This discovery of the first Christian hymnal brings to Choirs music that is beautiful, spiritually profound, and transcendent. Best of all, it is easy for a volunteer choir to sing with confidence and joy. The music is grand, noble and accessible. The choral arrangements incorporate male and female soloists, as well as the standard SATB formats. Because the songs utilize repetition, the length is variable, and the songs can easily be adapted to the time constraints of the service without sounding like they were cut short.
Riverbend Church, Austin, Texas
John Schreiner explains vision to choir
Carlton leads choir during recording
Carlton Dillard of Riverbend Church (recorded choral parts of Odes)As the singers in the all-volunteer Riverbend Church choir experienced, the Odes are easy to learn and a real spiritual delight to perform. The emphasis of the Odes is on focused communal singing in praise and adoration of God. There are also shorter choral pieces for use as an introit (“Like a Crown”) or before a prayer of confession (“You Are My God”). For music so full of praise of God, it is rich with a variety of expressions fitting for each season of the year, whether Easter (“Rise Up!”), Thanksgiving (“My Joy Is the Lord”), missions (“I Have Been Freed”), alter calls (“Fill Yourselves with Living Water”), or memorial services (“His Rest Is Forever”).
After over 30 years as a worship choir leader, I believe The Odes Project is one of the most refreshing and creative choral works that has come along in many years. This has the potential to change the contemporary church’s thinking about the use of choirs in worship. If you already have a choir or would like to start one The Odes Project will be a great resource. As the Riverbend Worship Choir recorded this music there were tears of joy and healing from the very first take. I encourage you to take a serious look at The Odes for your church.”
Carlton Dillard
Pastor of Creative Arts
Riverbend Church
Austin, Texas
Beauty and devotion seldom are incorporated into contemporary music available for the church choir, which connects so deeply and richly to our Christian heritage and tradition. The Odes are filled with the themes of gratitude, joy and thanksgiving-free from being intimidated by too many notes, the choral member can sing this music, and find their voice early in the rehearsal. This music is easy to learn and is best sung by a choir of as little as eight or as many as several hundred.
Many of the odes are meant for a call and response format, and the choir can be used to demonstrate this style of worship to the congregation. Specifically, the Ode “I Was Lifted Up into the Light” works well this way as it shifts from men to women on the verses and then involves the whole choir on the triumphant chorus as they all sing, “Glory to God in the highest.” Of course, every choir director has a vision of what they would like for their choir. If your vision includes simple, heavenly and beautiful, then these works from The Odes Project: the First Christian Hymnal are sure to meet your needs.
“Recording the Odes was an awesome experience! Yes, it was HARD work….but I think everyone involved was moved by the holy spirit on each and every song! I know I was! The songs are unique and yet, easy to sing. Everyone who hears these recordings will play them over and over again. I felt honored that our chorale was invited to be a part of this wonderful project!”
-Jeannie Russell
“Singing the odes was a great pleasure. The words and the tunes created a direct link between me and The Lord.”
-Deb Acevedo-Tamminga