Praise and Worship Music to Bless God. . .
|
Praise Him Praise HimThe Old Rugged crossThe Solid Rock
CLICK
HERE or call Author House @ 888.280.7715 for our new
comprehensive book on PRAISE AND WORSHIP . . .a new and exciting "must have" for every Christian who is seeking to worship God in the midst of the tempest of our modern world.
|
Check
out this powerful Southern Cross song! 
Music to touch your
spirit. . .
"I might
not be a religious man myself but I know good music when I hear it, and this is very
good! . . . I don’t think that I have ever given such high
ratings to so many songs before. But
the fact is that they are well deserved because the
music is amazing. Simply wonderful religious ballads and they
really get to your heart. . .everytime."
Fredrik Cole: Trax In Space
Praise Him Praise Him
Praise Him! Praise
Him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
Sing, O earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honor give to His holy name!
Like a shepherd Jesus will guard His children,
In His arms He carries them all day long:
Praise Him! Praise
Him! tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise
Him! ever in joyful song!
Praise Him! Praise
Him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died;
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus
who bore our sorrows;
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong.
Praise Him! Praise
Him! tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise
Him! ever in joyful song!
Praise Him! Praise
Him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
Crown Him! Crown
Him! Prophet and Priest and King!
Christ is coming! Over
the world victorious,
Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong.
Praise Him! Praise
Him! tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise
Him! ever in joyful song!
Arrangement Copyright © 2000 Don Wigton
Fanny Crosby was one of the most prolific song writers in
Christian history. This hymn demonstrates
that though Fanny was blind her spiritual insight was keen.
Vanessa, Dave and Laurie compliment these profound lyrics with tight harmonies that
are filled with energy. The song kicks off
with a strong beat and awesome piano that will lift you up in adoration of your Blessed
Redeemer and carry you away in rapture as you exalt Jesus with enthusiastic devotion.
Song Story
Fanny Crosby was probably the most prolific hymnist in history.
Though blinded by an incompetent doctor at six weeks of age, she wrote over 8,000 hymns.
She had this to say about her blindness:
“It seemed intended by the
blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for
the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I
would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been
distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.”
In her lifetime, Fanny Crosby was one of the best
known women in the United States. Even today the vast majority of American
hymnals contain her work. When she died,
her tombstone carried the words, “Aunt Fanny” and “Blessed
assurance, Jesus is mine. Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine.”
In this hymn Fanny urges us to praise God for His
“excellent greatness.” Jesus is
hailed as Rock, Redeemer, Prophet, priest and King.
For several years I lead music in the Wednesday night hymn
service at Calvary Bible Church. At the time
the church was going through a lot of musical trauma as a result of the effort of the
pastorate to bring contemporary music in the church.
Though I love much of the contemporary Christian music out there, I decided to work
in the more traditional media. First of all,
I wanted to be in a situation that forced me to develop contemporary hymn arrangements. Secondly, this particular church service was
composed of the older church generation whom I felt compelled to reach out to. I figured that if I played the hymns that they
loved so dear in a manner that was contemporary, it would help them adapt to the change. The service was a tremendous success!
“Praise Him! Praise Him!” became one of the favorite hymns of the group.
Later, on one of the occasions that we were asked to sing on
Sunday Morning, Vanessa and I got together with cousin Dave and Laurie and came up with a
powerful vocal arrangement of the gospel song. On
the Sunday that we sang the song, the congregation responded with such exuberance that we
decided to record it. The vocals went down
within a half hour. They capture the exciting
moment when the congregation at that church in Bakersfield was moved to praise by this
wonderful hymn. We offer it to you in the
hopes that you will be able to share that moment with us as you exalt your wonderful God.
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
An I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
“Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above,
To bear it to dark Calvary.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
“Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see;
For t’was on that old cross Jesus suffered and died
To pardon and sanctify me.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
“Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.
