Music Reviews (by Kim Gentes)
Back in the mid-90's Kim began writing impromptu reviews of church music CDs (worship music) so that people who were looking for CDs would have an opinion from someone who is also a worship leader and is garnering music for local church use. Up to this point, this was rarely something that was done, because church music was revered as sacred and it was thought that any offering of that sacred worship shouldn't be criticised or evaluated. In fact, Kim wasn't as much a critic as he was an evaluator, helping people find what fit their church. He began posting his reviews on line in a email discussion forum, called the Worship List (website). After a while, when he helped launch Worshipmusic.com, he continued that same concept of trying to help other local church worship leaders and musicians find music that might be applicable to their situations. The reviews continued to be a part of that. Worshipmusic.com went on to grow a staff of writers that would add many more reviews to the collection they have, but Kim continued to participate as a key reviewer. This journal logs all the reviews Kim has written on worship music CDs and projects.
Kim's reviews of CD projects of worship music includes independents, label and main stream recordings, but all having to do with worship music.
Entries in easter (4)
When I Survey [single] - Darlene Zschech & Andy Mak (2013) - free download
Friday, March 29, 2013 at 11:18AM 
When I Survey
(written by Darlene Zschech, Andy Mak & Thom Macken, based on Isaac Watts original hymn)
-Sung by Darlene Zschech & Thom Macken from Hope UC
There are few songs that cut straight to the heart of the message of Christ's crucifixion like "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross". Originally written by Isaac Watts, the song was penned for a communion service in 1707. The most popular rendition of music to be applied to Watts' lyrics came from Lowell Mason whose composition applied to the hymn became the what many people recognize as the "When I Survey" of the church.
What strikes me most about this song is that it conveys the power and truth of the scriptures with such terse language. We often want things boiled down to singular concepts that are easy to digest and focused in theme. While Watts certainly has focused on the cross with this hymn, he has expressed it in its wide diversity by showing how the cross applies to the breadth of creation and our human condition.
A friend of mine, who works with Darlene Zschech and other songwriters/artists sent me this message a few days ago:
Darlene wanted you to be able to bless whomever you wanted to with this wonderful song "When I Survey" that she and Andy Mak (producer and engineer at her studio The Grove) created for Easter weekend at Hope Unlimited Church. Feel free to spread this around...
Thank you Darlene and Andy!
Darlene Zschech, Andy Mak & Thom Macken have crafted a new chorus that adds a modern flourish to this great hymn of the last 4 centuries. The track is sung by Darlene Zschech and Thom Macken. Below you will find an MP3 and chord chart of this song. I encourage you to download BOTH the mp3 and the chord chart and engage with this song.
Many thanks to Darlene Zschech, Andy Mak and Hope Unlimited Church (Australia) for giving us permission to post this.
Be sure to chime in and let us know what you thought (post comments below) and you are welcome to share this with friends on Facebook and twitter with your friends.
Free Song Download "When I Survey" from Darlene Zschech, Andy Mak & Thom Macken / Sung by Darlene Zschech & Thom Macken
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"When I Survey" Already in WorshipTeam.com
This song has been pre-loaded for all those who use Worshipteam.com for their worship planning. You can include it in your set planning this week! If you are a member, simply login and find it in the song database, or under "New Songs" tab. If you aren't a member, you can check out Worshipteam.com for free for a month (more info here).
Review by Kim Gentes
Man Of Sorrows [single] - Hillsong (2013) / free download
Friday, March 15, 2013 at 4:09PM 
This week I was researching in preparation for Easter, hoping to find some great resources that we could highlight here. One resource that I found is a truly great new song from our friends at Hillsong Australia. The song called "Man of Sorrows" is a brilliant combination of theological verses about the betrayed, suffering, killed and finally ressurected Christ, who is glorified with praise in a vibrant chorus
"Now my soul cries out
'Hallelujah! Praise and honour unto Thee.'"
"Man of Sorrows" is a single they are going to release on an album later in July of this year. But, they have released the song early since it is really an Easter song. I love it. Musically, this song is arranged straightforward, cadenced slightly with guitar overlays that make it "hymn-like", if that can be a style. Very singable, but with a style and lyrics that resound to the authority of Christ as He rises from the grave in the triumph of Easter. The lyrics borrow from allusions to Philip Bliss' "Hallelujah What a Savior" and tacitly to George Bernard's "The Old Rugged Cross". But more than direct quotes, "Man of Sorrows" uses punctuated lingual style and phrases of the hymns ("to that tree", "on Jesus laid", "honour unto Thee", "is free indeed", "His own betrayed") that will endear the song both to those who love traditional hymn-style and to the newer power of the great modern choruses.
