By Don Chapman
I’m so excited to share my new arrangement of Christ the Lord Is Risen Today! Other arrangements of this classic Easter hymn here at hymncharts are big and bombastic, but this one is a bit more laid back with a slightly slower tempo and a lower key than usual. I’ve added a few little Bach-ish licks and have mixed them with a more modern chord structure.
I’ve also finally figured out how to get rid of those dreaded 2/4 measures that many contemporary hymn arrangements tend to have at the end of verses and/or choruses (I think, and email me if you know, these odd measures made more sense in the old days when a hymn was sung simply and without stopping. That extra beat gave everyone a second to get their breath.)
This arrangement uses my favorite “trick” of starting with a female worship leader for the lower melodic part of the song, and switching to a male vocal for the higher melodic end of the song. Christ the Lord Is Risen Today has such a wide melodic range that it’s difficult to manage for most vocalists – splitting it in two solves the problem as you hear in the demo.
Use this female/male alternating melody version for a quick and easy two part choir, or use the still easy SATB parts and bump the key up to Bb or B with the free Finale Notepad.
Hymnlink: Blend Christ the Lord Is Risen Today with popular praise and worship songs
The hymn Christ the Lord Is Risen Today is all about celebrating the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead! It’s a happy and triumphant song that reminds us that through His resurrection, we have hope for eternal life and victory over sin and death. It’s a song of joy and praise that encourages us to lift up our hearts and voices in thanksgiving for what Christ has done for us. Try kicking off your Easter worship with Christ the Lord Is Risen Today and follow it with any of these popular praise and worship songs that fit thematically:
“Glorious Day” by Passion
You called my name
And I ran out of that grave
Out of the darkness
Into Your glorious day
“Resurrecting” by Elevation Worship
The head that once was crowned with thorns
Is crowned with glory now
The Savior knelt to wash our feet
Now at His feet we bow
“Because He Lives (Amen)” by Matt Maher
Amen, Amen
I’m alive, I’m alive
Because He lives
Amen, Amen
Let my song join the one that never ends
Because He lives
“Death Was Arrested” by North Point Worship
Our Savior displayed on a criminal’s cross
Darkness rejoiced as though heaven had lost
But then Jesus arose with our freedom in hand
That’s when death was arrested and my life began
Download sheet music, chord charts, tracks, multitracks and instrumental parts for Christ the Lord Is Risen Today exclusively with a hymncharts subscription. You won’t find this arrangement on any other website.
