Hymns for the Church
Summary
Hymns for the Church is a new EP by musician Luke Hill designed to take the beauty of old hymns and put them to a more approachable sound, suited for modern churches.
Assessment
The purpose of this EP is to bring the theological richness of classic hymns to the modern church in a way that respects the original intention but makes the melody more accessible for contemporary worship. The lyrics of the hymns have not been changed in the slightest, but the tune and instrumentation have been updated something modernized.
Below is a breakdown of each song in the EP.
When We All Get to Heaven: Luke Hill did an excellent job conveying the joy of this particular hymn. The rhythm and melody were both upbeat and emphatic without being overwhelming.
I Asked the Lord: This song is taken down a notch in terms of energy and pace compared to the last one and it fits really well with the lyrics. The melody really brings out the prayerlike aspects of the original hymn.
Help Me Be Holy: Accompanied mostly just by a piano, the focus of this song is truly zeroing in on the powerful lyrics. The melody is easy to follow and fits the hymn smoothly.
Day of Judgement! Day of Wonders!: This song takes things back up a notch with a lot more energy and additional layers of instrumentation. However, even with these changes, the richness of the original lyrics is still at the forefront.
God Moves in Mysterious Ways: A beautiful rendition of this song, with a perfect, somber pace and simple instruments to back up the vocals.
Light-o-Meter
Instrumentation: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Lyrics: 7 out of 7 Little Lights*
Message: 7 out of 7 Little Lights
Overall: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
*7 Little Lights for both the original lyrics as well as the artist’s ability to put the classic words to a new melody.
Talk
When I first saw Luke’s video on the idea behind the project, I was initially hesitant. Now, updating hold hymns is not like trying to update the Bible to make it fit in with modern culture. Hymns can be powerful and beautiful, but they are ultimately made by man and putting them to a new tune isn’t anything like making adjustments to the Word. However, I have heard quite a few modern renditions of some of the classics that miss the point of the hymn entirely or twist it so unrecognizably that it actually becomes difficult to sing along to.
My fears were quickly put to rest with Hymns for the Church, as the musician faithfully recreated the original hymns, simply updating the tunes slightly. The lyrics remain completely untouched, while the melody is simplified in an expert way. Luke Hill’s musical abilities shine brightly with these incredibly thoughtful and high-quality renditions. It is clear he knows not only what he is doing but also has great respect for the original purpose of the hymns.
These songs would be great both in a church setting and also for individual worship. Ideally, the Christian should be actively seeking out congregational worship with a healthy body of believers [Bible verse], however, sometimes due to illness or travel, that simply isn’t possible. These songs would be a perfect addition for any less musically inclined believer who may be looking for some worship music to round out their Bible study or devotional time!
Wrap-up
Hymns for the Church is an EP of updated gospel classics by Luke Hill. Retaining all of the original lyrics and theological depth of these classic hymns, Hymns for the Church adds new, simplified and easier to sing melodies to old, powerful worship songs in a masterful way.
Where to Enjoy
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/21q5OSg8JT1ICg0jO4j8wT?si=ZssQ8ZnvQYuZ-eOYVvnFdg
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