This is a wonderful song that can be opened up to full engagement by a congregation, whether just with a guitar or a full band or a whole choir- a wonderful worship experience. It is a standout strong song, that can easily be adapted and used in most churches. This is especially true with Easter Sunday just a couple weeks away. Something to definitely consider for that "big Easter" song that everyone can join in with, be surprised (shouldn't there be some "surprise" in our Easter!) with and celebrate the Resurrection with!
Below you will find download links for both the PDF lead line sheet music and the mp3 audio file.
We hope you find it helpful for this season.
Be sure to chime in and let us know what you thought (post comments below) and you are welcome to share this with friends on Facebook and twitter with your friends.
Free Song Download "Man of Sorrows" from Hillsong
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"Man of Sorrows" Already in WorshipTeam.com
This song has been pre-loaded for all those who use Worshipteam.com for their worship planning. You can include it in your set planning this week! If you are a member, simply login and find it in the song database, or under "New Songs" tab. If you aren't a member, you can check out Worshipteam.com for free for a month (more info here).
Article by Kim Gentes
PDF, chord chart, download, easter, free, hillsong, lead sheet, man of sorrows, mp3, sheet music, worship in Easter, Free Download, Music Review, Musician Resource Review, Single Song A Well Worn Path - Dunn & Wilt (2012) - devotional
Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 3:08PM Friends,
This unique Easter /Passion week resource was very encouraging to me. I wanted to let everyone know about it as soon as I had a chance to go through it. It is a perfect combination of musical backdrop and thoughtful, spiritual formation-based devotional as we walk the road of Christ to the Easter event. Even if you don't do each day, these devotionals are poignant and uplifting, bringing us into the scriptural themes of the week as we live, die and are raised again with Christ on the holy road to easter. I highly encourage you to see below and download this resource for free.
Review by Kim Gentes
An Audio Devotional Experience of music and spoken devotionals
Easter is the high holiday of the Worship Year; everything we believe and act on in the world as followers of Christ hinges on the resurrection of Jesus. Beginning Palm Sunday, you can enjoy an Eight Day Audio Devotional Journey Into Easter together with thousands around the globe! This free series, by musician story-tellers Dunn & Wilt, will enrich our faith during Holy Week – all the way through Easter Sunday. Go to this link
- http://DunnandWilt.com/easterjourney
- download the free Easter devotional album of 8 mp3s (one for each day).
You'll listen to one, 3-4 minute devotional each day, and then we'll interact on a Facebook page with others from around the world. It's easy, the instructions are at the link, and we'll all be celebrating the story of the Cross through to the Resurrection together. Join us in the Eight Day Audio Devotional Journey Into Easter!
Click here for more details and information. The devotional is completely FREE, but it begins tomorrow, so come download it now!
Cornerstone (single) - Hillsong (2012) - free download
Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 2:27PM 
Our friends at Hillsong Australia contacted us this week wondering if our readers might be interested in getting a free MP3 and sheet music copy of their new song "Cornerstone".
Of course, I was happy to say "yes!"
Based on the hymn "The Solid Rock", Cornerstone is a brilliant anthem of Christ's Lordship, which is perfect for the glorious celebrations coming up for our Easter Sunday's.
Below you will find download links for both the PDF lead line sheet music and the mp3 audio file.
We hope you find it helpful for this season.
Be sure to chime in and let us know what you thought (post comments below) and you are welcome to share this with friends on Facebook and twitter with your friends.
Free Song Download "Cornerstone" from Hillsong
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"Cornerstone" Already in WorshipTeam.com
Thanks to our friends at Hillsong Australia, this song has been pre-loaded for all those who use Worshipteam.com for their worship planning. You can include it in your set planning this week! If you are a member, simply login and find it in the song database, or under "New Songs" tab. If you aren't a member, you can check out Worshipteam.com for free for a month (more info here).
Article by Kim Gentes
PDF, cornerstone, download, easter, free, hillsong, lead sheet, mp3, music, sheet music, song, worship in Easter, Free Download, Music Review, Musician Resource Review, Single Song