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Choose A Song!
Songs in MIDI format
Lord You're Beautiful
Holy Spirit Fall On Me
Contents
My recent trip to Indonesia has been a very fulfilling one. I was there to visit my father's church in Jakarta and assist in any way I could. Quite a vague objective. However, God provided amazing opportunities for me to serve, and also taught me some valuable lessons which I also hope to share with you!Firstly, I learnt to keep an open mind. I had a preconceived notion of Indonesia as a mosquito-infested, hot and boring place, from previous trips. This trip was a totally different experience however. Fun-filled, activity-packed and meaningful. As worship leaders, let's not close ourselves to God's leading and opportunities because of previous experiences. God is doing a new work today!
You could almost say I was plunged into the fray. 3 hours before the 2nd service, the worship leader came up to my room in the church and in halting English with numerous hand signals, indicated that he needed me to play for the service! I gathered that the regular keyboardist had taken an unscheduled break, and - wonders of wonders - there was only 1 other backup in that 70-strong congregation. Me.
Rehearsal started about an hour before the service. It was a Roland synthesizer. I fumbled with the controls, trying to find out how to switch the thing on. And wonder of wonders, nobody knew how to operate the keyboard. It was sometime before I found out how to set rhythm and accompaniment. With 45 minutes or so to go before the service.
Lesson Two: Memorize!
Not surprisingly, the songs were all Indonesian. Even less surprisingly, all were new to me. Thank God that a hymn book was present. But wait! There were no notes or bar lines. Only the melody in number notation , foreign to a conventionally-trained pianist like me. I came close to panicking.In such situations, just memorize how to start the song and what key and tempo to play in. Jot it down on paper! Once the people start singing the song, hopefully their volume will drown out your mistakes.
Lesson Three: Don't Push that Panic Button!
Try not to panic. Pray. Look professional. The church is watching! I winced when I realized that for a particular song, I forgot to press some button and there was no rhythm or bass accompaniment!! Of course, I had to look as if I had intended for them to hear a piano solo. Don't forget that.
Lesson Four: Slow down!
During the practice, the worship leader said some of the songs were played too slowly, so I upped the synthesizer tempo. But during the service, the congregation could hardly keep up. And these synthesizer things, once you're one beat off, you're finished. The congregation knows it.When using the synthesizer tempo, use a slower tempo for fast songs than you think you can go without getting out of breath. 5-10 beats per minute slower.
Lesson Five: Watch that tree!
And now, the communication violations. It was Christmas. No snow in tropical Indonesia, but there was a large, well-decorated tree with flashing lights beside the stage.In between the pulpit and the keyboard.
Could you have guessed it? I could not see the worship leader at all. Here was my predicament. He was talking in Indonesian. He could well be talking in Latin for all I cared. He probably gesticulated to me during the songs, but in vain. Only the Christmas tree knew. I had no way to know what I was supposed to play.
Stage and musician layout is important. Be careful where you put your Christmas decorations.
Lesson Six: Get a helper!
Quick as a flash, I got my mother, who knew Indonesian, to sit beside me and tell me what the worship leader was saying, whether he was repeating or ending.Try to make the best out of every situation.
Lesson seven: Do as the Romans do!
Unfortunately, the music from the keyboard was so loud, my mother could not hear what the poor guy was saying in the midst of the songs. But at least she could tell me whether the guy wanted to sing another song or the doxology. As I whispered to her urgently, the members sitting near me gave me strange looks.Suffice to say, I finally made it through the service, considerably wiser.
If you're going to Indonesia, learn Indonesian.
What Indonesian Worship is About
Those who have never experienced worship in Indonesia should make it a point to visit an Indonesian church service, especially contemporary services in Pentecostal and some other churches. The multi-branched "Bethel" Pentecostal church in Jakarta boasts high-energy worship not unlike many fast-growing churches around the world. Indonesia could well be said to be a singing nation. The number of recordings by local artistes in any CD shop can be staggering. There are many Christian artistes, too, in this 10%-Christian nation. Therefore, a vast number of truly local Christian songs exists. Most of these songs employ basic, "light" chord progressions; much variety, however, is obtained from extremely tuneful melodies which many of the songs possess.
Why Indonesian?
We realize that the songs of different cultures are stylistically different. Although all worship God, one culture’s songs may not be as edifying to another culture. For example, although Negro spirituals can be deeply moving to Americans, the Chinese may not respond similarly. We marvel at Ron Kenoly’s excellent worships, but we may not sing the songs on his albums. Hence we realize that one must never copy wholesale another culture’s or tradition’s songs, just because those songs were successful in that other culture. Yes, they testify of how God has moved in other cultures. But God may move differently in your own church. It is good to sing cross-cultural songs, because they do build unity; but you, as a worship leader, must find music which you can call truly yours.My fellow workers and I, from Singapore, have heard these songs from Indonesia. When we heard them, we knew instantly that they were "us". I managed to translate 2 of them with help from my parents. These songs were "revival" songs of Indonesia, birthed in the huge revival, of the last 30 years, which has seen God’s family in this predominantly Muslim archipelago grow by 20 million. I believe that God will use these songs to renew believers here in Singapore, and even elsewhere. Enjoy!
Immediate Listening and Enjoyment; Includes Lyrics
Lord You're Beautiful (Kau Yang Terindah)For Downloading; Includes Lyrics
Robert & LeaThis powerful worship song has been said to be an Indonesian "Power of Your Love" equivalent. Its forceful words and sweeping melody makes it a favourite in Indonesian churches.
Holy Spirit Fall on Us(Berhembuslah RohKudus)
Robert & LeaThis meditative song, usually used as preparation for worship or ministry, fits comfortably in its 3/4 timing. Its words epitomize the heartfelt desire of generations of Spirit-seeking Indonesian believers.
Lord You're Beautiful / Holy Spirit Fall on Us (zip format)Includes guitar chords, English translation, original Indonesian words in text format as well as separate MIDI files.