Need recommendations for church songs.

[TonyHiggins]

I've been incorporated as a free agent, more or less, into the church choir as whistle player when suitable. I recently did a classical interlude between the singing parts. (Rejoice In The Lord Alway by HENRY PURCELL (1659-1695) A little strange for me, but it worked- mainly due to the excellent direction of the choir director who gave great cues for when I was to jump in. Otherwise, my daydreaminess would have wrecked it.

Anyway, I was asked if I knew any Irish spiritual type songs (with English language lyrics) that I could do on the whistle that the choir could sing. I don't. Any suggestions??

As an aside, In November the choir is joining another choir and orchestra to do a benefit concert for New Orleans residents, performing a modern composition, Requiem, by John Rutter. I'm not playing any of the Requiem, but I am doing some slow airs solo on whistle as the choir processes up to the front of the church at the beginning and after intermission. I submitted my own suggestions to the choir director and she liked A Stor mo Chroi, Lament for Limerick, Slieve Geal gCua, Ta Me mo' Choladh and Eleanor Plunkett. So, I'll work out two short sets from any of those five melodies (I haven't tried that yet, so we'll see.) So, yeah, I'm psyched about that.
Tony

[Congratulations]

I've always wanted to play at a chuch, but I've never had the nerve to find one to ask. I'm not a church-going man, per se, but I'd definitely start going if I were playing.

Do churches generally take kindly to strangers asking to play, or would I need to start attending for a while before I asked?

I don't know of anything that would help you out Tony, but I'm sure someone does. Requiem is a really good piece, though. I heard it on NPR a while back, as I recall.

[missy]

Tony - these are some of the songs I've played whistle with the "contemporary" music group (guitar, piano, singers). These are in a Catholic church, so all are in Gather or other OCP publications:
"Now the Green Blade Rises"
"Sing of the Lord's Goodness"
There's another that I can't think of the name, it uses the music of "Star of County Down" for the tune.
added: I remembered the title "Canticle of the Turning"
"All the Ends of the Earth"
There have been others, again, I can't think of them off the top of my head.
When I play whistle, I use runs or triplets during the half or whole notes as long as they won't clash with what the piano is doing.

All the above are in D or Em in Gather.

[peteinmn]

Tony

One of the oldest Irish Hymn tunes around. Easy and nice on whistle.

http://www.tinwhistler.com/sheet.asp?co ... _my_vision


Here's what it sounds like.

http://s89015200.onlinehome.us/pwc/Vision.mp3

Best

[ten or more]

One of my favorites is a Welsh tune to which several hymns are set. It is Ar hyd y Nos (All Through the Night). It's also a well known lullaby.

See http://ingeb.org/songs/sleepmyc.html

Bob

[BillChin]

"The Water is Wide" is more of a solo song than a choir song, but it is heartbreakingly beautiful. The tunefinder shows several in G and one in D.
http://jc.tzo.net:1742/~jc/music/abc/findtune.html

[jsluder]

While not Irish, many (most?) Shaker hymns sound very nice on the whistle, and the lyrics are in English.

[Mr.Nate]

The first time I heard the whistle was on a modern worship song called
Jesus be the Center. It was on a CD called Hungry by the Vinyard.

It started on the guitar, a little intro on the whistle, then the singing started. Later in the song the whistle played some more, then at the end.
The whistle playing was pretty simple. A slide here and there with a cut or two with no vibrato. You could do somthing like that on any song.
Another modern example would be on the Hobbit movie sound track!

I am sure anything you do would be amazing...tasteful, fitting etc.

[DCrom]

Tony - just a suggestion, but you might want to ask over on the Praise Whistlers site, too. I know that quite a few C & F folks are over there, including some of our Bay Area gang, but with their focus you're more likely to get useful pointers. The only real suggestion I can make, since I haven't been a regular churchgoer in donkey's years.

Though I think that some of the tunes from _A Dossan of Heather_ would fit - certainly "Ar thaobh na Carraige" sounds like it belongs in church.

[Redwolf]

Tony - just a suggestion, but you might want to ask over on the Praise Whistlers site, too. I know that quite a few C & F folks are over there, including some of our Bay Area gang, but with their focus you're more likely to get useful pointers. The only real suggestion I can make, since I haven't been a regular churchgoer in donkey's years.

Though I think that some of the tunes from _A Dossan of Heather_ would fit - certainly "Ar thaobh na Carraige" sounds like it belongs in church.

Where did Praise Whistler end up? The link I had for it doesn't work anymore.

I must suggest The Ash Grove as well...several hymns are set to that tune, and it sounds lovely on the whistle. It's Welsh, not Irish, but certainly Celtic enough

Redwolf

[DCrom]

Where did Praise Whistler end up? The link I had for it doesn't work anymore.

Redwolf, the "message board" link here goes to a temporary board, but the archives apparently are gone.

http://www.praisewhistlers.com/

[jkrazy52]

Here's wherethe PWA message board is now, Redwolf. I wondered where you were.

Tony, Mark Bell has some hymns on his website Whistle and Squeak -- "O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus" is one of my favorites there.

Judy

[littlejohngael]

I've always wanted to play at a chuch, but I've never had the nerve to find one to ask. I'm not a church-going man, per se, but I'd definitely start going if I were playing.

Do churches generally take kindly to strangers asking to play, or would I need to start attending for a while before I asked?

Most of the churches I've been to have been happy to have folks pop into the band and/or choir after coming to service once. I've been in situations where I've met someone in the band who "just started attending." Generally, they've talked to the music minister and he says, "Sure. We practice on (insert day here). Come on out and join us."

'Course, that spans across my experience with Baptist and Nazarene Independent Christian churches. I can't speak for any other denominations.

Best,

LJ

[bjs]

"Blessed be that maid Marie" is a lovely old english carol. Someone posted a sound clip here some time back. I was so impressed it was the first tune I learned by ear.
I eventually found dots and words. How do I post an image here?
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[springrobin]

Simple Gifts is one of those Shaker tunes that works well on whistle