O God Our Help In Ages Past

Several years ago I saw a video of a wonderful opening musical arrangement in a large theater concert presented by Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. 

The presentation really caught my eye. The music began with several instrumental soloists out in the audience, which moved into a warmer moment by the strings, and then proceeded into a climactic full orchestra statement.  

I couldn’t get that moment out of my head.  

I had several previous personal experiences similar to this at conferences presented by Bill and Gloria Gaither in Indianapolis, Indiana called Praise Gathering for Believers. I wrote the Fanfare and Processional arrangements that are listed on my site for those moments. However, the Hillsong event was so creative with the soloists out in the audience of a 20,000 plus seating room.

As I was planning our programming for the upcoming Nashville Praise Symphony season, I began to think how I might write something like the Hillsong opening using a traditional hymn. I chose the classic American hymn, “O God Our Help In Ages Past” for this.   

I wrote the opening solo statements first for Piccolo, second for Horn, third for Trumpet, and then ultimately had the Tuba join at the end. It moves into a warm, uniquely harmonized statement of the hymn melody with Strings. 

That is followed by a two measure crescendo into a highly rhythmic composition featuring the Horns in 7/8 meter. Now, I had never written anything in 7/8 before, but I love listening to film score music and wanted to have some fun with this. This section is in minor and definitely has a little bit of a Hans Zimmer (Pirates of the Caribbean) feel to it.   

When the melody of the hymn is next stated, it has a mixed 3/4-6/8 feel. The 7/8 section comes back again and then the final verse is a broad 6/8. The arrangement closes back in 7/8 again but this time ends in a “happy” major key conclusion.

I really had fun writing this one and it’s probably more of a concert piece than a call to worship even though the time is only about 3 minutes. However, I already know of several churches who have used it as a service opener. I caught the 7/8 “bug” on this one and have now used it a few more times.