Something New At Our Church

[Ken Berner]

Our church is having a series of Wednesday evening suppers and a program to raise funds for a youth trip to New Mexico. Seven core members of a weekly jam I attend, provided the music for a sing-along after supper. We put together a band made up of two guitars. banjo, bass, dobro, fiddle and mandolin. A crowd of 160 folks joined us in singing old favorites like "I Saw The Light", "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", "Somebody Touched Me", " Drifting Too Far From The Shore", " In The Garden", "Will The Circle Be Unbroken", "I'll Fly Away", "Angel Band", "Hallelujah, I'm Ready", " Preaching, Praying, Singing" and "Amazing Grace". This event brought back memories for people of all ages and provided fun for all. Try it; you'll like it!

[Bradley]

We do that alot at our church too....not for fundraising but for the group of seniors when they have events. With 90+% of churches going to the praise and worship style those old songs just get forgotten.It is neat to see them little grannys hollering out "Rank Stranger" or "Purple robe"...goes to show you what a magical tool music is and how it relates to our spirit...(not to get too religous)

Happy Pickin

[Ken Berner]

Thanks for your reply, Bradley. This morning (Sunday) I had more favorable comments from the "older" crowd on how much they enjoyed hearing and singing the old songs. I'm 68 and thoroughly enjoy them too, but I wonder if it is just those who were "unchurched" growing up that don't have a feel for them. I'd like to swap my long song list for yours!

[Mark Normand]

Ken, thats good info. Even at 46, I find myself drawn more and more to gospel bluegrass because of the singing, but I still like 'em fast. I didn't grow up with any of this, but of course recognize many of the tunes in your list.
Thats a great thing you have going.

[Ken Berner]

mnormand, Thanks. One of our intentions was to draw our youth (teens) group into this, but they showed little interest, however, there were several young families there with little children, who really seemed to enjoy the music. Once a month, we've been having a service during the week just for the teens and the music has been two guitars and a mandolin; we might inject some of the old songs. Like slipping a pill into the puppy chow!

[Bradley]

I will go way out on a limb here....

Alot of those old songs were written out of hardship,a spiritual trial,or spiritual victory.The people that wrote those songs had spendt hours,days, and weeks on their knees to get those songs.Nowadays, if it halfway rhymes,can be added to a funky beat,with a keyboard we call it gospel.
The only thing that the new stuff is missing is the ability to reach into someones heart and help them....I think there needs to be a push into getting these old songs revived again,if they were once affective then they still should be.

I grew up, and learned to play gitar and mandolin from some very special people (who are elderly now) in a little pentecostal church.Those old songs really mean the world to me.Some of the best songs that I have ever heard are from the little Grannys who "have a song on their heart"

Oh well enough with the sentimental stuff http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[dividednomore]

Ken,

I've been thinking about approaching our music pastor about playing a bluegrass gospel set. The songs you listed in your initial post look like a great place to start. Would you be willing to share your transcriptions or sheet music?

[doanepoole]

It's always a nice thing to do to go play at nursing homes. Alot of times those folks don't get alot of visitors, and they usually really enjoy gospel type music.

Doesn't pay, but then again, not all payments are made in cash.

[Kent Black]

I sing for a Southern Gospel Quartet, we do all our music acapella, a lot of old stuff and some bluegrass. Our church is big and they love it when we get up there and just take off on some old hymns that we have gone away from hearing. I am also very touched by the new praise music and how the youth can come alive by singing it and the message it brings. If anyone has any advice for a beginner, this is the music I want to learn on the mandolin, would love to find tabs or chords for this stuff. Great to see I'm not alone on this.
Kent

[Bradley]

[QUOTE]Doesn't pay, but then again, not all payments are made in cash.

I Like that... never heard it that way before...
Have heard that "God repays us, but with things much better than money"which is similar.

There is actually 2 songbooks out that are by Mel Bay that contain a BUNCH of the old standards. There are 2 volumes,one has a red binding and the second a blue binding.

