New Arrangement: Redeemed

Back in high school I remember going to Sunday night “singspirations” and we’d sing all the “fun” Gospel songs that were too racy for Sunday morning church! This was the early 80s here right before the contemporary worship revolution.

I recall singing Redeemed at a breakneck pace. It was the uptempo rocker of its day!

What I love to do here at HymnCharts.com is turn a hymn around and do something unexpected – so in this case I’ve turned Redeemed into a worship ballad.

I also use my arranging trick of late where I compose an instrumental melodic riff for the intros and midtros, then turn that melodic riff into a simple vocal bridge. You’ll hear the cello line intro turn into the repeated vocal phrase “I am redeemed by the blood, by the blood of the Lamb” in the bridge.

I like this simple vocal bridge approach a little better than what you hear these days in contemporary worship where they’ll take a hymn and add a completely new chorus. Sometimes it works, but sometimes it’s just too much. I visited a church recently where they sang Come Thou Fount with a newly added wordy chorus to an already wordy hymn.

My vocal bridge for Redeemed is simple, repetitive and easy to learn. It reminds me of Revelation 4:8:

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”

…and Revelation 5:9

And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

How to Use Redeemed In Your Praise Set:

Use Redeemed in the worship ballad slot at the end of any praise set – especially an Easter or Communion praise set. It’s the perfect fit after a few uptempo songs and a prayer or reading. Try going from Revelation Song to a Scripture reading (a portion of Revelation 5) and then to Redeemed. Revelation Song is typically in D major and Redeemed can also sound fine dropped a half step to the related G major.

I guarantee Redeemed will be the highlight of your Sunday! Just like the demo, sing the 3 verses and choruses to a loud finish, then drop in volume and intensity for the bridge. Start with a male soloist, then add an alto harmony on the repeat and gradually grow to a full, powerful 3-part vocal finish that launches into an even louder, triumphant two choruses.

Redeemed works best led by a male worship leader. If Ab is a little too high try G or F.

Download Redeemed:

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