Modern

Showing 61–72 of 85 results

  • Psalm 57: The Thunder’s Rage Is Roaring

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bluett-psalm_57.mp3"][/audio]

    Lyricist Kate Bluett does a great job of capturing a difficult Psalm. The first verse teases out the storm imagery that accompanies the famous “I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” The second verse focuses on the Psalmist’s foes who are laying traps. The third verse not only includes the beautiful “I will awaken the dawn with singing” of the original Psalm but concludes with the point that the temporary terrors of the night are momentary, whereas God’s love never ends.

    This song is mentioned in Greg’s podcast, “2021 Musical Year in Review.

    This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.

  • Psalm 61: Lead Me to the Rock

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/lead_me_to_the_rock.mp3"][/audio]

    Psalm 61 is both a cry for help and an affirmation of trust. This song tries to capture both expressions with its minor-key verse and its major-key chorus. These two demos model the song in two different styles: above is a driving rhythm for worship band and below is more hymn-style using the written piano accompaniment.

    [embed]https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/Ps%20061%20Lead%20Me%20to%20the%20Rock.mp3[/embed]

     

  • Psalm 65: We Praise You, God, in Silence and Singing

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/psalm_065-rehearsal.mp3

    Bethany Cok and Josh Parks asked me to compose music for their wedding, and they chose Psalm 65 as the song’s text. It was a great choice: Psalm 65 is a Psalm of thanksgiving that was likely written for one of the harvest festivals; its focus on entering God’s house, keeping vows, and God’s blessing make it a beautiful fit for a wedding.

    This song is mentioned in Greg’s podcast, “Thanksgiving Brainstorms.”

    Score and parts for piano, voice, violins, viola, and cello. Purchase price allows you to print as many copies as you need for your ensemble.

  • Psalm 67: Let All the Peoples Praise You!

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    [embed]http://musicblog.gregscheer.com/psalm_67-let_all_the_peoples.mp3[/embed]

    This setting of Psalm 67 is in what I’ve dubbed a “modern medieval” style–stately but with a strong rhythmic spine. One of the interesting features of the song is that the verse mirrors the chorus, but one step up. This modulatory sleight of hand makes each return of the chorus sound inevitable but surprising.

    This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.

  • Psalm 7: Arise!

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/psalm_7-arise.mp3

    Isaac Watts described Psalm 7 as “God’s care of his people and punishment of persecutors.” Indeed, the Psalmist makes some pretty explicit suggestions about how God might bring vengeance on enemies. But it is also full of vivid language like “save me or they will tear me like a lion” and “he who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment.” So, while this is unlikely to be my big hit, I think my Psalm 7 song does a good job of letting the text speak. Or as I like to say: This is not the best song you’ve ever heard, but it’s probably the best Psalm 7 song you’ve ever heard.

    This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.

  • Psalm 77: We Will Remember

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/psalm_77-ham-we_will_remember.mp3

    Psalm 77 is an interesting case study in lament. It begins like many lament Psalms: “I cried out to God for help.” It wistfully remembers the good old days, then asks the pivotal question: “Will the Lord reject us forever?” The Psalm then turns to hope as the Psalmist remembers God’s mighty works in the past, stilling the waters of creation and parting the Red Sea. Lyricist Travis Ham, with whom I collaborated on this song, took the Psalm’s remembering one step further by recalling Christ’s work on the cross. Because Christ suffered for us, died, and was resurrected, we can endure our hardships, questions, and doubts.

    This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church, please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.

  • Psalm 8: How Often in the Deep of Night

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/psalm_8-how_often.mp3

    One would think that the Psalm 8 well had long ago run dry, but Linda Bonney Olin has written a new setting of the Psalm that is full of child-like wonder, bringing a fresh sense of awe to our hearing of the Psalm. She includes the theme of creation care in verses 2-3, a timely interpretation to be sure.

  • Psalm 82: Gathered in the Judgment Hall

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    http://musicblog.gregscheer.com/psalm_82-gathered_COS.mp3

    Psalm 82 is fascinating. While it could be understood as an indictment of unjust people, in actuality, it appears to be a judgment against the high council of gods. Who are these “gods” over which God holds court? In the Psalmist’s time, it would have likely referred to the pantheon of gods who were believed to oversee weather, oceans, fertility, and every other aspect of life. I don’t think it would be inappropriate to recast these gods for modern times as “The Man”: The powers that be. The principalities. The forces (inequity, fear, racism, etc) that seem to control our world on some higher, untouchable plane. However, just like in the Psalmist’s time, these gods of our time are not, in fact, untouchable. They bow to the Almighty God.

  • Psalm 82: There Where the Judges Gather

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/psalm_82-there_where_the_judges.mp3"][/audio]

    After I led the Psalter Hymnal version of Psalm 82 one Sunday, I was told the tune that accompanied the text was too nice. What this psalm really needed was a tune that matched the text’s “stick it to the man” tone. This tune, appropriately enough, is called STICK IT TO THE MAN. Do punk rock and metrical psalms mix? You be the judge.

    This leadsheet is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.

  • Psalm 84: Blessed Beyond Measure

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    [embed]http://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/psalm084-blessed_-beyond_measure.mp3[/embed]

    Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna, MN commissioned this song and choral anthem for their centennial celebration. Their choice of Psalm 84 is perfect for such an event: the Psalm is full of wide-eyed wonder about God’s temple, but also trust in God’s presence on the journey of life. What a beautiful theme for a church that has journeyed for 100 years and is looking to its future!

    The song is what I often call a “blender.” That is, a song that can live comfortably in both traditional and contemporary settings: think “In Christ Alone,” “There Is a Redeemer,” etc. This demo leans toward the contemporary with guitars and drums, but the choral arrangement leans more traditional. Ultimately, I think it will be right at home in both Trinity’s weekly traditional and contemporary services.

  • Psalm 9-10: Rise Up, O Lord!

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    https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/psalm_009-010-rise_up_o_lord.mp3

    Though the verse melody for this setting of Psalms 9 and 10 is fairly straightforward, there are lots of harmonic twists and turns in the harmonies underneath it. This feels to me a lot like life: we may put on a good front, but there may be knots in our stomach and a prayer of anguish in our heads.

  • Psalm 98: Sing to the Lord a New Song

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    [audio mp3="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/sing_to_the_lord.mp3"][/audio]

    It seems like everyone has their own version of Psalm 98, but each generation needs a “new song” so I make no apologies for adding my voice to the fray! This song was chosen to be sung at COLAM 1999 (Conference on Liturgy and Music) at Dordt College as part of the Composition Competition.

Showing 61–72 of 85 results