[Ken Berner]

Good Afternnon to All, Nursing homes ARE great venues, as are schools, churches, private party settings. Our jam band will go anywhere; not out of desparation, but for the joy of playing. I've got to pass this along for its humor value: we had spent a little time in a nursing home a while back, and as we were leaving, a little lady in a wheelchair touched my sleeve and said, "thanks for coming out of your room and playing for us". Now fellows, I've got some age on me, but I really don't look quite that old! I remember my first trip to play at a local hospice and there were about a dozen patients wheeled into the room by attendants. I was really struck be their appearance because they all seemed to be unaware or confused as to why we were in their presence. Some seemed to be sleeping as we played for them and one of those was gently tapping her foot. I went home completely depressed and told my wife about the experience. She told me that we don't know what they might be hearing, even though they seem to be "out of it"; that they probably didn't have the capability to react or the means to express their feelings. I felt somewhat better after that. I want to share a list of the old songs that I play, just as soon as I can get them together.

[Ken Berner]

Here is a list of non-contemporary songs suitable for church that I play on mandolin. I don't have any sheet music, tab, etc., as it is all in my head and heart.

Angel Band
Amazing Grace
Be Thou My Vision
Because He Lives
Bringing In The Sheaves
Canaan Land (Where The Soul Never Dies)
Church In The Wildwood
Do Lord
Down By The Riverside
Drifting Too Far From Then Shore
Farther Along
Gathering Flowers For The Master's Bouquet
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Gospel Ship
He's Got The Whole World In His Hands
How Firm A Foundation Hallelujah, I'm Ready
How Great Thou Art
I Saw The Light
I'll Be Waiting On The Far Side Bank Of Jordan
I'll Fly Away
In The Sweet Bye And Bye

Jesus Loves The Little Children
Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Just As I Am
Keep On The Sunny Side
Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
Life Is Like A Mountain Railroad
Old Time Religion
Old Country Church
Old Rugged Cross
Precious Memories Preaching, Praying, Singing
Rock Of Ages
Shall We Gather At The River
Simple Gifts
Softly And Tenderly
Somebody Touched Me
Standing In The Need Of Prayer
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Unclody Day
Victory In Jesus
Washed In The Blood
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder
When The Saints Go Marching In
Whispering Hope
Were You There When They Crucified My Lord
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Wayfaring Stranger

Please share your favorites with me; I can't wait to share my Christmas list, too! Enjoy.

[kebmando]

Ooo...Old Time Religion...that's a tough one vocal-wise

[Bradley]

But you forgot "the old Crossroads"

[davestem]

I play with a gospel BG group--we're working up a version of "Lead Me to the Rock" (from Ricky Skaggs' Soldier of the Cross album) in waltz time.

[John Zimm]

This is a great thread. Thanks for sharing the songlists and stories. My wife and I just bought a house across the street from a retirement home, and I'm hoping to get the chance to play there a little.

I agree about the old songs-I am only 31 but I grew up singing the old hymns in the Baptist church, and the new praise songs just can't compare. Lines like "I will praise you, I will do this that or the other..." just can't compare with something like "Just as I am, without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bidst me come to Thee, Oh Lamb of God I come, I come." Or another great one: "He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater;
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.
To added affliction He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace."

It would be great to see the old songs and our beloved mandolin more involved in music in our churches. You can really tell when the Spirit of God was involved in the writing of a song and how that Presence moves among a congregation joined in singing.

-John.

[Ken Berner]

Thanks for chiming in Gents. I know that I have a lot more of these songs to learn, but if we don't continue to learn and share them, they'll be forgotten. The above list is all I know how to play, but I'm determined to add to it. Another one just came to mind, "I'm Gonna Have A Little Talk With Jesus"(?).

I have noticed it to.. alot of churches going to this praise and worship stuff... I just cant get into it. It is like going to listen to broadway show tunes...

Nothing to me can compare to the old time standards performed old school style.. Those songs were written with alot of emotion to where these new age songs are just hollaring to my ears not much of a message there.

[Tom C]

Growing up Roman catholic all I ever heard was that humdrum organ. No wonder I haven't been back.

[John Flynn]

Growing up Roman catholic all I ever heard was that humdrum organ. No wonder I haven't been back.
Tom: That's your choice and I respect that, but don't let the music stop you from coming back. If you shop around, even a little, you can find a lot of good stuff happening musically now in Catholic (and other) churches. I have been playing guitar, mandolin and harmonica in parish instrumental groups for 20 years. I like to feel like we have done some great work, both musically and spiritually. BTW, I don't like pipe organ music either!