Arrangement Copyright © 1999 Don
Wigton
This classic stirs the soul’s deepest desires. Filled with passion and grit, Vanessa digs down
deep to deliver an emotional experience that you won’t forget.
Song
Story
When Bennard was very young,
his family moved to Albia, Iowa, then Lucas, Iowa. He wanted a career in evangelism, but
was forced instead to support his mother and sisters when his father died. After he
married, he and his wife worked for the Salvation Army in Illinois, and he later served as
an evangelist in America and Canada.
“The inspiration came
to me one day in 1912, when I was staying in Albion, Michigan,” wrote Bennard about
the composition of this favorite praise hymn. “I
began to write ‘The Old Rugged Cross.’ I
completed the melody first. The words that I
first wrote were imperfect. The words of the
finished hymn were put into my heart in answer to my own need. Shortly thereafter it was introduced at special
meetings in Pokagon, Michigan, on June 7, 1913.”
Bennard’s service in
the Salvation Army was graced by an ordination by the Methodist Episcopal Church. By this time he was carrying on revival services
throughout the Midwest. After its debut at
Pokagon, “The Old Rugged Cross” was presented at an evangelistic convention in
Chicago. Those who heard it there then took
it back to their homes throughout the country.
Bennard spent his last years in Reed City, Michigan, where the Chamber of Commerce put up a cross near his home in his honor. The Old Rugged Cross Historical Museum in Reed City commemorates his work.
Through the years I have found that it is best to get
Vanessa’s permission before asking her
to sing a song. For example, if I write a
song that she doesn’t quite care for, it is best to go back to the drawing board and
think it through again. (She will kindly
just say that it is not up to my usual
standards). On the other hand, if I give her a song that she thoroughly enjoys, I will get an
excellent and heart-felt performance out of
her. This was the case with “The Old
Rugged Cross.”
There is a specific reason why we recorded this great praise
hymn. One day at the end of 1999 we were in
church and as the congregation began to sing “The Old rugged Cross” and I noticed that Vanessa was belting it
out. Now, every time I am next to her in
church and she sings a song like that, I take notice!
Immediately she turned to me and said that we needed to record that one. Later, she explained that it was the first song
she ever sang in church, and event that occurred when she was in the third grade. This premier was a duet with a friend.
Well, I had no
choice to respond to her request and soon began to ponder an arrangement. Years ago I played in a touring Christian rock
group named Jedediah. Alan Barrington, the
leader of the group, was an avid James Taylor fan and use to play “The Old rugged
Cross” to himself in true JT fashion. I
really liked his arrangement and consequently it was the only thing going through my head. Now, Vanessa likes JT, and I could have laid it
down in that fashion for her, but I thought I would leave plagiarism to someone else.
While thinking it through, I came up with a blues-style piano
that I knew Vanessa would love. Sure enough,
when I sat down to the piano and played her a few bars, she dove into it with fever. So, I went to the studio, put together some drums,
bass and B3 to support the piano and the arrangement was born. Next came Vanessa’s
trac that easily went down, coming out absolutely superb with an enormous amount of
passion.
George Bennard, was busily carrying out revival services
throughout the Midwest when he introduced “The Old Rugged Cross” at an
evangelistic convention in Chicago. Everyone
there was so struck by the song that they carried is back to their homes throughout the
United States. From there its popularity
spread like wildfire.
The song did not come easily for Bennard. Though the music just pored out of him, it was a
while before he could settle on lyrics that he could live with. Yet the results of his work just flow out of our
spirits with ease as we remember the cross that Christ gave His life for us on and the
glorious future that awaits everyone who believes on Him.
This song has answered the needs of countless individuals. We are certain that you will be blessed by this
laid-back bluesy arrangement of this favorite hymn!
The
Solid Rock
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and
righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on
Jesus’ Name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking
sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging
grace.
Through every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the
veil.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking
sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.
His oath, His covenant His blood, support me in the whelming
flood;
When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and
stay.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking
sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.
When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be
found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before
the throne.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking
sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.
