Gospel Music Made Easy, arranged by Gail Smith. Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (#4 Industrial Dr., Pacific, MO 63069). 32 pp. $7.95.

This collection contains 26 well-known hymns and gospel songs. Gail Smith, who has been active in church music, has assembled a useful group of pieces suitable for church or Sunday school preludes, offertories or recessionals. However, they also are good arrangements for accompanying group singing. The melodies are clearly delineated over the moving accompaniments. Most are of intermediate level but a few are early-intermediate.

The arrangements, which are all in the keys of C, F or G, fit the hand comfortably, except some with octaves would be a challenge for a small hand. The left-hand plays broken chords most of the time or has a walking bass pattern, while the right-hand carries the melody. Only one, "I Love to Tell the Story," has the melody in octaves in the bass. "Softly and Tenderly" is a beautiful arrangement and probably the most difficult in the collection, with broken tenths in the left-hand and scale passages in the right and the last two lines modulating to the key of A-flat.

All but three of the hymns are one page in length. Minimal editing leaves phrasing, dynamics and interpretation to the performer. This would be a valuable book for encouraging sight reading and performing for young students who are active in their church. Reviewed by Kathryn B. Hull, NCTM, La Quinta California.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Music Teachers National Association, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group