[foggyvalley]

What a great thread! My bluegrass gospel band-One Way is currently working up the courage(and set list) to go out and play at the local rescue mission and retirement home. This thread is a great encouragement. I've copied your song list down so I can take to band practice tonight for inspiration and ideas for future songs. This reminds me of what heaven will be like,sitting around jamming and singing praises to the Lord! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Ken Berner]

foggyvalley, Once the first note is played, the nervousness will go away! One of the first nursing homes we ever played in, had just a small crowd of maybe 30 folks. Those in wheelchairs were up front and one of them, a lady in her 80s, got out of her chair and started dancing! Needless to say, we almost died of fear that she might fall and break bones, but she got through it, sat down and received much applause! I guess her family would have had us in court had she hurt herself, but she (as well as the crowd) was really having a good time! Hey, you'll do just fine on your first trip!

[Randy]

As a part time music minister at a rural church, I can atest to the endearing charms of the old time music. I use it often during our services, even if one of our deacons can't quite get it that I sometimes play mandolin, not a ukelele. On the other hand, the modern stuff has its place as well. During Vacation Bible School this summer, I chucked the denominational music for a jazz version of "The B-I-B-L-E," a funk-rap version of "Jesus Loves Me," and a pure country version of "This Little Light of Mine." The little kids loved it. With the older kids, we introduced them to some praise choruses, which they responded to well. We even had them doing a rock and roll piece "The Rock That Doesn't Roll"
which everybody liked.
When all is said and done, people respond to music. Period. Ask someone to quote as many Bible verses as they can, then ask them to quote lines from gospel songs or hymns. Songs quotes will always outnumber the Bible verses. You just reach people where they are. If I can reach you by playing my keyboard, fine. If I can get through to you while playing my mandolin, good. Check out the second phrase of I Cor. 9:22. That's been my goal.
I've told my church that we'll do everything from classical to contemporary and from Beethoven to Bluegrass. It's been almost five years and they haven't thrown me out yet.

[Kevin@bluegrassbrethren]

Excellent thread,
Randy "When all is said and done, people respond to music." well said. I can attest to the glory of worship through music,
For us (Bluegrass Brethren) travelling around to so many churches and worship gatherings is such a blessing.

Ken....GO for it. You won't be sorry. When I was asked to be a part of a gospel ministry I said I had no time.......many years later, it has become third in line after God and Family! Serving is very soothing for me and hopefully will help others to accept the Word!

Servin Him!

[futrconslr]

Ya'all forgot my favorite Power in the Blood or as they sing...P'air in the blood...:-)

[janmando]

So happy to see the great interest in gospel bluegrass and the "oldies"...I grew up on them and am church pianist at our baptist church where I slip in the oldies in my offertories all the time. I can always see someone's head come up when they recognize the melody, then they sing along. It's so great......I SO agree about the lyrics of these old hymns being written from "hardscrabble livin'". Also, much of the history of the church is written in these hymns. If you get a chance read the biographies of John Newton, the Wesleys, Tyndale, etc. (If you want my list of great bios of these men, let me know.) They are SO amazing. AND, if you'll notice alot of the old hymns are actually scripture and bible stories set to music. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, we are tossing out alot of heritage in going to "all praise music" in church. I call them 7-11 songs.....7 words, sing them 11 times. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[janmando]

in trying to get the music for these old songs.....look for old hymnals at antique stores. I collect them and they are WONDERFUL. Usually find them falling apart costing about $1. Get all you can. I love the way you can really hear the "style" of music in the hymns match that of the time period when it was written. Look for hymnals past the "shape note" stage. Shape note hymnals are great but don't provide any harmony...of course, you can always make your own. I recommend these and they are pretty easy to find.

The American Hymnal, used in baptist churches before Broadman. (includes shape notes along with harmony)
The Broadman Hymnal
The Baptist Hymnal...before 1957..the 1975 edition changes keys on many hymns that sound strange to me and it has included alot of the 60s choruses and dropped the older hymns.

Oh, don't forget....Oh, that Will be Glory for Me.

[keymandoguy]

I have been so many religions I lost count . I was catholic for many years but was brought up singing gaspel music in what I call holy roller churches with my mother. I love singing that old time religion type songs .We do play a lot of religious songs at the weekly jam I play . Just wish I could play more http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Ken Berner]