America, God calls to thee,
He wants you to be truly free.
So build your faith upon His Son,
And live for Him, See victory won!. (Last Verse Copyright ©
2000 Don Wigton)
Arrangement Copyright © 2000 Don Wigton
Mitch, backed up by Vanessa, sings The Solid Rock with
authority. This gospel song written by Edward
Mote reminds us of Christ’s admonition from the Sermon on the Mount that we must
build our house on the rock. (Matt 7:24-27) The
arrangement of this classic song is so powerful that you cannot help but be inspired to
build your life on Jesus the Rock.
Song Story
Edward Mote spent his early
career in the cabinetry business. One strong influence in his life was John Hyatt, who
preached at Tottenham Court Road Chapel, one the chapels run by Lady Hundingdon. Mote became a Baptist pastor in 1874, serving at
Horsham, Sussex, for 26 years. He was so well loved that his congregation offered him
title to the church building. However he
replied, “I do not
want the chapel, I only want the pulpit; and when I cease to preach Christ, then turn me
out of that.”
This hymn has always been a favorite of ours. The first time I heard it was at a Calvary Chapel
evangelistic concert that we put on featuring Benny Hester.
During this weekend 300 souls came to the Lord.
Benny played “The Solid Rock” during the altar calls. It has been meaningful to us ever since.
It soon became part of the repertoire of the Calvary Chapel
Praise singers as Mitch took the lead part. We
sang it every where we ministered with a considerable amount of success. One year we were invited to provide the music for
the Fourth of July Celebration in front of the Kern County Superior Court. Even in the early ‘80s one could see America
slipping away from its biblical foundation. For
that reason I decided to present songs that would convey a message regarding
America’s need to return to its Christian roots.
“The Solid Rock’ was a perfect song for this end. I added a last verse to it calling America to God
and we performed it.
Never has there been such commotion over one song. For months the Bakersfield Californian was filled
with controversy as one writer after another offered an opinion regarding the
appropriateness of singing that song on Independence Day.
Apparently time has proved the message right. As we enter into the next century we realize the
importance of those words of Christ. Indeed,
America continues to build on the sand and one-by-one her people’s freedom is being
dashed from them. Indeed, this great hymn is
an important song, and it is just as relevant today as it ever has been.
The cut begins with the simple melody by Mitch followed by
Vanessa’s harmony on the chorus. It
builds to a dramatic entrance of bass, drums, piano and B3 as three-part harmonies take
off. The third verse is sung in dramatic
acapella with full instrumentation blasting way when the chorus comes in. Quietly, at the end, Mitch sings the admonition to
America that continues to create a great stir among many people.
The Solid Rock of Jesus is the foundation of all Christian life. This song proclaims that message with power and
authority.
is a subsidiary of Wigtune Company, formed as a
service to the body of Christ. Our vision is to encourage scriptural worship in the
Church by offering free praise music and hymns performed in a contemporary manner along
with a free on-line worship study book for personal devotions, Bible study groups, Sunday
schools, pastors, music ministers and ministry training. The worship study
book lends theological and historical support to the use of traditional Christian
hymn-singing in conjunction with praise chorus singing. Click on one of the links below to
enter into the Wigtune resource that interests you !
Vision Statement
Wigtune Story
Free On-Line Worship Studybook
Radio: Listen to Wigtune music on live Internet
radio
Testimonials: What they are saying
about Wigtune Music
Bible Study
Helps, a Multitude of Christian Links and Other Goodies
Where's
Wiggy? - List and Links to Christian Organizations
Copyright © 1999 Don Wigton. All rights reserved.
Patriotic Hymns 1
| Patriotic Hymns 2
Christmas Hymns
1 | Christmas Hymns 2 | Christmas
Hymns 3 | Christmas Hymns 4
Hymns 1 | Hymns 2 | Hymns 3 | Hymns
4 | Hymns 5 | Hymns 6 | Hymns 7 | Hymns 8 | Hymns
9