The Story Behind Worthy to be Praised by Byron J. Smith and Where to Find the PDF Download
Worthy to be Praised by Byron Smith: A Gospel Masterpiece
If you are looking for a powerful and uplifting gospel song that will inspire your choir and congregation, you should check out Worthy to be Praised by Byron J. Smith. This song is a classic that has been performed by many choirs around the world for over twenty years. In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about this song, including its composer, lyrics, music, and how to get the PDF download. We will also give you some tips on how to perform it with excellence.
worthy to be praised byron smith pdf download
What is Worthy to be Praised?
Worthy to be Praised is a gospel song composed by Byron J. Smith for SATB or SSA choir with piano or organ accompaniment. It was first published in 1999 by Lawson-Gould Music Publishers, which is now part of Alfred Music. The song has a duration of about four and a half minutes and is suitable for intermediate to advanced level choirs.
The composer: Byron J. Smith
Byron J. Smith is a renowned composer, arranger, conductor, pianist, organist, and educator who specializes in gospel music. He was born in Los Angeles, California, and started playing piano at the age of five. He studied music at California State University, Los Angeles, and earned his master's degree in choral conducting from the University of Southern California. He has taught music at various schools and colleges, including Los Angeles City College, where he founded the award-winning Gospel Choir.
Smith has composed and arranged over 100 choral works, many of which have been performed by prestigious choirs such as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers. He has also worked with famous artists such as Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, Andrae Crouch, Kirk Franklin, and Quincy Jones. He is currently the director of music at Holman United Methodist Church in Los Angeles and the artistic director of the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers.
The lyrics: A celebration of God's glory
The lyrics of Worthy to be Praised are based on Psalm 150, which praises God for his mighty acts and his excellent greatness. The song begins with a rubato introduction that sets the tone of reverence and gratitude. The choir sings "Praise ye the Lord" four times in unison, followed by "Praise God in his sanctuary" in harmony. The introduction ends with a crescendo on "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord".
The song then breaks into a driving gospel feel that expresses joy and excitement. The choir sings "He's worthy" repeatedly in different combinations of voices, with some syncopation and melisma. The soprano section then leads the main theme of the song, which is "He's worthy to be praised". The other sections join in with counter-melodies and responses, creating a rich and complex texture. The song also features a soloist who sings improvised lines that echo and embellish the choir's words.
The song has three verses, each with different lyrics that highlight different aspects of God's glory. The first verse praises God for his creation, the second verse praises God for his salvation, and the third verse praises God for his power. The chorus repeats after each verse, with some variations in dynamics and harmony. The song also has a bridge that modulates to a higher key and builds up to a climactic finale. The bridge lyrics are "From the rising of the sun, to the going down of the same, he's worthy". The finale repeats the chorus with more intensity and ends with a triumphant "Hallelujah" on a high note.
The music: A blend of traditional and contemporary gospel styles
The music of Worthy to be Praised reflects Smith's mastery of both traditional and contemporary gospel styles. He combines elements of classical, jazz, blues, soul, and funk to create a unique and captivating sound. The music is characterized by rhythmic vitality, harmonic richness, melodic inventiveness, and vocal expressiveness.
The piano or organ accompaniment plays an important role in supporting and enhancing the choir's singing. It provides a solid harmonic foundation, as well as rhythmic drive and melodic interest. It also adds color and contrast with various techniques such as arpeggios, chords, octaves, glissandos, and fills. The accompaniment can also be played by a band that includes bass, drums, guitar, and keyboards.
The song also offers optional instrumental parts for trumpet, trombone, saxophone, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, and bass. These parts can be used to add more depth and variety to the sound. They can also be used to create instrumental interludes or solos between the verses or during the bridge.
How to get Worthy to be Praised PDF download?
If you are interested in getting Worthy to be Praised PDF download for your choir or personal use, you have several options to choose from. Here are some of the most popular ones:
Option 1: Buy from Alfred Music
Alfred Music is the official publisher of Worthy to be Praised and other works by Byron J. Smith. You can buy the PDF download directly from their website for $1.95 per copy (minimum order quantity: 20 copies). You can also buy the printed sheet music for $2.20 per copy. You can choose between SATB or SSA voicing, and you can also get the optional instrumental parts for $30 per set.
To buy from Alfred Music, you need to create an account on their website and add the items to your cart. You can pay with credit card or PayPal. After you complete your purchase, you will receive an email with a link to download your PDF files. You can also access your downloads from your account page.
Here are the links to buy Worthy to be Praised PDF download from Alfred Music:
Worthy to Be Praised!: SATB Choral Octavo (PDF Download)
Worthy to be Praised!: SSA Choral Octavo (PDF Download)
Worthy to Be Praised!: Instrumental Parts
Option 2: Buy from Sheet Music Plus
Sheet Music Plus is an online marketplace that sells sheet music from various publishers and composers. You can buy Worthy to be Praised PDF download from Sheet Music Plus for $1.95 per copy (minimum order quantity: 20 copies). You can also buy the printed sheet music for $2.25 per copy. You can choose between SATB or SSA voicing.
Option 3: Buy from JW Pepper
JW Pepper is another online marketplace that sells sheet music from various publishers and composers. You can buy Worthy to be Praised PDF download from JW Pepper for $1.95 per copy (minimum order quantity: 20 copies). You can also buy the printed sheet music for $2.25 per copy. You can choose between SATB or SSA voicing.
To buy from JW Pepper, you need to create an account on their website and add the items to your cart. You can pay with credit card or PayPal. After you complete your purchase, you will receive an email with a link to download your PDF files. You can also access your downloads from your account page.