A great source for Christian "renewal" music is all the Bible bookstores springing up. Some sell songbooks and music which include some of the favorites that I play (in no particular order): "All In All", "Arms Of Love", "Bind Us Together", "Breathe On Me Breath Of God", "Dance With Me", "Here I Am, Lord", "In This Very Room", "I Love You With The Love Of The Lord", ""Let Us Break Bread Together", " Lord, I Lift Your Name On High", "My Holy Shepherd", "Lord, Be Magnified", "Majesty", "Open Our Eyes Lord", "Praise God For The Body", "Surely The Presence", "Sanctuary", "Spirit Of The Living God", "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus", "Take Our Bread", "Give Thanks", "Glorify Thy Name", "Holy Ground", "Have You Seen Jesus My Lord?", "I Am The Bread Of Life", "I Want To Walk As A Child Of The Light", "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus", " In This Very Room", "I Love You Lord", "Jesus Is Our King", "Jesus, Name Above All Names", "Lift High The Cross", "Mary, Did You Know?" (Kathy Mattea does this), "More Precious Than Silver", "Of My Hands", "On Eagles Wings", "Open The Eyes Of My Heart, Lord" (nicely done by Randy Travis), "Our God Reigns", "Praise God For The Body", "Pass It On", "Psalm 8", "Seek Ye First", "Servant Song", " Sing Hallelujah To The Lord", " Shine, Jesus Shine", "I Will Change Your Name", "Abba, Father", " Alleluia, He Is Coming", "As The Deer", "Be Still And Know", "Call To Worship", Commune With Me", etc. Those of you who are music ministers, will fall immediately in love with many of these songs and all are good on mandolin!

[Tom C]

I love bluegrass gospel tunes. Most are happy and blues-ie at the same time. I recently began playing with somebody who love to sing those oldies like Rev Gary Davis. It's a nice change from fast driven bluegrass and give me the chance to work on new breaks.

[goldtopper]

We do this all the time. One of our congregation's favorites is "Swing Low Sweet Chariot".
Our group gets much better response than the contemporary praise band. No secret there....

[rixter]

I've been filling in for a gal on Sundays, leading worship in a little, traditional small town church. I get a couple of friends to come along and make a real session of it and its great. The best part is, the more traditional, the better the pastor and congregation like it. I can do any of the old standards and it flies. Man that's like waving a red flag at a bull. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[magnumgray]

WE found out that 50% of our community was listening to country on the Radio and developed a once a month program for Sunday nights called ... Wildwood Fellowship.

We do a bluegrass worship section then hire a local band to do 30 minutes of music in good taste .... and pay them well! On average 30%-40% of those in attendance are visitors. In the Summer months we move outside and do .... the back lot concert series.

Online you can find out more by looking up Cowboy Church and House of Mercy.org (a whole church in Mn. that is based of old time and bluegrass music.

Our church has been feature in a nata\ional publication, about this ministry ... it works

E-mail if you would like to know more

Mark Grayless .... Union Christian Church
Terre Haute, Indiana
Magnumgray@lightdog.com

[Ken Berner]

Hey Mark, Neat concept! We have been talking about having an "informal service" (probably on a Sunday night) on a quarterly basis, but nothing has developed yet. We have enough musicians available, so someone will have to take the bull by the horns and run with it. The only Sunday service we have that out of the ordinary is Christmas Sunday, when the choir takes a breather. We provide the music with guitar, stand-up bass, harp, flute, mandolin and vocals. Our traditonal New Years Eve service is open to musicians from several other churches, which is a great alternative to other activities.

[tallgirl1204]

On July 4th on Bainbridge Island (near Seattle), I was a happy participant in an "American Mass" at the Episcopal church there. Full on Episcopal liturgy (with the robes and everything), with an acoustic string band in attendance (and since I was there, accordion too!). We discovered that three (count 'em) banjos can really enliven the initial processional, to the tune of "Liberty." (I voted for "Whiskey Before Breakfast" but it fell by the wayside).

During the service, we did several Sacred Harp tunes acapella, then "Wayfaring Stranger" with Sacred Harp harmonies and bluegrass instruments (just a tetch weird IMHO), a couple of Southern black traditional tunes (semi-civil rights, but we did the "old" versions), a Bob Dylan tune (Knockin on Heaven's Door, of course) and we finished out the service with recessional tunes Red Haired Boy, Over the Waterfall and Liza Jane.

All of this within the "Episcopal" service format.

I think there is so much value in putting the old tunes into use, and to "reclaiming" the deep traditions of folk music in our so-called worship services. I'm with the poster who finds "praise music" "7-11"-y-- thanks, I'll use that again!

Some of the congregation stayed until the bitter end of the recessional (we kept playing for almost an hour)-- and we got a lot of positive feedback on having (1) acoustic music, (2) "old-time" music and (3) refreshingly energetic music... all within the context of being truly "American."

