Ye Heavens: Hymns for All Time" by the Cambridge Singers under the direction of John Rutter. Track 3 is "A Mighty Fortress." There are other old English hymns on there - Watts' "O God, Our Help in Ages Past," the original "All Things Bright and Beautiful," and Ellerton's "The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, is Ended." The arrangements range from a capella to solo accompaniment to full orchestra. Might not be as “new” as some of the other suggestions, but an excellent CD of traditional English church music done by a very well-trained English choir is “Sing Ye Heavens: Hymns for All Time” by the Cambridge Singers under the direction of John Rutter. Track 3 is “A Mighty Fortress.” There are other old English hymns on there - Watts’ “O God, Our Help in Ages Past,” the original “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” and Ellerton’s “The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, is Ended.” The arrangements range from a capella to solo accompaniment to full orchestra.

]]> By: Jon Daley http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/08/random-question/#comment-715 Jon Daley Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:08:06 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=200#comment-715 I find it interesting that a couple other people also mentioned Promise Keepers. I just popped the tape in yesterday to listen to a bunch of it, but specifically the recording of, "A Mighty Fortress". The first verse is inspiring, yet could probably fit the "conservative" bit, since it is a large unison male choir with a nice organ, and tempo/rhythm is straight and reasonably paced. It fails the "conservative" test when the first verse ends, with percussion and guitars come in. Hrm, funny that percussion no longer fits the "conservative" test. Better not tell David. I am listening to the song as I type - I guess I have not heard the "oh yeah" yelling before, or at least it has not been distracting before. This recording is from 1997, Maranatha, "Promise Keepers: Conference Edition: The Making of a Godly Man". I find it interesting that a couple other people also mentioned Promise Keepers. I just popped the tape in yesterday to listen to a bunch of it, but specifically the recording of, “A Mighty Fortress”.

The first verse is inspiring, yet could probably fit the “conservative” bit, since it is a large unison male choir with a nice organ, and tempo/rhythm is straight and reasonably paced.

It fails the “conservative” test when the first verse ends, with percussion and guitars come in. Hrm, funny that percussion no longer fits the “conservative” test. Better not tell David.

I am listening to the song as I type - I guess I have not heard the “oh yeah” yelling before, or at least it has not been distracting before.

This recording is from 1997, Maranatha, “Promise Keepers: Conference Edition: The Making of a Godly Man”.

]]> By: Matt Crutchmer http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/08/random-question/#comment-714 Matt Crutchmer Sun, 27 Aug 2006 02:46:47 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=200#comment-714 Thanks to all who have responded to this question. I've asked for input because I cherish this song of Luther's, yet I just can not find a recorded rendition that does it justice. iTMS is full of them, but acapella, folk, jazz, *swing* just do not get the job done. Katherine's version linked above comes the closest, so thanks! I am not against contemporary music at all, esp. hymns done in such a style. Indelible Grace and Sandra McCracken's album <i>The Builder and the Architect</i> are our family's favorites. <i>Upward</i> is a fantastic album, and its "Before the Throne" has become indispensible to our worship. What I mean is, I'm not looking for 'old' for old's sake (usually meaning 'boring'), nor for 'new' for new's sake (usually meaning 'bad or tasteless'). I'm looking for well-done and whole-hearted singing, with no cheese in sight. If I were king, I'd demand the recording of this song sung at the Together for the Gospel conference that Bob led us in (actually, Bob and Ligon Duncan led). Absolutely amazing to be in that place. I'll just have to record it at Bethlehem after another sermon like <a href="http://desiringgod.org/library/sermons/06/082006.html" rel="nofollow">this</a>. Thanks to all who have responded to this question. I’ve asked for input because I cherish this song of Luther’s, yet I just can not find a recorded rendition that does it justice. iTMS is full of them, but acapella, folk, jazz, *swing* just do not get the job done. Katherine’s version linked above comes the closest, so thanks!

I am not against contemporary music at all, esp. hymns done in such a style. Indelible Grace and Sandra McCracken’s album The Builder and the Architect are our family’s favorites. Upward is a fantastic album, and its “Before the Throne” has become indispensible to our worship. What I mean is, I’m not looking for ‘old’ for old’s sake (usually meaning ‘boring’), nor for ‘new’ for new’s sake (usually meaning ‘bad or tasteless’). I’m looking for well-done and whole-hearted singing, with no cheese in sight.

If I were king, I’d demand the recording of this song sung at the Together for the Gospel conference that Bob led us in (actually, Bob and Ligon Duncan led). Absolutely amazing to be in that place. I’ll just have to record it at Bethlehem after another sermon like this.

]]> By: Mark S. http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/08/random-question/#comment-713 Mark S. Fri, 25 Aug 2006 05:18:52 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=200#comment-713 I just graduated with a music degree, and for my senior recital encore I conducted the university praise choir in my own arrangement of "Mighty Fortress." It's musically different (through-composed with ambitious concepts), has bits of "Immortal, Invisible" thrown in, and is probably not what you're looking for. But you can listen to it <a href="http://people.cedarville.edu/Student/marksue/Jubilate-MightyFortress.wma" rel="nofollow">here</a> if you like. On a side note, Steve Green sang a very powerful, acapella version of Mighty Fortress on his <i>People Need the Lord</i> album. You can find a clip of it <a href="http://gofish.about.com/detail.html?gfid=11-834716" rel="nofollow">here</a>. I just graduated with a music degree, and for my senior recital encore I conducted the university praise choir in my own arrangement of “Mighty Fortress.” It’s musically different (through-composed with ambitious concepts), has bits of “Immortal, Invisible” thrown in, and is probably not what you’re looking for. But you can listen to it here if you like.

