Hello Everyone,

             This week we are going to look at a very familiar song; “Kum ba Yah”. It is an African-American spiritual song that was written in the 1930s. It gained most of its popularity in the 1960’s as folk sings like Joan Baez sang it. Today, most of us know “Kum ba yah” as the most likely song to be played by the guy who brought a guitar to the camp fire.

            There are two stories of the origin of the Hymn. The first story began in the 1920’s when a group called the Society for the Preservation of Spirituals collected a song on the west coast of  South Carolina that resembles the “kum ba yah” we sing today. “Come be yah” was the songs name and it sung in “Gullah” (A Creole language that mixed was mixed with Hebrew and pidgin). Between 1926 and 1928 four songs we recorded with the refrain “Come by yah” attached to them.

             The second origin story began in 1936, as a man named Reverend Marvin V. Frey claimed he was inspired to write the hymn after hearing a prayer that was delivered by "Mother Duffin" (who was a storefront evangelist in Portland, Oregon). Frey eventually published the hymn in 1936. but didn’t change the name of the hymn to “Kum ba yah” till 1936 when he hear that a missionary family had sung his song in Africa, but changed the words for the African locals.

            The second story was the long standing answer to “who wrote kum ba yah???” for decades. The fact that recordings of this hymn were made two decades before Frey even changed the name can’t be ignored, and completely contradict his story.  I hope you all enjoy the arrangement of this familiar hymn and I’ll see you next week!

God bless,

-Ben

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l_NZGdf_Y8

Sheet Music

http://thedulcimerhymnal.com/dulcimer-sheet-music

Hello everyone,

I want to apologize for not updating my site on Monday, as I usually do. I think I caught a cold over the weekend. Since I had some extra time at home, I remained busy and this week I am hosting two new tunes on my site; “Leaning on the Arms of Jesus” and “The Lambs are Crying Out” (Canaan Hymn #163). One is a hymn favorite for many people in the United States and the other is a popular hymn to millions of underground Christians in China.

“The Lambs are Crying Out” is the first “drown” style hymn I’ve ever uploaded onto my site and I doubt it will be the last. The original harmony probably sounds nothing like a dulcimer drown, but the text lends itself to that sound. The drown of a dulcimer can be a powerful sound, and as this hymn calls Christians to get up and serve and “not hold back the gifts the Lord gives us”, what better way to play this hymn! Below is a sound file of Xiao Min (The Hymn’s writer) singing this hymn into a small hand-held recorder. If you want more information about the Canaan Hymns, go to canaanhymns. org for free videos, music and records of the hymns that have blessed China so much.

God bless,

-Ben

"Leaning on the Arms of Jesus"

Video
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=IK8BEDSqzYg

Sheet Music
http://thedulcimerh ymnal.com/ dulcimer- sheet-music

"The Lambs are Crying Out"

Video
http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=AuCuMdpDAGU

Sheet Music
http://thedulcimerh ymnal.com/ dulcimer- sheet-music

Original Recording of Xiao Min singing the Hymn
http://thedulcimerh ymnal.com/ resources/ media/xm163. mp3

Hello everyone,

      I wanted to apologize for not updating my site on Monday, as I usually do. I think I caught a cold over the weekend. Since I had some extra time at home, I remained busy and this week I am hosting two new tunes on my site; “Leaning on the Arms of Jesus” and “The Lambs are Crying Out” (Canaan Hymn #163). One is a hymn favorite for many people in the United States and the other is a popular hymn to millions of underground Christians in China.

    “The Lambs are Crying Out” is the first “drown” style hymn I’ve ever uploaded onto my site and I doubt it will be the last. The original harmony probably sounds nothing like a dulcimer drown, but the text lends itself to that sound. The drown of a dulcimer can be a powerful sound, and as this hymn calls Christians to get up and serve and “not hold back the gifts the Lord gives us”, what better way to play this hymn! Below is a sound file of Xiao Min (The Hymn’s writer) singing this hymn into a small handheld recorder. If you want more information about the Canaan Hymns, go to canaanhymns.org for free videos, music and records of the hymns that have blessed China so much.