I'm not sure that this church would go for this every week-- but the big happy smiles as the banjos rang out told me that we had found something that does lift the spirit and raise one's hopes...

And I say this as someone who hides in the bathroom during the praise tunes...

[Ken Berner]

tallgirl1204, That is most unusual for an Episcopal church, and the pastor deserves a great big "attaboy"!!! I love the Anglican tradition, but I won't get into that here. There is a neat Episcopal mission church in our immediate area, along with two well-established Episcopal churches. Their Sunday evening service is "come-as-you-are" and the music IS praise and worship type, with guitar, harmonica, piano, jimbay and a mandolin (not mine). I am astounded by the interest that this church has created in the community and is growing as rapidly as the grass here. I played with them once, and found it rather difficult to make the mandolin fit with most of the songs, but it was an "adventure". I could probably hack it without the drums being romped on. I would far prefer the sort of service you were involved in! Thanks for sharing that with us.

[jlb]

What is a "praise tune" as opposed to the kind of tunes everyone seems to favor?

[kebmando]

Ditto to that question.

Is that like the type of computer music you see on the religious stations on TV?

[mando bandage]

I don't know that I can define "praise tunes" but I tend to think of them as reactionary songs which exist only to demonstrate how different they are from traditional hymns/gospel.

IMHO they are often characterized by a marked lack of musical direction and usually cover a range so broad that everyone is dropping an octave or falling in and out of falsetto like the Puberty Kid before the song is over. The end result I've often found is that people give up and quit singing, something that never happens with the more traditional music.

Oh, and one more thing: trust me with the harmony parts in the hymnals, please? I'll sound much better with what my son calls a "musical map" to help me find the part. I cringe at hymnals that presume that the congregation can only handle singing in unison.

Don't mean to be too negative on this, and I value innovation. (Hey, I like Nickle Creek and have a good friend who has sings with a Christian heavy metal band.) I just appreciate innovation a lot more when it respects and builds upon tradition instead of trying to pretend that it doesn't exist, particularly in the area of faith which is, by its very nature, a celebration of tradition shared over many generations.

There, I feel better now. Thanks for listening.

R

PS: The 7-11 tag is a good one!

[rixter]

"What is a "praise tune" as opposed to the kind of tunes everyone seems to favor?"

A praise tune is usually a sort of chorus about God, while worship is more of a song sung directly to God. Sometimes the line is kind of fuzzy.

[tallgirl1204]

I like the 7-11 definition of praise/worship tunes-- same 7 words sung 11 times. Thazzit xactly.

What makes me hide in the bathroom are the following:
-- loud volume, mediocre instrumentals. Especially electric piano, but that's a personal prejudice.
-- the band encouraging everyone to "get up and party with God" or otherwise eliciting smiling and clapping throughout.

As for the power of the old tunes:

My dad tells the story of his aunt-- a breast cancer survivor during a time when treatment was beyond brutal and rarely successful-- a woman whose doctor said "buy her coffin, she won't make it"-- anyway, my dad remembers her spending hours walking on the land behind her house, singing over and over the hymn that begins:

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul."

She lived for 40 more years. My dad attributes her healing to that hymn. That's real music.

[Ken Berner]

Yes, that is real music! Like an idiot, I thought this song would be found in the 1982 Episcopal Hymnal; WRONG, but you can bet your last dime that the 1956 Baptist Hymnal has it! Just one of so many wonderful old songs that grip your soul, not to be forgotten because we aren't going to let that happen!

[tallgirl1204]

Actually, I googled the line "it is well with my soul' and confirmed the lyrics online, along with a midi version of the tune (which I muted immediately!). Ain't technology amazing?

I personally was raised on the Broadman hymnal, the "old" (pre-1970's) Methodist hymnal, and whatever Baptist hymnbooks were in my grandpa's piano bench. In recent years I became a convert to Sacred Harp music, and love that old shaped note sound-- visceral four-part harmony that comes from the depths of ones heart.

Great thread btw, thanks!

[BrazAd]

Wow, just read this thread tonight, and wished it had gone on for 2 or 3 more pages! THIS is what I play music for - to play and sing the old standards for God and His people! There are very few things in life that turn my crank like this does.

Tallgirl, you brought tears to my eyes with the story about your great-aunt. That song is one of my favorites, with many good memories regarding it.

