Customer Reviews for Hymns with Style
Location: from West Kelowna, B.C.
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
December 1, 2011
Hymns with Style
These are very lovely arrangements and so easy to play!
8 of 16 people found this review helpful.
Location: from
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
September 2, 2011
Hymns with style
very nice...
11 of 21 people found this review helpful.
Location: from
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
July 23, 2011
Get this!
The book arrived Tuesday and I used several pieces on Sunday for mass preludes. Very playable and interesting. If you've enjoyed his Christmas with Style books, you'll love this one.
11 of 24 people found this review helpful.
skhabh
Location: from Lexington, SC
Difficulty Level:
Early intermediate
July 8, 2011
Hymns with Style
Good arrangements; not my favorite. I like Hymns for Meditation (Martha Mier) better.
15 of 31 people found this review helpful.
Location: from Isanti MN
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
April 29, 2011
A Worshipful Experience
These are beautiful arrangements of beloved songs dear to my heart. Unlike playing them out of a hymnal, one can enjoy the melodies with different keys and creative styles. It can be a worshipful experience to sit and play the hymns in all their beauty while words and phrases float through my mind. With 10 hymns from which to choose, and the interesting arrangements, I have been playing only out of this book since I received it!
21 of 33 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from New York
Difficulty Level:
Early intermediate
April 12, 2009
Nice book
This book I was pleased with. It's easy enough to work on and have ready for Sunday offertory for the next week,even when it's an extremely hectic week.
16 of 34 people found this review helpful.
m. rasbury
Location: from kinston, nc
Difficulty Level:
Early intermediate
April 4, 2009
Something different
I play for a small church in north carolina. Instead of me playing familiar hymns straight for the hymn book. This book gives a little variety, and keeps the congregation guessing what the piece maybe. I enjoy playing fairest lord jesus during communion, and I will play something while the people are gathering during service. Need more songs like these. Keep up the good work.
17 of 34 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
April 2, 2009
preludes/piano solo
Excellent for preludes in church services especially when you don't have enough time to practise.
15 of 33 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from Lebanon, KY
Difficulty Level:
Early intermediate
March 12, 2009
Title Says It All
These selections are just what I wanted and needed. The lovely arrangements are easily prepared and create a prayerful mood. Some are a little long for our needs, but I found them quite simple to shorten and still keep the musicality intact. I've really enjoyed this "stylish" collection.
16 of 33 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from Woodstock, VA
Difficulty Level:
Early intermediate
March 4, 2009
unique chords
Fairly simple to play with unique chords
16 of 31 people found this review helpful.
RHANA HARRIS
Location: from
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate/advanced
February 19, 2009
VERY GOOD MUSIC ALTHOUGH TOO LONG
I RETURNED THIS BOOK-BECAUSE IT WAS NOT WHAT I NEEDED. I PLAY FOR A SMALL COUNTRY CHURCH AND I NEEDED SHORT PIECES FOR PRELUDE, OFFERTORY AND POSTLUDES. THE MUSIC WAS VERY GOOD FOR LARGER CHURCHES AND IF YOU ARE GOOD AT ALTERING MUSIC, WHICH I AM NOT. THE COMPANY WAS VERY NICE WITH MY RETURN.
4 of 12 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from Nashville, TN
Difficulty Level:
Early intermediate
February 19, 2009
Great tool for practicing sight reading.
I enjoyed this book and wished that there were more than 2-3 pages for each song. I would have liked to play songs for an offeratory but the music was too short. I would probably have to play it twice but then where is the imagination?
7 of 16 people found this review helpful.
Norman Varney
Location: from United Kingdom
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
February 10, 2009
Hymns with style? Definately!
I looked for music to amuse my self at home and to be able to play just before worship at church. I wasn't disappointed when I chose this title! The harmonies encountered were a delight to hear, and the arrangements superb.
8 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Marvin B
Location: from Bryan, OH
January 23, 2009
Love this book
Love this book and others by the same arranger. This was a Christmas gift to our daughter-in-law, who often plays piano/organ in many churches in Indiana. She liked this book from my own collection.
7 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
December 15, 2008
A little out there
Sometimes hard to follow the melody but the arrangements are lovely and sweet.
9 of 14 people found this review helpful.
Edna
Location: from Alabama
Difficulty Level:
Early intermediate
November 11, 2008
Very Playable!
I love playing these arrangements of familiar hymns - not too hard, and with an interesting twist to each.
