Jeff Cranfill Music blog

I’ve just completed “In Christ Alone” in my Sanctuary Orchestra Series. Keith Getty and Stuart Townend wrote the hymn – it is encouraging to know men like them are writing wonderful worship music!  The Lord deserves quality worship – worship that costs us.  Music in worship music cannot be flippant or trivial. How much we love the Lord Jesus should be evident in the effort we put into our worship of Him – including writing well-crafted music and developing the skill to play it well.  May God continue to raise musical craftsmen!

In churches today, what a person experiences is being equated with scripture.  The emotions we feel are very real, and can make our experiences seem more “real” than truth we know and read from God’s Holy word.  A person doesn’t need to have an emotional buzz to worship.  Emotion can actually get in the way of worship.  Jesus told us that His Father is seeking people to worship Him in spirit and truth.  Our feelings didn’t make His list of requirements. When we sense His presence, that is a bonus, not our focus.

On another note about experience – I read an article in a Music Journal where the author deflects arguments about classical music being more complex, and at a higher level than popular music.  The author claims that experiencing music, any music is the aim of music education.  The message of the article  is that the domination of music education by Western art music must be pried loose and pop music education injected into music education.  The experience of a student with music is more important than learning the form and performance of great music.

Satan wants to keep God from receiving glory.  Great music glorifies Him – whether it is sacred or not, because God created music.  If he can keep people from studying great music, even in schools, he can try to keep God from being glorified by the wonderful creation of music.

Once again, I’m greatly overdue.  I have a new piece being read in rehearsal “Since Jesus Came Into My Heart”.  It is very Copland “Rodeo”.  It is a great hymn of testimony – Jesus does indeed change whom He indwells!

I’m currently working on “Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus”.  It’s a constant effort to work outside my box of arranging – I don’t want it to all sound like ones I’ve done before.

If you play an instrument, or did at one time – you need to use your skills in ministry at your church.  God instructs to do it, and it sure is fun!

It has been sadly far too long since my last post.  No boring excuses – just new music.  I have 2 new pieces on my site – Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross and the Old Rugged Cross.  My mission is to help equip church orchestras to glorify Jesus with good music.  I’m working on a setting of Praise To The Lord the Almighty which should be ready in a week or 2.  My wife has also given me the idea to put some of my choral arrangements on my site -so I’m thinking and praying that direction.

Yesterday I was once again rejoicing at the privilege and honor of working with such a great group of musicians to help lead our church in worship each week. As I listened to our people play, I was reminded (this happens with great frequency) how well they play. What a wonderful thing it is to have an orchestra in the worship service. There is no match for the power and beauty of a live orchestra in worship. It was, after all God’s idea (Psalm 150, Psalm 33:3, etc). The organism that is a church orchestra is a wonderful way for player to use their skills to obey God’s command to worship Him – He is the ONLY one who is worthy!

Now that Fairest Lord Jesus is done and edits are done (or close), I have other writing jobs.  Right now, I’m orchestrating some congregational medleys that were previously rhythm section only.  I hate to have great players just sitting there in our orchestra – so I write whatever parts I can.  Hopefully they’ll fit, and be challenging but playable.  One way to keep good players coming back is if they have plenty of good parts to play -they’re not just sitting around.  I also fill in clarinet parts on certain arrangements… and harp parts, or whatever may be missing.  It sure can be a learning experience to see how other writers do what they do.