Wow, I was feeling pretty bad yesterday. I was on day four or five of a pretty bad head cold, one that had successfully moved down into my chest over the weekend. All in all, I thought things went pretty well, but as always there were a few unexplained hiccups along the way.
Our lead guitar was out of town this week, so we missed his usual brilliance. He’ll be back this week, and I’m looking forward to what he always brings. Rehearsals went well this last week. Our choir takes the spring/summer off after Easter, but in an effort to keep some momentum and interest, I’ll be getting them back together every three or four weeks to learn a new song to teach to the congregation. This was the first weekend for this effort, and I think it went well. We introduced “Saviour King,” a song which in my opinion is one of the best praise songs of the decade. Great melody, very singable, easy to learn, and great theology. Simple yet profound at the same time. I know it was the first time many had ever heard the song, so I don’t know how well it went over. Time will tell. I’m planning on repeating a shorter arrangement of it this coming Sunday. I’m reminded every time I introduce something new to be patient. We are still very much a church in transition from country to suburb.
As for glitches, Thursday’s rehearsal and Sunday AM’s sound check went well, and we got the sound we wanted. Somehow, in the time between sound check and the performance, the keyboard no longer had the mellow Hammond organ sound we wanted. It had become harsh, yet no settings had been changed anywhere.
Anybody have a clue how such a thing could happen? I’m at a loss.
Otherwise, things went well. The choir sang well, the band played well, and I made it through the day standing on two feet.
One final note, our drummer, a teenager who a few months ago had never played a drum set and subsequently took lessons from me, abolutely rocked the rhythm on Saviour King. If you’re not a drummer, just know that the drum rolling type pattern on Saviour King is not an easy technique for a beginner or intermediate player. He has more than surpassed me as a drummer, and I couldn’t be more pleased. Here’s the set list:
- My Savior’s Love/Blessed Be the Name (hoe-down medley) // Charles Gabriel/ Charles Wesley, Ralph Hudson
- At the Cross // Isaac Watts, Ralph Hudson
- In Christ Alone // Getty and Townend
- Saviour King // Fieldes and Sampson
- Hallelujah, What a Savior // Philip Bliss