God bless,

-Ben

"Leaning on the Arms of Jesus"

Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK8BEDSqzYg

Sheet Music
http://thedulcimerhymnal.com/dulcimer-sheet-music


"The Lambs are Crying Out"


Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuCuMdpDAGU

Sheet Music
http://thedulcimerhymnal.com/dulcimer-sheet-music


Original Recording of Xiao Min singing the Hymn
http://thedulcimerhymnal.com/resources/media/xm163.mp3

Hello Everyone,

     This week we are going to look at Psalm 31. I have written a new melody for the text that can be found in any metrical Psalter. A metrical Psalter? Let me explain. When you read the book of Psalms, you can clearly see that the poetry doesn't rhyme and isn't like the poetry that is written today. Psalters that have been made since the Geneva and Scottish Psalters centuries ago have a text that rhythms because it has been re-written to fit within a poetic meter that poets use for songs or hymns. That's what a metrical psalm is; a psalm text that has been re-written for the purpose of fitting the words into a specific meter.

     This hymn is 6/8, much like “Farther Along” (Last week’s video), so if you need some help with strumming, be sure to look at last week’s video to get some tips on strumming in 6/8. Hope you all enjoy the arrangement and I’ll see you next week!

God bless,

-Ben

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OpodzcU1AI

Sheet Music

http://www.thedulcimerhymnal.com/dulcimer-sheet-music

Hello Everyone,

         I hope you all had/having a great Saturday night. I added a new tune to my site; Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral (that’s an Irish Lullaby). I've had this song on my computer for some time now, and I thought I would share it with all of you. You might remember Bing Crosby singing this song in the movie "Going my way". I've always loved this song. During the first episode of the Simpson's 21st season, Lisa sings this song to the Northern and Southern Irish people that were fighting. They began to join her in song, and then when one of the leprechauns thought no one was looking, he started brawling again, lol. Funny stuff; but seriously a great song. I hope you all enjoy the arrangement.

God bless,

-Ben

Sheet Music

http://thedulcimerhymnal.com/dulcimer-sheet-music

This Week’s hymn is a southern gospel hymn called “Farther Along”. The writer Rev. W. A. Fletcher made this song known just by being in the right place at the right time. Fletcher was travelling by train to the Indian Territories as a missionary. Fletcher’s wife was expecting a child very soon and he felt depressed he probably wouldn't be present for the occasion. Fletcher began to write some hymn lyrics to calm himself down on the train and to reflect on his trip’s purpose. Sitting next to him on the train was J. R. Baxter, a gospel music promoter who was quite taken with the lyrics that Fletcher was writing and offered him $2.00 for them. Mr. Baxter subsequently had them put to music and the song has been quite popular in the gospel music arena ever since.

I've been playing and reading China's "Canaan Hymns" lately, and this hymn reminded me of the words that Xiao Min (The Hymns' writer) wrote about being in prison. Her whole church in China was brought to prison for worshiping God. The prisoners asked "Why are you here, what have you done wrong?". Xio Min's church members took turns fasting and praying within the prison and even evangelized to some of the prisoners. Eventually they were set free. This hymn talks about believers being punished, yet people that are evil in this world are rewarded and are comfortable. Life is for Christ and life is in Christ. True comfort comes from the love of God. If we seek it come somewhere else, the water will always run dry and we'll have to constantly walk back and get more. With God, we are fulfilled. Hope you all enjoy the Hymn this week!

God bless,

-Ben

Youtube Video

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G3VuG8E384

Sheet music

http://www.thedulcimerhymnal.com/dulcimer-sheet-music

Hello everyone,

                  This week's free dulcimer hymn arrangement isn't a hymn arrangement at all! I arranged Psalm 89 for the dulcimer this week. Before last week I never heard this tune, but I find it catching and of course I love the words. This tune is named "New Jerusalem" and can be found in most of the new Psalters today. I posted a small overview of how to play the psalm on Youtube and slower tempoed play along video will be added to Youtube shortly. I just wanted to say thank you for all the feed back and your shared love for hymns and psalms. I'll see you all next week!

