Product Description
It was one of those accidents where you find something
useful when youre looking for something else. While reading on the nature of
worship, a particular blog article ended with Adoniram Judsons early 19th
Century baptismal poem, "Come Holy Spirit, Dove Divine." The flowing text
called out (at least to me!) for a musical setting. Accordingly, some melodic
and harmonic ideas began to percolate in my thoughts. However, before getting
very far along in writing a tune, there were two surprises in store. First many
others had already set the text to music before (with a multitude of tunes) going
back to at least 1833. Second, despite being a Baptist for over forty years, I
discovered that this hymn has been in the Baptist Hymnal since 1956 yet I have
no recollection of every singing it! Well, chagrined at my ignorance, I carried
on writing a new melody and harmony for this deserving text. I sought to make
it friendly to congregational singers while still containing rich and sing-able
harmonies and so aimed for a four-part hymn-style form. However, as I suspect my
ignorance of the hymn is a common condition, a fresh and modern tune which
would be at home in varied musical styles and have popular appeal was also
pursued. The result is a delightful and uplifting tune, easy to sing, with an
optimistic and forward momentum, commensurate with the meaning of believers
baptism, "Buried with Him in baptism; raised to walk in new life." The music is flexible in application to many church music styles: praise team and band, choir and organ, congregation and piano, or mix and match to fit your needs. May you find Come, Holy Spirit, Dove Divine, singing a much needed text, a means for your congregation to joyfully join
with new believers in celebration of their baptism!
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.