Product Description
These re-harmonizations are designed for the final verse in hymn performances.
Page # Title
1 Austria
2 Birmingham
3 Coronation
4 Forest Green
5 Hyfrydol
6 In Babilone
7 Kings Weston
8 Liebster Jesu
9 Lyons
10 Morning Light
11 Munich
12 Sine Nomine
13 Slane
14 Song I
15 St. Petersburg
16 Tysk
17 Wachet Auf
18 Werde munter
19 Azmon, Deus tuorum militum
20 Dunedin, Dulce Carmen
21 Christus, der ist mein Leben, Engleberg
22 Siroë, St Agnes
23 St. Magnum, Melita
24 Caithness, St. Columba
25 Dundee, Engleberg
26 Vater unser im Himmelreich
Re-harmonizing the final verse of a hymn is a traditional practice that serves a few purposes. It unveils a musical "descant" or embellishment built over the previous verses. The final verse allows for more elaborate harmonies and accompaniment that would be too distracting if introduced earlier. It provides musical interest and variety, especially for longer hymns where the same harmonies would become monotonous. Re-harmonizing the final verse with new chords and voicings can renew the congregation's engagement with the familiar text.
It musically underscores the climax or culmination of the hymn text's message or narrative. The different harmonies in the last verse highlight and bring out different emotional expressions of the lyrics. It communicates that the glory of God is not confined to one musical setting, allowing for creative expressions while still preserving the hymn's essence. So, in summary, re-harmonizing the final verse is a long-standing tradition that unveils a musical climax, provides variety, underscores the text's meaning, and demonstrates that God's praise can take new musical forms.
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.