God bless, 

-Ben

Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaY0xxVP9Pg

Sheet music (begginer and intermediate)

http://thedulcimerhymnal.com/dulcimer-sheet-music

Hello everyone,

I'm hosting a video on Youtube.com called "From the Hymnal to your Dulcimer!" There are two parts to the video. The first one shows you have to play "O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus" and the second is a play along video. Hope you all enjoy.

God bless,

-Ben


Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwRfq-41N68

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BywOu1F-UfE

Sheet Music Page
http://thedulcimerhymnal.com/dulcimer-sheet-music

Hello Dulcimerites!

            How are you? Here in the Chicagoland area, we are in the middle of a small snow storm. Let's just say I'll be in the house for a while today. This week's dulcimer hymn arrangement is of the hymn "O the deep deep love of Jesus". I must say, this hymn is fun to play on the dulcimer, and because of that I've found a new love for this hymn. With this arrangement (and any of my arrangements) it's easy to sing along with. The original key was F minor, and I brought it down to E minor. I Hope you all enjoy the arrangement. Below is a link to a great devotional and story about this week's hymn.

God bless

-Ben

Site

www.TheDulcimerHymnal.com

Sheet Music

http://www.thedulcimerhymnal.com/dulcimer-sheet-music

Devotional and Hymn Story

http://www.songsandhymns.org/hymns/detail/o-the-deep-deep-love-of-jesus

Hello everyone,

Hope you had a great week. This week’s free dulcimer arrangement is of a hymn that was sung in a movie that won two Academy Awards in 1984 called “Places in the Heart”. The Hymn is called “In the Garden”. The hymn text is about Mary finding Jesus in the garden

She (Mary) whispers, “If thou hast borne him hence”… “He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” Just one word from his lips, and forgotten the heartaches, the long dreary hours….all the past blotted out in the presence of the Living Present and the Eternal Future.

I hope you all enjoy this week’s arrangement and I’ll see you again next Monday!

God bless,

-Ben

http://thedulcimerhymnal.com/dulcimer-sheet-music

Music Theory Topic #2: Time Signatures

Hello Everyone,

    The second instalment of music theory topics have finally come! The first topic was about key signatures. Thank you so much for all the replies and the great conversations we had. I’d like talk this time about Time signatures.

    Ever wonder what the squiggly figure, the sharps and flats, and the numbers that are found at the beginning of every staff of music mean? We talked last time about the Sharps and last (Key signatures) last time, and this time we are going to talk about the numbers.

    Time signatures have a long history in the music of western culture. Not only have musicians throughout time strived to organize the pitches that they use in music, but also rhythms and over-all pulse of the music. Before the renaissance in Europe, 3/4, 6/8 or 9/8 etc., were the most widely used time signatures. Why? Musicians were generally found in the church or working for kings, and playing music that was structured in time signatures of “threes” was another way to honour God and to glorify Him through every aspect of life. It wasn’t until the renaissance that we find the beginnings of 4/4. In French, it is called the “Ars Nova” or “New Art”. Although 4/4 was not welcomed with open arms by everyone, we know by looking at today’s music that it eventually caught on.

    How do you read a time signature? Time signatures have two numbers; a top and bottom number. The bottom number tells us what kind of note get’s the beat. Don’t understand? Let me explain. Ever listen to music and find yourself tapping your foot to the beat? Well, the time signature tells you what kind of note you are tapping.

The rule for the bottom number is “What note value amounts to a whole note with that number?” It takes 4 quarter notes to equal a whole note; so if you are in 4/4 quarter note gets the beat! In 6/8, 8 is the bottom number; thus, 8th notes get the beat.

1 – Whole note get the beat
2 – Half note get the beat.
4- Quarter note get the beat
8- 8th note gets the beat
16- 16th note gets the beat.

    The other number is the top one. The top number tells us how many beats are in each measure. So in 4/4, there are four quarter notes in each measure. One more example; in 3/1, there are three whole notes.