I'm a guitar player with a mandolin on order (Ron Cole), and my secret desire for the past year or two is to play in a group that goes to nursing homes, hospices, etc. I'm not a great player, but the passion and the desire are there. Maybe in God's time it will happen, and we'll bring Jesus to some hurting and dying folks.

I'm 45, the son of a holiness preacher, and fully believe that these old hymns and spirituals will live on long after the "praise music" fad is over. It's fast-food music for a MTV generation, IMO. Many folks sing their "praise" to God with empty words on Sunday.... when God's praise is sung best by changed lives on Monday-Saturday. Those old songs tackled the real issues that are inward, instead of putting a Band-aid on a terminal disease.

Great thread, I hope this continues to grow....

Gary
Atlanta

[Ken Berner]

BrazAd, Thanks for looking in on us. I had no idea that this subject would create so much intrerest, and it is a joy to hear what others are doing with this music. The neat thing to me is that it doesn't need to be "promoted", as it is time-proven. I'm sure you will enjoy your new Cole, and it will really lend itself to many of the old hymns. Enjoy!

[doanepoole]

This is probably the wrong board and thread for this post, but I noticed a few fellow-Catholics on this thread.

I've been noodling around with the idea of getting together a string band to transpose some traditional Catholic hymnal-songs into instrumental pieces in the Old Time style. #I have a tendancy to work out every tune that sticks in my head on guitar if not also mando (out of boredom, sometimes), and going to Mass weekly will definitely plant tunes in your head. #I've worked out some pretty good versions of the traditional songs in a flatpick/crosspick/Carter styles on guitar, and I wonder if this could transfer to some sort of stringband ensemble.

I'm not sure if this is a good or bad idea musically...Anybody ever gone down this road (I'm looking in Mando Johnny's direction)???

[Ken Berner]

doanepoole, Sounds like a great idea, but have not done exactly that before. Some hymns have been sped up considerably, which can be a lot of fun. I also have the habit of picking out the melody of tunes I hear during the day. "Over The Rainbow" and "Whispering" are two oldies that immediately come to mind, that I really like to pick on mandolin. Another thing I do all year long, is practice my Christmas play list; that is great exercise.

[rixter]

Not exactly bluegrass, but I have toyed with the old Catholic christmas song "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" for some time. Then I went to an Evan Marshall workshop and in about 30 seconds he threw out enough ideas to really push it over the top as a solo duo-style piece and I now do it that way.

[Mark Normand]

Yep, this piques my interests too. I'm a mediocre Catholic myself, and never really heard most of the old Baptist hymms, etc, until I started the bluegrass journey 2 years ago. Lately I got into a great small quiet jam in MountainView, Ark, with a couple, the woman played guitar and sang, husband played bass, I did the breaks on mando, one of the best times I've ever had. She did one after another, explained they were just old hymms. Breaks were easy, didn't have to play so loud and crush the neck, man what a rush, I was getting goosebumps. haha #

I feel like I've visited most lyrics/midi sites by now, but anyone see a website geared up for stuff like this? #I want some more of this.

My uncle plays nursing homes all the time, can't imagine a better way to help the elderly.
Oh yeah, DoonePoole, I tried the catholic church choir thing myself, but too many offbeat chords like FM7m13, etc etc. And the song list was new every week! Oh well...

[Kevin K]

I would have to agree the older hymns are very healing because they were written by true life experiences. I play in a bluegrass Gospel group and we are very well received compared to some praise and worship groups in our area. There's something special with acoustic instruments and the word being shared in song.

[BrazAd]

Ken, thanks. The cool thing that happened AFTER I had my order placed with Ron Cole is that we started talking about the music we love. I told him that my first love is the old gospel hymns that I was raised on, and he was blown away.

Why? Because he's a mando playing in a bluegrass gospel group up there in Idaho! A fellow brother in Christ, and he was delighted that the mandolin he's building for me will be playing gospel tunes. Needless to say, I was pretty tickled to find out that we shared so many of the things of God in common, too.

As my father often says, "Is it coincidence, or is it God?" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Gary
Atlanta

[Ken Berner]

BrazAd, That is neat; you never know who you'll meet on your journey. Obviously, there is more love for the old music than any of us realized. I wish we could all get together and jam 'til we run out of songs (Ha!). This brings to mind, something I did when I bought my Weber Beartooth in '99. I had a custom Christian cross inlaid in MOP on the trussrod cover; nothing obrtusive, but certainly noticeable. It leaves no doubt and not truly a silent wintess, either. Be sure to let us hear about your Cole when it arrives!