AbouttheHymns

About O Worship the King

I have wanted to record a CD with hymn arrangements for several years now. During the summer of 2002 I lived in Charleston and had the opportunity to begin moving the project forward. I already had several hymns prepared. Unfortunately I did not have the time or money to do the recording.

In the spring of 2003, I did some research on studios in the Dallas area. I located Crystal Clear Studios. We made some arrangements after I returned from a trip to Mexico, and I began recording in August. It took several recording sessions to complete the album. Originally there were fourteen hymns, but the finished product has twelve.

These hymns are not currently available in written form. Some have been sent to publishing companies for review. If they are published, I will put that information on my homepage.

I've written out some thoughts as to why I recorded the pieces I chose. Most of them mean something special to me. Often the listener has only one or two pieces that speaks to them, but the arranger/composer values something about each piece.

Morning Has Broken

This was among the first hymns I arranged. While working at Salem Baptist Church in Union, S.C., I played the offertory each Sunday. I decided to write this out and perform it since I never found a good arrangement of it. The finished product is nothing like the original, but the key changes and climax makes this a special piece for me. The melody captivates me, and it serves as a wonderful opening piece to O Worship the King.

There's Something About That Name

Words by William and Gloria Gaither

"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there's just something about that Name." What a fantastic opening meditation on the name of the Lord! Jesus means "Yahweh Saves," and it was given because "He will save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). This piece is one of the most expressive pieces, opening very freely. The second time through imitates a music box and continues with harmonic variations. The climax corresponds with the fact "kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there's just something about that name."

O the Deep Deep Love of Jesus

The love of Jesus is a overwhelming. The goal of this piece was to capture the intensity and profundity of the God's love musically.

O Worship the King

This past year while we sang this great hymn in chapel at Dallas Seminary, I was overwhelmed with the phrase, "Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days, Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise." Musically I wanted to capture the grandeur of the King with might and brilliance. After the opening fanfare, the first verse opens with a simulated horn call. Any well-rounded pianist will know where the middle section originates, but Chopin is my favorite! The final verse in my mind is a processional for the King. Because God is King and His splendor is overwhelming, this is the title hymn. Whatever else is on this CD, God is first Lord and King.

My Jesus, I Love Thee

I arranged this piece for guitar and piano during my senior year at Furman University for our worship team at Campus Outreach. But I kept some of the ideas and used it for solo piano. I encourage those of you unfamiliar with this hymn to read and meditate on it. Each stanza ends with "If ever I loved Thee, My Jesus, tis now."

Be Thou My Vision

I'm glad I put this on the CD because it may be the most popular on the album. My friend Kristin asked me this summer if I planned to put it on the CD, but I did not. I played around with it and quickly put an arrangement together. The climax corresponds with the text, "High King of Heaven, my victory won!" It has quickly become one of my favorite hymns because of its powerful text. Its devotional and reflective nature speaks to so many of us, and I pray that this piece will bring us back to intentional thinking upon God.

Near the Cross and When I Survey

These two hymns are placed together because they both focus on the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. As a Christian, I rely on nothing less than Jesus Christ's sacrifice on my behalf. Notable in When I Survey is the minor middle section, which emphasizes the suffering of Christ. Yet it ends victoriously and triumphantly, as does the Christian story.

As the Deer

I arranged this hymn several years ago in Myrtle Beach for a Sunday service. At that time I was frustrated with the lack of excellent Christian piano music. Hopefully the musical qualities reflect the heart of the psalmist (Psalm. 42) and emphasize that "You alone are my heart's desire," even when in reality our hearts may not indicate that.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

This hymn is my favorite on the CD without any question. I love the words, the emphasis on God's faithfulness to us. In the Old Testament this is reflected in the term hesed, or loyal love. The words find their biblical root in Lamentations 3:22-25, in which Jeremiah sees God's mercy as being new each morning. I spent years on this arrangement in an attempt to create a musical testimony. The dramatic jubilant ending celebrates God's faithfulness, an attribute upon which I have learned to rely.

Softly and Tenderly

Jesus teaches on more than one occasion that heaven rejoices when one person repents (Luke 15). Musically this hymn cries, "Come home, come home!" For those who hear it and do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior, this hymn was written with the hope that you will consider the important claims of the gospel.

It Is Well

This hymn is among the greatest ever written. I hope to add a link about Horatio Spafford, the writer of It Is Well, to tell his remarkable story. The first verse recounts his experience of God's presence and comfort during times of overwhelming grief. The middle verses, however, are among the richest of all hymns theologically. "My sin--O, the bliss of this glorious thought--my sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!" When I began to understand the truth of this great hymn, specifically justification, I wept each time I heard it sung. The verse addresses the culmination of our salvation--faith shall be sight--and all will really be well. I end O Worship the King with It is Well because it has had such a powerful impact on my life.

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