    Next week I’ll talk about how time signatures are categorized, and how they have been used in the last century. Check out the time signatures in songs that you play on your dulcimer. “Green sleeves”, “Holy, Holy, Holy” and “Jesus the Very Thought of Thee” are all in different time Signatures (You can find these tabs on my sheet music page). Do you strum differently each one? How do they feel differently? I will talk about these subjects on next week’s blog.

-Ben

Hello Everyone,

          Besides writing hymn arrangements and writing my books, I enjoy playing old American folk songs on my dulcimer. I added an arrangement of "Ellen Bayne" to my tab and sheet msic page because Stephen Foster is one of my favorite American composers. This piece of music was written in 1854. Hope you all enjoy the arrangement!

God bless,

-Ben

http://thedulcimerhymnal.com/dulcimer-sheet-music

Hello everyone!

             I hope you all had a great week. This week's free dulcimer hymn arrangement is of the hymn "Pass me not o gentle Savior." This is a favorite hymn for many of us because of it's meaningful words and beautiful melody. This is another popular hymn written by Fanny Crosby and after searching for stories about this hymn and it' impact I ran into one story repeatedly (See below for the story). I hope you all enjoy this arrangement and I'll see you again next week with another arrangement.

God bless,

-Ben

As earnest Christian pastor told of a young man about whom he had long felt much anxiety, as he had seemed so unconcerned about his soul, and was, in reality, a real cause of disturbance and interruption in classes for other young men. Meeting him one day, the loving pastor sought once more to influence him, urging, “We want you for Christ and his service.” There was a certain change in his manner which did not escape the eye of the prayerful watcher for souls, and—lacking time to do more—he seized the opportunity to secure the presence of his young friend at a Christian Endeavor meeting soon to be held. True to his promise he was there. When an opportunity was given for some of the young men to choose a song, it was seen that he was urging his companion to select some particular hymn. The other, yielding to his request, asked if the hymn, “Pass me not, O gentle Saviour,” might be sung; and both young men joined in the singing with evident interest and heartiness. Later in the evening it was requested that all who were definitely on the Lord’s side would confess their allegiance by standing. Whereupon the one over whom the heart of the pastor was specially yearning rose at once, and with decision.

“Tell me about your conversion,” the thankful pastor requested at the close of the meeting, when hands were clasped in glad, brotherly welcome and recognition.

“Oh, yes,” assented the other. “It was all through that hymn we have just sung. I was working on the canal at G–, and there was a meeting being held at the Mariner’s Chapel, nearby. The words floated out over the water, and from the tug where I was working I could hear them plainly enough. When they were just going to sing those lines—‘While on others Thou are calling, Do not pass me by!’ a great fear came over me, and I thought, ‘Oh, if the Lord were to pass me by, how terrible it would be!’ Then and there, on the tug, I cried out, ‘O Lord, do not pass me by.’ And”—with a bright smile—“he didn’t pass

Hello Everyone!

            It's been awhile since I've added a new hymn, but I really needed a long personal break. This week's hymn is a hymn I found over the Christmas break called "Be Still". This hymn shouldn't be mistaken or the hymn "Be Still, My Soul" (Which is one of my fav's). Hope you enjoy this week's arrangement.

God bless,

-Ben

Hello Everyone,
         

          Another Week of Advent and yet another Dulcimer arrangement of a Advent hymn. This week's arrangement is of "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence." This favorite hymn for many of us was originally a Greek hymn sung by early Christians and today is set to a medieval French folk melody. Of course in the last centuries musicians have put new chords and harmonies to the original melody. I hope you all enjoy the arrangement and have a great Advent season!

God bless,

-Ben

"Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand."

Hello Everyone,

         This first week of Advent is upon us and each week of Advent TheDulcimerHymnal.com s hosting a new Advent/Christmas Hymn arrangement. This week is something different, a dulcimer quartet arrangement of "Angels We Have Heard On High." There is a full score and four separate parts to dwn load for this piece of music. Hope you enjoy the arrangement. There are MP3 and MIDI files you can listen to and play along with on my site. Hope to see you all again next week.

God bless,

-Ben

http://www.thedulcimerhymnal.com/dulcimer-sheet-music

Hello everyone!

