What Makes a Great Hymn Arrangement
I've spent most of my life arranging hymns for solo piano, first as an amateur musician and later as a professional arranger and publisher. Over the years, I've developed a few guiding principles that consistently shape my work and, based on listener feedback, seem to resonate with audiences as well.
Whether you're a pianist searching for quality arrangements to play or an arranger looking to refine your craft, these three principles have become my personal framework for creating effective piano solo hymn arrangements.
(Here's a video version of this blog post with a transcription below it)
1. Great Hymn Arrangements Make People Want to Sing...By Preserving the Melody
The hallmark of a great hymn arrangement is that it makes people want to sing along.
Unlike many other genres of music, hymns serve a fundamentally functional purpose. They help us express our faith, teach doctrine, preserve traditions, and create a sense of unity with both our congregations and generations of believers who came before us.
Because of this, the melody matters.
A strong hymn arrangement keeps the melody clear and recognizable. It doesn't obscure it beneath complicated accompaniment patterns, and it doesn't alter it beyond recognition. Even someone hearing the arrangement for the first time should immediately identify the hymn and be able to sing along if they wish.
This functional priority is unique to hymnody. People rarely seek out hymns because they're looking for something innovative or experimental. More often, they're seeking something familiar, comforting, nostalgic, and deeply rooted.
Many hymns have been sung for centuries. Some melodies in our hymnals trace their origins back over a thousand years. When we sing these songs, we're participating in a musical tradition that stretches across generations and cultures.
For that reason, I believe preserving the melody should be the arranger's first priority.
2. Great Hymn Arrangements Stir the Spirit...Through Creative Harmony
If the melody is the gift, the harmony is the wrapping paper.
This is where arrangers have tremendous creative freedom.
Most congregations are accustomed to hearing hymns with the harmonies printed in the hymnal. While those harmonizations serve their purpose well, they're only one way of presenting the melody.
An arranger can introduce rich harmonic colors, alternative rhythms, different textures, and even entirely different stylistic approaches while still preserving the essence of the hymn.
The possibilities are nearly endless:
- Rich jazz-inspired harmonies
- Simplified folk-style accompaniments
- Pedal-tone textures
- Contemporary worship influences
- Unexpected rhythmic treatments
- New accompanimental patterns and figurations
As long as the melody remains intact, listeners can still experience the familiarity they love while hearing the hymn in a fresh and engaging way.
This balance between familiarity and creativity is one of the great joys of arranging hymn music.
3. Great Hymn Arrangements Are Works of Art...By Contributing Something Original
An arrangement should be more than a lead sheet or piano score.
Many publications labeled as "arrangements" simply present the melody with chord symbols and a straightforward accompaniment. These resources certainly have value, especially for skilled pianists who enjoy improvising, but I wouldn't necessarily consider them complete arrangements.
A true arrangement introduces something new.
It might be:
- An original introduction
- A countermelody
- A recurring musical motif
- A unique developmental idea
- A carefully crafted emotional narrative
As musicians, we often resist limitations. We want complete creative freedom. Yet I've found that the self-imposed boundary of preserving the hymn melody actually stimulates creativity rather than restricting it.
Once the melody is fixed, the challenge becomes finding meaningful ways to build around it.
> How can you create an introduction that captures the listener's attention?
> How can you develop a countermelody that deepens the emotional impact?
> How can you frame a familiar hymn in a way that helps listeners hear it with fresh ears?
That's where the true craft – and fun! – of arranging begins.
Developing a Musical Vision
Whenever I begin a new arrangement, I try to establish what I call a musical vision.
Before I write a note, I ask myself:
How do I want listeners to feel?
For example, while working on my arrangement of My Jesus, I Love Thee, my goal was simple: I wanted the listener to feel as though they were being hugged.
That emotional objective guided every musical decision that followed. The introduction, the harmonies, the textures, and the pacing all grew out of that central idea.
Once I discover a musical concept that communicates the desired emotion, I develop it throughout the arrangement. This helps ensure that each arrangement has its own identity rather than becoming a repetition of previous work.
The Importance of Quality Presentation
Creating the music is only part of the process.
I also invest significant effort into producing professional-quality sheet music. Clear notation allows performers to focus on making music rather than deciphering the score.
For that reason, I include details such as:
- Lyrics
- Phrase markings and slurs
- Pedal indications
- Fingering suggestions
- Thoughtful page layouts
- Professional engraving standards
Good notation is an extension of good arranging.
Final Thoughts
These principles are not rules. Great music can certainly be created without following any of them.
However, after years of arranging, publishing, performing, and receiving feedback from pianists and listeners, I've found that these ideas consistently lead to arrangements that connect with people:
- Preserve the melody.
- Use creative harmony and style to stir the spirit.
- Contribute something original.
Whether you're an arranger looking to develop your craft or a pianist searching for meaningful repertoire, I hope these principles provide a useful framework for evaluating and creating piano solo hymn arrangements.