"Sing
to Him a new song; play skillfully with a loud and joyful sound"Psalms
33:3
What is a hymn descant?
A
descant is a counter
melody written above the
original melody. Its main purpose is to enhance the original melody
without overpowering it. It heightens the effectiveness of the worship
experience by adding a sense of climax and joy
to the hymn. see Wikipedia
article on Descant
How is a hymn descant used?
Above all remember that a
descant is an aid to the worship experience and is never to be used
as a "holier-than-thou" stunt.
It is most effective when
used with the last stanza where it
provides a suitable climax; typically not used on the first stanza.
In a choir the sopranos
typically sing the descant. However, it may be more effective
if sung using the syllable "Ah" as this can create a sustained, soaring
effect. The descant can also be sung
by a solo voice against the chorus or played via instrumentation (flute
or trumpet or organ, for example). Always remember that
the descant tone should be subservient to the original tune.
The
Church Flutist: Obbligatos for 50 Hymn Tunes, includes
hymn tune with
obbligato (descant) and chord symbols.
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Musical Concepts
Descants.com
Over 100 original tried and tested descants
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Current hymns include: O Worship the Lord (Southampton), Showers of
Blessing, More About Jesus, I Will Sing of My Redeemer
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