The African Heritage hymn book this aint your grandmas hymn book

[diverse379]

why this book is great
one it has fresh songs songs that are still played on the radio
like total praise the reason why we sing perfect praise
awesome God
and many others
the arrangements are pretty decent you will not sound corny if you play these note for note

second
it has many songs that feature piano arrangements so you can get some really good ideas on how to effectively comp

third many of the hymns even have turn arounds and intros
so that you can flesh out a more inspiring arrangement
I have had an African Heritage hymn book since I started playing in church about 6 or 7 years ago

fourth a lot of the chords we are looking for are right in this book

have you ever heard of the di tone jamal hartwell coined this phrase
the chord looks like this

CE/Bb Eb Ab

well this chord is in this book in the second verse of perfect praise
and there are many many slick voicings
why look around for phatness when it is right under your nose

but now I have begun to use it differently

I think most people use a hymn book to learn songs that we need to learn for a service or a soloist

but have you ever took the book and read it like you were reading a book from the beginning

start on page one
the first song is page 106 bless the Lord Oh my soul
in Eb

the arrangement has a turn around and even a little introduction

it has some pretty cool voicings for a hymn arrangement
teaches you how to set up the five chord
and how to approach the Eb/Bb
from the Db or b7 chord
very hip for a hymn book

the next song is Come let us worship the Lord in Bb
this song has many fillers
(those in between notes you use to connect passages)
this song illustrates the use of the #5 chord to the b7
as well as a very fine chordal run
and about 5 fillers
change the one chord to Bb major 9 for a warmer more contemporary sound
try transposing to at least the two adjacent keys B and A

next up is Lord Weve come to worship you

an easy song illustrates a basic 1 6 2 5 1
but with a twist because it sets up a b7 chord again

so far this is the third song with this b7 chord
a very nice sound and you have had three songs to practice this technique

and you are in the key of f

this song is great for prayers and worship

next up is this is the day
a plain arrangement nothign fancy about it but also in the key of F

and at least if you dont know how to play this song this will give you at least a basic frame work of the song

next up is I will call upon the lord
to the tune of Oh magnify the lord with the round effect
like row row row your boat

when I play this song for people they say it sounds like the peanuts
which was played by vince giraldi a master of piano

the arrangement is by a guy name Joseph Joubert
a master piano player and a key musician at hampton ministers conference

this arrangement features open voicings and actually has an arrangement for piano it is not just choir voicings
the arrangement took me about a week to master because I am not a very strong reader
but my work was well worth it
It is a style that I would never have thought of
and the voicings are great and rhythmically the song works very well

the next song is this beautiful song in Bb
called Praise you i dont know how to describe it other then very pretty
it can make for some great talk music
but the song also teaches setting up the four chord from the third
and features sus chords on both the one chord and the V chord

open voicings and slick harmonic counter point is the specialty of this song
next
my tribute
by Andre crouch
some of you may know it as To God bE the Glory

I have been working on this song for about 5 days now
I havent perfected it yet but it is beautiful
I havent analyzed it yet
but it is a must try song
really learn all the voicings play it exactly you will be glad you took the time if you can get just half of these techniques under your belt
your playing will go to another level

the next song is when in our music God is glorified
a classical sounding song
I love this song
the counterpoint and inner voicing is abolutely beautiful
it is G
and well worth the time taken to learn it
if you can

total praise follows
and it is an authentic rendition of the song

I can go on welcome into this place
contains turn arounds
day and night praise
in the key of F
features a 1 6 2 5 1
handled most beautifully

the next song has a keyboard arrangement
which like I said before will give you some fresh approaches to playing

i hope i Peaked your curiosity
about this hymn book
it is a great way to practice your reading

if you spend a few minutes a day on this book

you will learn many many songs
before you know it

and you will have a very broad variety to your playing

[under13]

I started to buy this a while ago, but I knew it would end up on the book shelf with the rest of my hymnals. I have used it, and its probaly one of the best ones you can buy.

I'm gonna try to get back into my hymn reading this summer

Thanks for the review

[Ladyn]

HEY!!! So glad to see you posting again! Thanks so much for the review, and I am buying this hymn book tonight. 

[betnich]

Have it...There's some nice voicings and arrangements...Lots of denominations could learn from GIA...

[musallio]

Another 5-star rated review for a priceless product..

I know Mr Tolbert just loves this Hymn book as well.
Do they sell it online?

[Wash]

Had these hymnal for a while.   It is a great tool.  Thanks for reminding and looking out diverse.  God bless you for always sharing as you do to help others along the way.

[under13]

It is availble here. I got the COGIC hymnal from them.
http://www.ntimemusic.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=59

This is the one I use the most:
http://www.ntimemusic.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=69

[musallio]

It is availble here. I got the COGIC hymnal from them.
http://www.ntimemusic.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=59

This is the one I use the most:
http://www.ntimemusic.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=69

Thanks U13..That's really helpful.

[diverse379]

Thank you everyone for the love you have shown me

I feel glad that people benefit from what God has given me to share

I just want to drop one more tidbit aobut this hymn book

I believe it was done intentionally but the editors and arrangers

purposely hid little gems and tricks within these arrangements


I think that if you take these hymns and learn them in at least two other keys you will start to
develop beyond your wildest imaginations


To God Be the Glory

[Casioman]

Had this book for ages, it is the definitive compilation of black gospel hymns in my opinion. Got the CD too (49 hidden Gems), a great publication. A perfect example of why you should devote some time learning to read music as well as playing by ear. It simply that so much more material is available to you (& cheaper too) when you can read.  I have mostly found that hymnal versions of songs are not arranged for the piano player & I have spent many hours rearranging song so they are practical to play.
As soon as time allows I will attempt the Clark sisters classic "Lord keep me day by day" & see if I can handle it, Good too see you back Diverse369 & thanks for re-igniting my interest in this book

Be Blessed
Casioman.
http://www.youtube.com/v/5YGegeO7cnI&hl=en

[under13]

Thanks U13..That's really helpful.

no Prob

you should devote some time learning to read music as well as playing by ear. It simply that so much more material is available to you (& cheaper too) when you can read. 

True. Even if you cant read, Every church musician should have a Hymnal. If you have one then you never need to ask anybody for the chords to a hymn, cuz its all in the book. You dont even have to know how to read.  All you need to do is learn the notes on the staff and put them into chords.  When I find the chart I will post it