Here are the links to buy Worthy to be Praised PDF download from JW Pepper:
Worthy to Be Praised!: SATB Choral Octavo (PDF Download)
Worthy to be Praised!: SSA Choral Octavo (PDF Download)
How to perform Worthy to be Praised?
Now that you have got Worthy to be Praised PDF download, you might be wondering how to perform it with your choir. Here are some tips for singers and accompanists that will help you deliver a stunning performance of this gospel masterpiece.
Tips for singers
As a singer, you need to pay attention to the following aspects of Worthy to be Praised:
Vocal range and technique
The vocal range of Worthy to be Praised is fairly wide, especially for the soprano and tenor sections. The soprano section goes up to a high Bb, while the tenor section goes up to a high G. The alto and bass sections have a more moderate range, but they still need to sing with power and projection.
To sing Worthy to be Praised well, you need to have good vocal technique that allows you to produce a clear and resonant tone throughout your range. You also need to have good breath control and support that enables you to sustain long phrases and dynamic changes. You should avoid straining or pushing your voice beyond its natural limits.
Expression and dynamics
Worthy to be Praised is a song that expresses a lot of emotion and passion for God. You need to convey that feeling through your voice and facial expressions. You should sing with conviction and enthusiasm, and use appropriate gestures and body language that match the mood of the song.
You also need to follow the dynamic markings in the score, which indicate how loud or soft you should sing at different points. The song has a lot of contrast between soft and loud sections, which creates interest and excitement. You should also pay attention to the crescendos and decrescendos, which indicate how gradually you should increase or decrease your volume.
Pronunciation and articulation
Worthy to be Praised is a song that has a lot of words and syllables that need to be pronounced clearly and accurately. You need to enunciate every consonant and vowel sound, especially in the fast and rhythmic sections. You should also avoid slurring or swallowing your words, which can make them sound unclear or muffled.
You also need to articulate every note and rhythm with precision and accuracy. You should follow the notation in the score, which indicates how long or short you should hold each note, and how smooth or detached you should sing each syllable. You should also pay attention to the accents and staccatos, which indicate how strong or light you should emphasize each note.
Tips for accompanists
As an accompanist, you need to pay attention to the following aspects of Worthy to be Praised:
Piano and organ parts
The piano or organ part of Worthy to be Praised is challenging but rewarding. It requires a high level of skill and technique, as well as musicality and expression. The part is written in a gospel style that combines elements of classical, jazz, blues, soul, and funk. It has a lot of chords, arpeggios, octaves, glissandos, and fills that create a rich and complex sound.
To play Worthy to be Praised well, you need to have good sight-reading and improvisation skills that allow you to follow the score and add your own embellishments. You also need to have good coordination and balance that enable you to play both hands independently and together. You should avoid playing too loud or too soft, or too fast or too slow, which can affect the choir's singing.
Rhythm and tempo
The rhythm and tempo of Worthy to be Praised are very important and need to be followed carefully. The song has a driving gospel feel that creates a sense of energy and momentum. The song also has some syncopation and swing that add flavor and groove. The song has a metronome marking of 120 beats per minute, which is fairly fast but not too fast.
To play Worthy to be Praised well, you need to have good timing and accuracy that allow you to play every note and rhythm in the right place and at the right speed. You also need to have good flexibility and adaptability that enable you to adjust your tempo according to the choir's singing and the conductor's direction. You should avoid rushing or dragging, or changing your tempo abruptly, which can cause confusion or inconsistency.
Optional instrumental parts
The optional instrumental parts of Worthy to be Praised are optional but recommended. They add more depth and variety to the sound, as well as more interest and excitement. The parts are written for trumpet, trombone, saxophone, flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, and bass. They can be played by soloists or by small ensembles.
To play Worthy to be Praised well, you need to have good intonation and tone quality that allow you to produce a clear and beautiful sound. You also need to have good expression and dynamics that allow you to play with emotion and contrast. You should follow the score and the conductor's direction, but also use your own musical judgment and creativity. You should also coordinate with the other instrumentalists and the accompanist, and blend with the choir's singing.
Conclusion
Worthy to be Praised by Byron J. Smith is a gospel masterpiece that will inspire your choir and congregation. It is a song that praises God for his creation, salvation, and power. It is a song that combines traditional and contemporary gospel styles in a unique and captivating way. It is a song that requires skill and technique, as well as emotion and passion.
If you want to get Worthy to be Praised PDF download for your choir or personal use, you can buy it from Alfred Music, Sheet Music Plus, or JW Pepper. You can also get the printed sheet music and the optional instrumental parts from these websites. If you want to perform Worthy to be Praised with excellence, you can follow the tips we gave you for singers and accompanists.
We hope this article has been helpful and informative for you. We hope you enjoy Worthy to be Praised by Byron J. Smith as much as we do. We hope you sing it with all your heart and soul. We hope you make God worthy to be praised!
FAQs
Q: Who is Byron J. Smith?
A: Byron J. Smith is a renowned composer, arranger, conductor, pianist, organist, and educator who specializes in gospel music.
Q: What is Worthy to be Praised?
A: Worthy to be Praised is a gospel song composed by Byron J. Smith for SATB or SSA choir with piano or organ accompaniment.
Q: What are the lyrics of Worthy to be Praised based on?
A: The lyrics of Worthy to be Praised are based on Psalm 150, which praises God for his mighty acts and his excellent greatness.
Q: How can I get Worthy to be Praised PDF download?
A: You can get Worthy to be Praised PDF download from Alfred Music, Sheet Music Plus, or JW Pepper for $1.95 per copy (minimum order quantity: 20 copies).
Q: How can I perform Worthy to be Praised with excellence?
A: You can perform Worthy to be Praised with excellence by following the tips we gave you for singers and accompanists.
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