6 of 14 people found this review helpful.
Ann C
Location: from Oregon City, OR
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
October 31, 2008
nice renditions with easy chords
This is a great collection with hymns that are arranged nicely with lots of incidentals but chords that are easy to play (compared to 5 finger, octave chords). When I compare this book to others such as Sacred Silouttes, I find that I don't prefer this type of printing. It is a little harsher on the eyes but still very usable
7 of 14 people found this review helpful.
Wanda Langlotz
Location: from Orlando, Florida
Difficulty Level:
Early intermediate
October 2, 2008
Recommended pre-service music
I played two of the pieces last Sunday at church and received a lot of feedback that they really enjoyed the arrangements. The cording is different, and stylish. This is the type of music I like to play for our quiet, preservice music. I hope to purchase other music by this arranger.
5 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Mary
Location: from Texas
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
September 13, 2008
Lovely, but not too difficult
These pieces are very lovely and can be played for preludes and offeratories. I love this book because on busy weekends, I can easily pick these pieces out without much practice. They are still very worshipful and enjoyable to play.
9 of 17 people found this review helpful.
Tiffany
Location: from CO
Difficulty Level:
Early intermediate
September 9, 2008
Perfect for church musicians with little time.
I am a church musician and full time mom. This book is perfect because it takes little time to learn each piece and sounds great when performed.
8 of 17 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from Ohio
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
September 6, 2008
Hymns with Style
Fun, but not as addictive to play as other solo hymn arrangements.
6 of 12 people found this review helpful.
Nancy Lavea
Location: from Modesto, CA
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
July 29, 2008
Great for Offertories!!
I loved the style of this music, very soothing!!
8 of 14 people found this review helpful.
Jeff
Location: from Toronto, ON
Difficulty Level:
Early intermediate
July 22, 2008
too simple
very simplistic with very little harmony. ok for beginners but a dissappointment if you're any more advanced
7 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Colin
Location: from Binghamton, NY
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
July 17, 2008
good work
This book is a great addition to any collection. The pieces in this book are more intended for the intermediate player. I am an advanced pianist in college, and I found this book farely easy.
6 of 14 people found this review helpful.
juny jung
Location: from new york
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
May 6, 2008
good!
i liked the arrangement very much. not too jazzy but fun enough to play in the church..
7 of 14 people found this review helpful.
Kevin McDermott
Location: from Groveland, Essex Co. Massachusetts
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
March 31, 2008
A little too "popular" for my taste...
The arrangements are well-written to fall under the hands of intermediate players (I know: I'm one!) and the harmonies are attractively complex. There's a bit too much of the showman about these arrangements for me to like them, however: the somewhat pointless (and abrupt) transposition is found in all of them, which begins to sound more like cocktail piano than service prelude--to me. The closer your worship is to the Crystal Cathedral rather than to St. Patrick's version, the more likely you will be to fully enjoy this collection and the hymns within it, which trend to mainline Methodist/Baptist favorites.
9 of 16 people found this review helpful.
Heidi
Location: from Massachusetts
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
March 13, 2008
Impressive-sounding, yet fairly easy to play!
These arrangements are beautiful piano solos, perfect for a prelude or offeratory. I play them in church myself, but also teach them to my intermediate piano students. Good selection of classic hymns.
7 of 14 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from New York
Difficulty Level:
Beginner
March 10, 2008
Hymns with Style
Very nice renditions of old favorites. I would consider them beginner versions, but they have great chords and sound more difficult than they really are!
7 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Mary B.
Location: from Maryland
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate/advanced
November 21, 2007
Beautiful sound!
I was looking for a selection of hymns that would be easy to play but slightly challenging without being boring. This book fits the bill perfectly! I am very pleased with it.
6 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from Nazareth, PA
Difficulty Level:
Early intermediate
November 17, 2007
Great arrangements for quick preparation
Good selections, not technically difficult, enjoyable results without a whole lot of work.
6 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Denise
Location: from Atlanta, GA
Difficulty Level:
Early intermediate
November 16, 2007
Wonderful Stylings!
I only recently purchased this book and had never heard of Jerry Ray. I immediately fell in love with his style. The hymns in this book are all recognizable favorites done in a very different, but extremely nice, variation of style! I ordered more of his books. The arrangements are easy enough that a late Beginner could probably play them as well.
