Melody
Now that you have mastered that, it is something known simply as the scale. See how there are eight notes arranged together very close to the other. It is on something basic known as a staff. The staff helps support the notes lest they fall. It is also a very useful tool used to show skilled musicians the proper notes to play. Let's try it all together now.
For you alone deserve the glory
For you alone deserve the praise
Father we long to see your face
Father we love you and worship you always
Moving on very briefly then, let us see the notes displayed on the staff. The staff has fine lines and is used to show many different things such as pitch, tone, duration, breath, melody, harmony, and rhythm. There in the picture on the opening slide, there are many staffs arranged in position to form something called sheet music. Very simply, sheet music is like the sounds of music condensed into one easy to manage form that tells how to create almost anything. All the notes are arranged on five lines and six spaces in between and on the outside edges. This forms something called a staff. There are two types of staff. There is a bass for those that sing low for the lions and a treble for those that sing high like the birds. Then the nice area right in the middle is where those two opposites meet up. We will see an example of both bass and treble put together shortly. Perhaps your culture calls these by different names. For starters though, let us briefly look at these.
The bass is what you call a person who sings with the lions.
The tenor is for the part just above, so it sounds a little higher but still low.
The alto is the part up a little more that isn't very high and also isn't very low.
The soprano is the last and final part that often sounds just like a bird, a very pretty songbird too, I might add, and not a morning dove.
These four make up the parts of a song that is often unheard. It will be very useful in the harmony as we will soon see. Here though we are just introducing the concept of the three. What I have below is not the bass but a little bit of the other three. It's just how the voice is made. Try it now and see what I mean. Do you find there are some notes you cannot comfortably sing above or yet below? When you find your range, let me know. In singing you will hear some voices that are high while others are low. Still others are somewhere in the middle. These are all the things that accompany a melody just before it turns into harmony. Think of it as a lonely bird by itself rather than in company with three or four.
Now there are some notes that make up a scale as seen before. What if I take those notes and mix and match them? I could use this to create a melody. Then again, what if I wanted to be really cute and write it down. We are going to practice doing that here. Perhaps though your culture is a bit different when it comes to music and the things of sound. That is okay, alright. No one demands a carbon cut-out of each other. It's these differences that make all the languages and cultures unique, don't you think?
Dear Lord
Lord Jesus, I hope you have
Got up from the hay.
At times it's hard to listen
Much less to obey.
I know I don't ask you for much
No toys, trinkets, or stockings and such.
Dear Lord if you're up there
I know you will hear.
Put food on the table
And loved ones near.
At times I wonder
How you made life go by
Without wanting or wasting
And seldom a cry.
My family is hungry
With friends in the street.
Oh Lord, if you're with me
We're waiting to eat.
Be with me Lord Jesus
It's been a bad year.
So often we live life
Waiting in fear.
I know how often
You have provided
In this world below
But stay with me always
Wherever I go.
Be Here
Spirit of God
Settle here
Settle here
Come near.
Spirit of God
Settle here
Settle here
Come near.
Whether on earth, wind, or fire
All creation manifests you;
Our hearts yearn for your power.
Whether on earth your kingdom come
May only your will be done.
Spirit of God
You are here
You are here
Be near.
Answer
I see an answer
Small cloud
No rain
In the silence
Is God really there?
Sometimes the answer
Is only delayed.
Move on
Move on
Move on
I see a table
Bare spread
Before my enemies.
In the absence
Does God really provide?
Sometimes the answer
Is already on the way.
Old Proverb
May the love of Christ
Fill your hearts and minds this holiday season.
May trials not make you bitter.
May you find for giving, a reason.
May the wolf keep away from the door.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May troubles make way for your feet.
May old friends greet you.
May love fill this home where humble hearts meet.
May all that's bitter be sweet.