Thanks to the over 20 people who submitted entries for our 10th Anniversary King of Grace contest! The assignment was to come up with a new arrangement of one of the songs from the album.
These are the six videos we think are the best. Leave a comment by midnight, Jan. 12, and let us know which one you think is the most creative arrangement that also complements and supports the song. I’ll announce the winner this Thursday, Jan. 13. and they’ll receive two free registrations to WorshipGod11.
Video #1 At The Foot of the Cross (Steve & Vikki Cook), arr. by Anthony Beltrez
Video #2 In My Heart (Eric Grover), arr. by Teresa Thomas
Video #3 Behold the Lamb (Mark Altrogge), arr. by Joshua Spacht
If you’d like, you can also check out these three videos and cast your vote for one of them:
Video #4 Join All the Glorious Names (Bob Kauflin/Isaac Watts), arr. by Jason McGovern
Video #5 The Glory of the Cross (Bob Kauflin), arr. by Joel Sczebel
Video #6 You Have Captured Me (Steve & Vikki Cook), arr. by Jon Althoff
WOW-these are good! and this is TOUGH!
good points on all of them. liked the arrangements of the 1st and 5th, but vote for:
#6.
thanks for letting us listen!
Bob, you may want to check the link to “The Glory of the Cross.” It took me to the wrong song.
The link to “The Glory of the Cross” takes me to “Join All the Glorious Names.” Would you mind updating the link?
Thanks. I’ll fix the link.
This ended up being easier than I thought. I’m definitely going with #3 – the cinematic treatment was inventive, original, and works incredibly well.
REally think #1 is the best effort and brings the lyrics to the forefront!
Thanks for posting and allowing us to partake of God’s gifts to His redeemed.
I’m voting for #3. Love the arrangement (and the song in general)! The piano and strings are very well done, and the 7/4 time sig. was a nice added touch.
really like the arrangement in #3, but I think my fave is #6. very simple, sweet, held me for the duration of the song.
I love #6…the upbeat arrangement by Jon Althoff of “You Have Captured Me.” You can tell it has great versatility which would allow it to be done with just an acoustic guitar and one voice or with multiple voices as well as piano/synth and percussion. It doesn’t feel overly contemporary or traditional which would allow it to be sung by many different kinds of churches or youth groups.
Behold the Lamb…amazing! It tells the story in the music. I love it.
Voting for #1..
It is a new arrangement of an older song. Very well done!
They we’re all great! So thankful how God has gifted all of the contestants! Such a blessing!
I loved all of them…
#1 Just awesome all around!
#2 Beautiful piano music, love it!
#3 Really sweeping music, went so well with the song, its got powerful lyrics, and the music just drove them wonderfully!
#4 Love the bluegrass flair!
#5 Loved the rhythm :) a great song, really arranged nicely!
#6 Great sound quality and just beautifully done! Awesome!
It was REALLY close(to me:) between #1 and #6 but I am going to have to go with #6 :) Awesome job all you guys! Am thanking God now for all of you, it was a treat! :)
Deffinitely #6.:)
Video #3 Behold the Lamb (Mark Altrogge), arr. by Joshua Spacht
I vote for #3 Behold the Lamb, but also give very high marks to #6 You have captured me. All of the work was done well and with great thought congratulation to whom ever comes out as the winner. Well done to all, and keep the Worship of the Risen Lord as your focus!
I like the simplicity and beauty of #6, but the orchestration (is that the correct term to describe it?) and depth of #3.
If I had to pick between the two, I’d go with #6. It made be want to truly behold the Lamb.
Whoops. My bad. I meant to say I’d go with “#3.”
I love #3, Behold the Lamb. It’s commanding, anticipatory, and has a movie score feel to it. Makes me want to behold the Lamb this moment. I’m ready to go!
I am absolutely blessed to call Joshua Spacht my minister minister and I can tell you that he is one gifted musician. God poured out an abundance of musical talent into this young man, but the best part is that he is humble and truly longs to see God glorified above all else.
#3!!!!!! Behold the Lamb! The music truly captures the heart of the lyrics.
#3 is the most creative, but #2 is just the one I like best. So I guess #3, but I want to hear Theresa on the radio some time! :-)
I love #3. From the first time I heard it until now, it’s remained my favorite.
