The Time for Change Has Come

Hello to you readers who have decided to keep reading Project Olney after a long silence. I said in my last brief update (which was quite some time ago) that there would “soon” be changes coming to the blog. Well, it seems that the time for change has come.

Beginning, well, now, Project Olney will no longer be located here. Instead the blog will be moved to thedescribers.com. The Describers is the name I recently started using to release music under. I realize how odd it is to use a plural name to describe (heh) a singular, but I will explain the name in an upcoming post on the new blog. I want to use this new site to host and promote Project Olney as well as other musical projects I attempt. Unfortunately, the tracks were not able to be imported to the new location, but you can still access them here as well as at thedescribers.bandcamp.com.

As I had stated in an earlier post, I ended up finding that arranging and recording a song from the Olney Hymns each week was simply unfeasible. However, I still plan on plugging away at the project, and will keep you updated. This actually brings me to some more big, namely that The Describers will be releasing a ten song album featuring William Cowper’s hymns called (rather appropriately) For Cowper. The album will be released in May. For more info, visit thedescribers.com.

Jason

There Will Soon Be Changes

In case there is anyone still reading, I will be making some changes soon. Stay tuned.

Update & Housekeeping

Remember how last week I said I was crazy busy? Turns out that said craziness hasn’t subsided. To be able to write the new melodies, then record and publish takes up quite a bit more time than I had anticipated, and to do so at a pace of one hymn a week, takes away time from me being able focus on class work and rent-paying work. Plus, I would also like to spend some more time writing completely original songs, as it is a practice I need much growth in.

That being said, I don’t plan on giving up this project, but I am planning on slowing down the pace, as well as changing the order of how I’ll go through the hymns. Here’s the new plan (which may change further): I will reduce the number of hymns I upload here to one a month. I also no longer plan to go straight through the hymns (though I still plan to get through every one). I’ve been having difficulty creating acceptable melodies (in my mind) within a weeks time frame.

My apologies in advance for being more sporadic in my posts, as that is how they will be. Thanks for listening, and I should (hopefully) have the new hymn up sometime soon.

Thanks,

JMac

Craziness & Apologies

Dearest Reader,

I regret to inform you that I will not be posting a hymn this week, but by God’s grace will be able to do so in the following week.

As some may know, Drexel University is beginning its classes for the year this week, and as a member of Campus Crusade for Christ at Drexel, this makes for a very busy week. Between BBQs, planning, training, large groups, and church-finding, there’s a lot going on for all of us, and I haven’t been able to sit down to record this week’s hymn (and feel it would be unwise to do so).

I was very grateful to be able to perform with some friends at Cru’s “Welcome Back BBQ”. I even got to perform a couple of the hymns!

If you think of it throughout the week, please pray for us and for God to move in people’s hearts on the campus!

Sincerely,

Jason

Hymn 6: “The Saints Should Never Be Dismayed”

Another week has come and gone, so we are again at Friday. Today’s hymn is “The Saints Should Never Be Dismayed” by William Cowper. You can listen below or download on the side.

The Hymn

This hymn focuses on God’s provision in Genesis 22, with the heading “the LORD will provide.” In particular, Cowper begins by focusing on Abraham’s test of faith when God asks him to sacrifice his son Issac. When, in faith, Abraham is about to offer Issac as a burnt offering, God provides a ram in Issac’s place. Verse 14 then says this, “So Abraham called the name of that place, ‘The LORD will provide’; as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.’”

Cowper, in the proceeding verses follows two further accounts of God’s provision, the first from 1 Samuel 23:27, when David was spared from Saul, and the second from Jonah 1:17, when God saved Jonah through the fish.

It stood out to me that Cowper arranged the hymn like an argument. The first verse sets up his argument, while the 2-4 verses provide examples of how the statement of the first verse is true. The final two verses then act as a conclusion and call to action.

Melody, Arrangement and Production

There’s not much I need to say here other than “gritty”. “Sloppy” may also be an effective descriptor. Since I felt that Cowper was making an argument with his hymn using seemingly unrelated examples of God’s provision, I thought that gave me some freedom with the style of the song, as well as with the melody. My arrangement, is probably not suitable for a congregation, as each line overlaps.

I almost feel as though I needed to get this arrangement out of my system.

Continue past the break for the text.