Alternate harmonization of hymn tunes

[quantum]

Do any of you have tricks to change up the harmony of a hymn?

[m1469]

Press a different key ? 

[ramseytheii]

There are different styles, for instance Gospel music will use a lot of diminished seventh, Neapolitan sixth, and secondary dominant chords.  In more classical hymns, it is typical to reinterpret them in either more chromatic ways, or for many, you will notice that they can be interpreted as having long stretches either in major or minor, because of the nature of the melody.  You can experiment with pedal points, modulating up a step for more intense hymns in the last verses, etc.  Find opportunities for chromatic bass lines.  Have fun!

Walter Ramsey

[timothy42b]

Listen to experienced organists.  They will generally play verses 1 and 2 nearly as written, verse 3 totally different, and back to the original for 4 but with very different registration.  Some change registration on every verse.  Sometimes I have one of my children sit on the bench with me with instructions to add stops each line.  (I'm not always quick enough.) 

It's a little hard to hear this because usually there's one strong tenor in the congregation who's going to sing harmony, and he's not capable of noticing that it no longer fits on verse 3.  Try to spot him and sit far away. 

Pianists do this as well but I'm not lucky enough to listen to one regularly. 

On piano playing all verses the same sounds boring to me, but I don't have the skills to do what I want yet.  I'll put the last verse up an octave (right hand) and if I'm playing mostly block chords, I'll alternate between chords and broken chords on different verses. 

I've started working on variations in right hand harmonies, different types of locked hand chords.  (1-3-8, sevenths, sixths) I haven't used them in church yet but I think there's promise here.  Also, adding a walking bass line in octaves on some verses would spice things up. 

[Bob]

Seventh chords.  It worked really well in practice with one so I did it for the performance.  It was just prelude/postlude stuff so it didn't mess up anyone who might have singing during it. 

It doesn't always work though.