On a side note, Steve Green sang a very powerful, acapella version of Mighty Fortress on his People Need the Lord album. You can find a clip of it here.

]]> By: Trillia Newbell http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/08/random-question/#comment-712 Trillia Newbell Fri, 25 Aug 2006 03:27:31 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=200#comment-712 Since you take random questions...I was wondering how the book was going and if you'd care to give us all an update. Still praying! Looking forward to it. In Him, Trillia Newbell Since you take random questions…I was wondering how the book was going and if you’d care to give us all an update. Still praying! Looking forward to it.

In Him,

Trillia Newbell

]]> By: Bob Kauflin http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/08/random-question/#comment-711 Bob Kauflin Thu, 24 Aug 2006 13:11:58 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=200#comment-711 Katherine, <i>Isn't passion more about the heart of the singer/hearer than about the sound?</i> Good question. I wouldn't say passion is MORE about the heart of the singer/hearer than the sound. Both are important. I can benefit from a passionless performance because I want to seek God's glory in everything around me. So, for that reason I can't say I didn't worship God last Sunday because the leader led without passion. However, someone who leads or sings with passion demonstrates that passion in various ways - through their countenance, their gestures, their intensity, etc. Ps. 34:5 implies this: “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.” When I buy a CD to listen to, I'm not particulary interested in listening to singers who have passion in their hearts but none in their voices. We might define passion in different ways, and it might look/sound differently from person to person, but there is no question that it's demonstrated in SOME way. Katherine,

Isn’t passion more about the heart of the singer/hearer than about the sound?

Good question. I wouldn’t say passion is MORE about the heart of the singer/hearer than the sound. Both are important. I can benefit from a passionless performance because I want to seek God’s glory in everything around me. So, for that reason I can’t say I didn’t worship God last Sunday because the leader led without passion. However, someone who leads or sings with passion demonstrates that passion in various ways - through their countenance, their gestures, their intensity, etc. Ps. 34:5

implies this:

“Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”

When I buy a CD to listen to, I’m not particulary interested in listening to singers who have passion in their hearts but none in their voices. We might define passion in different ways, and it might look/sound differently from person to person, but there is no question that it’s demonstrated in SOME way.

]]> By: Katherine http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/08/random-question/#comment-710 Katherine Thu, 24 Aug 2006 12:32:11 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=200#comment-710 There is a very traditional rendering of A Mighty Fortress is Our God (and other hymns) on the website of A Center for Church Music. The link to this song is http://www.songsandhymns.com/Brix?pageID=5803# I can't speak to their passion because a good choir can sound passionate about any song they sing. Isn't passion more about the heart of the singer/hearer than about the sound? There is a very traditional rendering of A Mighty Fortress is Our God (and other hymns) on the website of A Center for Church Music. The link to this song is http://www.songsandhymns.com/Brix?pageID=5803# I can’t speak to their passion because a good choir can sound passionate about any song they sing. Isn’t passion more about the heart of the singer/hearer than about the sound?

]]> By: Scott Sterner http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/08/random-question/#comment-709 Scott Sterner Thu, 24 Aug 2006 05:28:29 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=200#comment-709 There is a relatively "neutral" version of "A Mighty Fortress" that we considered borrowing a "groove" from in a church service months ago. The arrangement is available on itunes. It is by the "Acoustic Hymn Singers" and is accompanied by guitar, snare drum/cymbal, and cello. It is a unique instrumental approach that would likely be unoffensive to most. If you have the technology available, just go to the itunes music store and type in "Acoustic Hymn Singers" and you'll find it right away. I will forewarn that the vocal style is a bit dated sounding and may be less passionate than what you desire. I hope this is helpful! There is a relatively “neutral” version of “A Mighty Fortress” that we considered borrowing a “groove” from in a church service months ago. The arrangement is available on itunes. It is by the “Acoustic Hymn Singers” and is accompanied by guitar, snare drum/cymbal, and cello. It is a unique instrumental approach that would likely be unoffensive to most. If you have the technology available, just go to the itunes music store and type in “Acoustic Hymn Singers” and you’ll find it right away. I will forewarn that the vocal style is a bit dated sounding and may be less passionate than what you desire. I hope this is helpful!

]]> By: Michael Warner http://www.worshipmatters.com/2006/08/random-question/#comment-708 Michael Warner Thu, 24 Aug 2006 03:25:38 +0000 http://www.worshipmatters.com?p=200#comment-708 I am a songwriter and producer. I was commisioned by the Lutheran church in the Reading, PA area to produce a mini play on the life of Martin Luther. We closed with a "rousing" rendition of A Mighty Fortress (the entire cast of 8 was able to carry a tune well!). I began it with traditional pipe organ. Second verse brought in drums and guitar. The climax of the song was BIG. The crowd of nearly 1000 conservative Lutherans not only joined in singing, but gave us a standing ovation at the close of the play. I would be happy to share this version with you, which I recorded in my studio... but it is on a DAT format, and my machine is broken. I will not be able to get it repaired for 2 weeks. I could probably find a tape demo (full of hiss) that you could at least get an idea of it, and you could let me know. Interested? I am a songwriter and producer. I was commisioned by the Lutheran church in the Reading, PA area to produce a mini play on the life of Martin Luther. We closed with a “rousing” rendition of A Mighty Fortress (the entire cast of 8 was able to carry a tune well!). I began it with traditional pipe organ. Second verse brought in drums and guitar. The climax of the song was BIG. The crowd of nearly 1000 conservative Lutherans not only joined in singing, but gave us a standing ovation at the close of the play. I would be happy to share this version with you, which I recorded in my studio… but it is on a DAT format, and my machine is broken. I will not be able to get it repaired for 2 weeks. I could probably find a tape demo (full of hiss) that you could at least get an idea of it, and you could let me know. Interested?

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