10,000 Reasons

Several years ago, Lifeway decided to create a new church orchestra series. The editor at Lifeway contacted me about being one of their arrangers. They assigned 10,000 Reasons to me, which had already become a frequently sung song in many churches around the world. I love the wonderful, worshipful lyrics of this song, and the reminders on why we worship our Lord.  

The song is very tuneful and easy to sing, which also creates great melodies to be used in an orchestra arrangement. Often the song is sung sweetly and quietly, but I wanted to shout praise to the Lord in the opening statement of the arrangement. I did that with a forte piano and crescendo timpani roll and the trumpets and french horns entering on the 3rd beat with the melody of the chorus saying “Bless the Lord O my soul!”

I still remember being in Cuba in a worship service where the people were singing with full abandon.  Our mission partner leaned over to me and said, “The believers here do not worship quietly.”  Maybe that influenced my concept of this arrangement on this song of praise and thanksgiving.

May we always boldly proclaim the name of the Lord!