4 of 11 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from Big Island of Hawaii
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate/advanced
November 5, 2007
Old Hymns With a New Sound
Excellent hymn arrangements for offeratories and preludes. The "modern" harmonies are pleasing to the ear, but the hymns are still very recognizable to the ear.
6 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from Iowa
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate/advanced
September 14, 2007
Great sounding songs for meditation!
I've had this book for a couple of years. If you're familiar with Jerry Ray it is 'classic Ray' all-around. The different chords interjected at various points give the songs a unique twist but not so much where people cannot recognize the hymn. The melody doesn't get lost in the arrangement. Some songs require more practice than others; but once mastered are very enjoyable to play & listeners are usually complimentary. I'm a solid intermediate pianist and am confused by those that have rated this early intermediate or even beginner. Perhaps they have forgotten what beginning piano music looks like but this book is definitely not in that category. Those that have rated this book intermediate/avanced are more dead on. Enjoy!
6 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Marigold Marsh
Location: from Cambridge, Ohio
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
August 23, 2007
Colorful hymn arrangements
These are beautiful arrangements in which the melody is maintained. They work for preludes, postludes, offeratories and meditative moments.
6 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from North Carolina
Difficulty Level:
Early intermediate
July 10, 2007
Beautiful Arrangements
This book has some really beautiful, unique arrangements on timeless hymns. I have enjoyed playing from this book at my church where I am the pianist.
6 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Peter Kwok
Location: from Newmarket , Ontario, Canada
Difficulty Level:
Beginner
May 2, 2007
Disappointing
This book is too elementary for me and they are lack of chords. Not enough sound. Too simple to play. What a waste of my money.
8 of 15 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from Camden, SC
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
March 9, 2007
music review for Hymns With Style
I have looked for hymns to play for special music for my church and have not been satisfied--didn't have the "style/pazazzzz" for which I was searching. I love the "Hymns with Style"...just what I was looking for, and was not too difficult for me because I am not an accomplished pianist.
7 of 16 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
Location: from Wilmington, Delaware
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
March 5, 2007
Pleasant arrangements
The arrangements are pleasantly refreshing. They are not difficult and a little different than the norm. I enjoyed playing them.
5 of 12 people found this review helpful.
Mark
Location: from Salinas, CA
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate/advanced
September 16, 2006
A Must Have Book
The arrangement of the Hymns are very beautiful. I have purchased this book for myself and bought copies for friends. I have received nothing but wonderful comments on this book. The book is challenging for an advanced beginner, but it inspires me even more so to reach the intermediate level.
5 of 12 people found this review helpful.
Karen Hesterly
Location: from McAllen, TX
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
May 16, 2006
Good teaching material
The sound is contemporary and the harmony is challenging for a piano student, but very rewarding when they get it. It's a nice way to teach the old hymns to a student who only attends contempory worship services.
8 of 15 people found this review helpful.
J. Young
Location: from Nashville, TN
Difficulty Level:
Early intermediate
March 10, 2006
A let down
I found the arrangements in this book almost too simplistic. The same chord structures can be found in almost any hymnal and with very little imagination you can come up with the same arrangements off the top of your head. Nothing new here. Go with something else.
7 of 14 people found this review helpful.
CeCe
Location: from Washington, DC
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
November 30, 2005
Classic Hymns with Tasteful Twists
I love the hymns of the church and this book has some great arrangements. So far my favorite is How Great Thou Art. I've played it during two African-American churches that love hymns (as a prelude and meditation) and both congregations loved it. Not difficult to play, but provide some challenge and practice because of the nice, but unexpected clustered chords throughout. These hymns are not busy, but very meditative. I carry this book with me a lot, just in case I have to play a solo on short notice.
7 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Cindy
Location: from Johnson City, TN
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate/advanced
October 15, 2005
Love this Book
I've been playing out of this book for over 10 years now. I absolutely love it. I've never found a book with better arrangements than this one.
7 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Debbie Austin
Location: from NC
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
August 30, 2005
Hymns that Soothe the Soul
I have been playing in church for many years. This book is my very favorite. It is not so difficult that you give up practicing, and the melodies are so soothing. The style is so refreshing. They bring new life back into the old songs of faith.
6 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Kay
Location: from Harrisonburg, VA
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate
August 17, 2002
Excellent arrangements
This is one of the best collections of arrangements I've played. The difficulty level ranges from early intermediate to late intermediate. Some may take a little practice for some, but the effort is worthwhile. These arrangements would be great opening peices at church services.
7 of 13 people found this review helpful.