INTRODUCTION

Routinely I am asked to play special musical numbers for my church congregation. I'm always thrilled to be asked, but nervous about the time frame I'm often given to prepare a piece. On average I'm given about two weeks. Normally, two weeks would be plenty of time to prepare a pre-written arrangement. However, I play the viola. Unfortunately, there is a severe lack of well written hymn arrangements for the viola. Most of the ones I have found are oversimplified, barely more than playing the melody and then doubling the alto or tenor line of the hymn for a second verse. While this can be pretty, it’s not really special.

 

I never used to have this problem. I was a violinist until I graduated high school, and it was easy to find arrangements of pieces. But since switching to the viola, I’ve had to write my own elaborated melodies or tenor lines or spend many hours transcribing arrangements written for violin or cello (to varying degrees of success). Each time I'm asked, these are the options that confront me. My talent does not lie in composing, so though my little arrangements are usually acceptable, and more interesting than what else is available, I can never do much with the accompaniment, and usually have to play over the standard SATB parts in the piano.

 

One day, wanting something a little more special for an upcoming church performance, I decided transcribing something would be the better option. I pulled out an old book my mother bought me in middle school (back before I switched to the viola), The Jenny Oaks Baker Violin Collection Vol. 1. It’s a book of seven violin hymn arrangements by various composers. When my mother bought the book for me, there were only two arrangements that I was able to play, but as I progressed on my instrument, I was able to learn the rest. As I looked at that book, I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had one of these for viola?” And then I realized I could make that happen. And that is how this project began.  

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THE COLLECTION

Over the course of two years I  commissioned seven hymn arrangements from six composers to create this collection. Each arrangement is written for viola and piano. The collection includes Jesus the Very Thought of Thee, Reverently and Meekly Now, All Things Bright and Beautiful, Be Thou My Vision, Beautiful Savior, The King of Love My Shepherd Is and I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say. The arrangements vary from intermediate to very advanced. Most are appropriate for Sabbath meetings, but some have a more modern flair and should be played in judiciously chosen venues. 

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Funded partially through the generous support of an NEC Entrepreneurial Musicianship grant.

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