Holy Holy hymn tune and text only download
This descant project began out of our own need. In leading worship with horn and harp, we sought to streamline the process. We wanted to bring a little added interest to traditional melodies by adding a complimentary descant.
Needing a way that was easy to read and lessened the need for a lot of rehearsal resulted in this simplified format. They are offered as suggestion for others to use as guidelines for using standard hymns in a modern worship setting.
The lead sheet format allowed for notation on one page, with flexibility as to which line would be read on any given verse.
Often, we'd introduce a hymn that the congregation knew well with the descant, jumping down the the last part of the last phrase at the end of that introduction, so they'd hear when to begin singing.
On subsequent verses, we'd alternate between using the hymn tune and the descant, often combing the two, and usually always playing the hymn tune to aid those unfamiliar with the original melody.
Thought has been given to adapting the descant melodies to a good vocal range so that a cantor could sing them against congregational singing. That's for another day.
All of these arrangements have been used succesfully on both pedal and lever harp, with either a strong cantor leading singing, or with horn, piano and/or violin supplementing the ensemble.
For now, any feedback we can have from church musicians about the idea, and the accessibility of the notation would be greatly appreciated.
