which hymns?

S

shedophone

Member
Which hymns do you play at the start of your rehearsals and why?

With my band i tend to go for hymns with lots of flats, lots of sustained notes, or hymns i know and like?

Which hymns do you like/hate playing?
Do you think hymn playing is vital in a band rehearsal?
 
Pythagoras

Pythagoras

Active Member
Loads of hymns in the red book seem to be in 4 flats for bflat instruments. I like Melitta and St. Clements.
 
D

Dawnys_flug

Member
Great topic Shedophone! I was thnking a similar thing the other day.

Our conductor Mark always makes us play number 6.(can't remember its name) in the 120 hymn tunes ff on our diaphrams!! It's a killer, but really works!!
We also usually play number 7. (again forgotten its name, i think it's blaewern or something along those lines :? also known as love divine :) ) for long notes either pp or ff. They really help control. It is also my fave hymn so that's nice!! :lol: Although i have another favourite but i don't have my hymn book with me so i'll tell you what it's called later!

I think that hymn playing is a vital part in a band rehearsal. I know that i don't feel totally warmed up and don't play very well until i've played a couple of hymns with the band as well as my other warming up exercises. It also helps stuff like tuning and balance.
 
Dave Payn

Dave Payn

Active Member
I think hymns are a great tool for bands and highly useful for building ensemble and working on intonation. However, I'm not a fan (no direct criticism of anyone intended) of having all these well known hymns in flat keys if they weren't in flat keys to start off with. I think it makes some of them sound dull. You might use the old cliche that 'flat keys suit brass bands' but it does no harm for intonation training purposes, surely, to work on hymns in sharp keys too? There are awkward keys/fingerings/slide positions etc. on most instruments after all.
 
D

dyl

Active Member
Having read this thread, in the next Wem rehearsal, will Roger:

a) make the band play Hymn No. 68 for half an hour 'cos of the complaining from his band members;

or

b) just to be awkward, choose a completely different hymn tune!

My money's on a) - go for it, Roger! ;)

(In true Banzai fashion) PLACE BETS NOW!
 
D

dyl

Active Member
Just to bring the thread back on-topic, sorry for drifting it off-topic in the first place ;) , my personal faves:

No. 6 (doh! My mind's gone blank, can't remember the name!), Blaenwern, Colne & Whitburn.
 
PeterBale

PeterBale

Moderator
Staff member
dyl said:
Having read this thread, in the next Wem rehearsal, will Roger:

a) make the band play Hymn No. 68 for half an hour 'cos of the complaining from his band members;

or

b) just to be awkward, choose a completely different hymn tune!

My money's on a) - go for it, Roger! ;)

(In true Banzai fashion) PLACE BETS NOW!
Click to expand...
Or

c) turn the book upside down and play 89 :!: :oops: :wink:
 
A

andyp

Active Member
PeterBale said:
c) turn the book upside down and play 89 :!: :oops: :wink:
Click to expand...

If you play 89 upside down would it be "Backward Agnostic Conscientious Objectors?

I'll get me coat..........
 
Okiedokie of Oz

Okiedokie of Oz

Active Member
The Deep Harmony Series is a classic, especially Deep Harmony. Spirit of the Living God is overplayed, but great to start the day.

I am not a big fan of the hymns in concert settings. Yes they sound pretty and different, but don't work you out the same way. The block chord style of the old hym sheet is great for listening and moving similtaneously.
 
Dave Payn

Dave Payn

Active Member
andyp said:
PeterBale said:
c) turn the book upside down and play 89 :!: :oops: :wink:
Click to expand...

If you play 89 upside down would it be "Backward Agnostic Conscientious Objectors?

I'll get me coat..........
Click to expand...

:lol: :lol:

Excellent! Gives me an idea.... (no offence intended) Guess the hymns from these 'opposites'

Shallow unison
God Help The King (OK: pretty obvious!)
O Leave all ye Sinners
Deafening Morning
Pebble of minutes
And did those arms in modern days
There is a Blue Plateau
Drop Down Your Clubs
Be Thou My Telegraph
 
VenusTromster

VenusTromster

Member
drummergurl said:
i thought that u just picked a random nuber and played whichever hymn corresponded with the number
Click to expand...

Random number normally works. I like it when an MD asks someone to pick a random number for a hymn and then goes, "I don't know that" , or "I don't like that one, turn to 7" :)
 
Dave Payn

Dave Payn

Active Member
VenusTromster said:
drummergurl said:
i thought that u just picked a random nuber and played whichever hymn corresponded with the number
Click to expand...

Random number normally works. I like it when an MD asks someone to pick a random number for a hymn and then goes, "I don't know that" , or "I don't like that one, turn to 7" :)
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. Makes you wonder how MDs who say that know any hymns at all, if they don't want to play them because they don't know them! :?
 
T

twigglet

Member
I like Aberyswyth (sp?!) number 1 (big twigge says 'and me!')

Thing is I think we peaked on 68 about five years ago ...no.1, no.1, no.1 (even with four flats AND two lines And two top F's!!)
 
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