Showing 41–50 of 56 results
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Psalm 62: Only God Can Save Us Now
Price range: $0.00 through $5.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pagehttps://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/psalm_062-only_god.mp3
Psalm 62 famously begins with the words, “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” The Psalmist goes on to describe the many difficulties experienced in life–those who are attacking or extorting money–always coming back to the refrain, “My soul finds rest in God alone.” Scottish lyricist, Doug Gay, has given these words an introspective feel in his setting of the Psalm. They could almost be sung by a victim of abuse, crying to God for help. That’s the thing about the Psalms: they give words to things we may have not experienced, which may make us feel like we don’t need them–until we do.
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Psalm 69: Have Pity, My God
https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/psalm_69-have_pity_my_god.mp3
David Diephouse wrote the text for this song, and he shares its origin story, of sorts:
I recall hearing my mother relate a family legend about her grandfather, who was a trawlerman on the Zuider Zee. One day, his boat got caught in a sudden squall that left it capsized. While waiting to be rescued the crew kept up their spirits by singing the opening lines of Psalm 69. The story may or may not be partly apocryphal, but I like it.I love to hear stories about how people have used the Psalms in everyday life. It’s easy to see why a person adrift in the sea would recall the lines of Psalm 69, because they are the cry of a person drowning–fighting a flood of sorrow, betrayal, and fatigue.
This hymn is a free download. If you sing this song in your church, please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.
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Psalm 8: How Often in the Deep of Night
Price range: $0.00 through $5.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pagehttps://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.
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Psalm 82: There Where the Judges Gather
[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.
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Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart
http://musicblog.gregscheer.com/rejoice_ye_pure_in_heart.mp3
What I like most about this hymn tune is that it twists, turns, and teeters on the edge of chaos without ever losing its melodic momentum. I would be very pleased to turn this into a festive choral anthem with organ and brass. If your church commissions it, you get to name the hymn tune! Alternately, if you want to write a new hymn text (6.6.8.6 with refrain) to this tune, I’d be happy to collaborate with you.
This hymn is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.
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Rhyme or Reason
[audio m4a="https://gregscheer.com/wp-content/uploads/woocommerce_uploads/2022/04/tice-rhyme_or_reason-jy2njz.m4a"][/audio]I wrote this tune for a somewhat irregularly metered hymn text based on Ecclesiastes. Since the text talked about stretching and striving, I thought this rising melodic figure (with a chromatically descending bass) fit the theme quite well.
This is an orphan tune, waiting to be adopted by a text to call its own. If you write your own lyrics for this melody or pair it with an existing text, please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense, and let me know how you’ve used it.
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RUSTY
https://archive.gregscheer.com/sounds/RUSTY.mp3
This is my homage to shape note singing. No, I won’t stack it against the timeless tunes of Sacred Harp or Southern Harmony, but it has a certain rustic charm that may be just right for your 8.6.8.6 text. It was first composed for Adam Tice’s text, “The Church of Christ Cannot Be Bound,” a rousing ode to the church’s mission outside its sanctuary walls.
This is an orphan tune, waiting to be adopted by a text to call its own. If you write your own lyrics for this melody or pair it with an existing text, please let me know how you’ve used it.
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Semper Reformanda
https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/semper_reformanda.mp3
This was a first attempt at a song for the World Council of Reformed Churches 2017 General Council. Since this song went unused (“Renew Us, O God” was chosen) I would love to see the tune used with a new text.
This hymn is a free download. If you sing this song in your church please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense.
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SINKING SHIPS
https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/ps12-lying_lips.mp3
I wrote this tune for a metrical setting of Psalm 12 by Adam Tice called “Lying Lips.” The Psalm is about the lies of the wicked as opposed to the trustworthy word of God. I mirrored this deceit with a tune that is shifty.
This is an orphan tune, waiting to be adopted by a text to call its own. If you write lyrics for this melody or pair it with an existing text, please report its use to CCLI or OneLicense and let me know how you’ve used it.
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STICK IT TO THE MAN
https://musicblog.gregscheer.com/psalm_82-there_where_the_judges.mp3
One doesn’t usually think of metered hymn tunes and Weezer-style punk anthems simultaneously, but for those times you do, there’s STICK IT TO THE MAN. It was originally written for Henry Zylstra’s 1953 metrical setting of Psalm 82 that appeared in the Psalter Hymnal.
This is an orphan tune, waiting to be adopted by a text to call its own. If you write your own lyrics for this melody or pair it with an existing text, please let me know how you’ve used it.