           I finally got around to putting some more MP3's on the free music page. Two duets were added;"In the Sweet By and By" and "Near the Cross." The first one was recorded with two dulcimers as a duet (as it was written), but the melody ducimer keeps a rhythmic bass throughout the hymn. I also recorded it in a way that the First part is heard in the left ear and the second is in the right. It sounds pretty cool. The other is "Near the Cross." I went with a completely different playing style with this one; picking. It's a bit of a lighter sound, but i hope you enjoy.

The last MP3 added was this week's Hymn "We Gather Together." I hope you all gather together with family and friends today as we celebrate thanksgiving. I'll see you all later!

God bless,

-Ben

http://www.thedulcimerhymnal.com/dulcimer-sheet-music

Hello everyone,

            Hope you are all enjoying your thanksgiving week. This week's arrangement is of a thanksgiving hymn most of us are very familiar with, "We Gather Together." This is a Christian hymn that has been associated with Thanksgiving in America. This hymn has a long history before America was founded. It was originally written in the Netherlands in 1597 by Adrianus Valerius to celebrate the Dutch victory over Spanish forces in the Battle of Turnhout. Wow! I hope you all enjoy the hymn arrangement.

Remember, The Dulcimer Hymnal: Volume 1 is only 15 USD (free shipping) at the www.thedulcimerhymnal.com. The book is filled with 50 great hymn arrangements for the dulcimer. Come check it out!

Hymns that are arranged in the book.

1. Abide With Me

2. Ah, Holy Jesus

3. All Creatures of our God and King

4. Amazing Grace

5. Be Thou My Vision

6. Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine

7. Blest Be The Tie That Binds

8. Christ The Lord Is Risen Today

9. Come, Christians, Join To Sing

10. Come Thou Almighty King

11. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

12. Day by Day

13. Doxology

14. Fairest Lord Jesus

15. For the Beauty of the Earth

16. Give me Jesus

17. Grace Greater Than All Our Sin

18. Happy the Home When God is There

19. He Leadeth Me

20. Holy, Holy, Holy

21. How Firm a Foundation

22. I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

23. I Love to Tell the Story

24. I Surrender All

25. Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

26. Jesus Love Me, This I Know

27. Jesus Paid It All

28. Jesus The Very Thought Of Thee

29. Just As I Am, Without One Plea

30. Leaning On The Everlasting Arms

31. Let All Things Now Living

32. Let Us Break Bread Together

33. My Faith Looks Up To Thee

34. Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus

35. O, for A Thousand Tongues To Sing

36. O Sacred Head Now Wounded

37. O Worship the King

38. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

39. Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

40. Standing on the Promises

41. Take Time to be Holy

42. The Church's One Foundation

43. The Solid Rock

44. The Strife is O'er the Battle Done

45. This is my Father's World

46. Were You There?

47. What a Freind We Have in Jesus

48. What Wondrous Love is This?

49. When I survey the Wondrous Cross

50. When We All Get to Heaven

Hello Everyone!

            This week's Arrangement is of the hymn "Did Christ Over Sinners Weep". This hymn has a very beautiful text that was written by Benjamin Beddome. I hope you all enjoy the arrangement. I'll see you all next week!

         -Ben

Did Christ o’er sinners weep,
And shall our cheeks be dry?
Let floods of penitential grief
Burst forth from every eye.

The Son of God in tears
The wondering angels see:
Be thou astonished, O my soul;
He shed those tears for thee.

He wept that we might weep;
Each sin demands a tear;
In heaven alone no sin is found,
And there’s no weeping there.

Hello Everyone!

             Hope all is well. This week's arrangement is of a hymn called "A Call to Prayer". This hymn wasn't very familiar to me, but after reading the words and playing through the chords I found I really liked this one. The original hymn had the soprano and alto vocal lines in a locked interval of a third throughout most of the hymn. I tried to retain that as much as possible for the dulcimer. Hope you enjoy and I’ll see you next week!

God bless,

-Ben

Sheet music page

http://thedulcimerhymnal.com/dulcimer-sheet-music

Home Page

http://thedulcimerhymnal.com/