#3 without a doubt!
Loved the arrangement on video #3! Words and music are so beautiful!
Definately #3 “Behold the Lamb”! I Can’t stop listening to it!
#3 Behold the Lamb, arr. by Joshua Spacht
Video #3, arranged by Joshua Spacht!!!
We vote for #3. Joshua Spacht’s arrangement took us on a beautiful journey to behold the majesty of the Lamb! It’s a remarkable experience musically! We loved it! (if you count every person in our family as eligible votes, make it 6 votes for #3! let’s hope our 6 wk old little girl agrees with our choice!!
#3 wins, but also liked 1 and 6 a lot.
ooh! ooh! #6! #6!
No. 6 definitely.
Our vote is for #3- very well done!
Wow, these are all great. But I’m gonna go with #3. Kudos to people who are good at string composition!
#3!!!! One word – Epic!
I vote for #6.
I think the challenge was quite difficult so hats off to all 6; however, I felt a few were trying to be a little too smart with chord/rhythm changes and they didn’t always work. #6 was a simple idea, well pulled off, freshening up an old song.
I don’t know all the songs in their original version, so I probably won’t vote according to the originality of the arrangements. :)
#6 : great rythm, but I’m not “captured”^^
#2 : I love it ! If I could, I would listen to it walking back home tonight…
#3 : I love movie soundtracks and this is a soundtrack-like arrangement, good job!
I’d go for #3
uugghh… #1 & #3 are hard choices… but i’ll go for #1!
#1 hands down. It’s actually doable in church –which I think places a high value on its existence. :)
#3 makes me think of the music in heaven – truly inspirational!!
Definitely #3. There is no other sound like this in contemporary Christian music and a lot of Christian themes are pretty epic. Why do we use that style only for secular films? What is more epic than Christ? Way to break out of the typical and write good music for the Lord. Kudos to Joshua at Grace Immanuel Bible Church in Jupiter, FL for pioneering this style.
P.S. Wonderful back beat and great production…
Definitely #3 Thank you for making a favorite song even more favorite and like we are right before the Throne!
While #3 is a very powerful arrangement, I am going with #6 based on the fact that not only is it a great arrangement, but it most effectively translates to congregational singing for any size congregation.
I vote for #3! Soli Deo Gloria!
I vote for #3
All of the arrangements were great and I think everybody deserves recognition for for their work.
All the arrangements were wonderful, but #3 Behold the Lamb took me right to heaven. I felt like i was sitting in the throne room!
#3 was also the most technically difficult to arrange.
I think #1 and #6 are the best updating of the songs – so I’ll vote for #1 – definitely do-able in church!
Definitely rate #3 highest. God deserves movie music! #6 um…’captured’ me, too. Loved the “world music” feel.
I really liked number two but by far I have to go with number three. it’s so original and packed full of production that draws you to the mood of the lyrical content. Glory to God and thank you Joshua!
In My Heart is my choice
Then comes Behold the lamb
Thanks for all the videos
#3 is my favorite.
#3 by a landslide, no offense to the other 5.
My vote is for #3, Behold the Lamb :)
I liked #3, but I’m gonna have to vote for #6.
“You have captured me” has always been a song that I would have thought difficult to do congregationally, and this arrangement is something I could easily imagine singing on Sunday morning. Although it’s not as technically complex as some of the others (e.g. #3), I admire how Althoff took something that was almost a postscript to the original album and made it into something that could stand on its own.
#3 Behold the Lamb…if there was a physical play button to click on that song I would have worn it out by now
#3!!!
Absolutely #3.
The arrangement is ridiculously amazing..
so beautiful.
#2 and #3 are my favorites, and I think I will vote for #3. Since whoever wins this contest gets to come to WorshipGod for free, will we get to hear a live performance of the winning arrangement?? Please?
Number. 3. Behold the lamb
#3 Definately! Behold…. Holy is the Lamb! Tremendous!!
Number 3 is excellent and exciting! They are all good but number 3 I believe is the best
Definitely #3….love the arrangement!
Nice vocals on #6, probably the most simple, but effective arrangement. My vote is #6.
Side note on #3: Josh, the time you spent arranging Behold the Lamb must have been lengthy! As a pianist and arranger myself, I was impressed. I could spend all day talking about it, but to suffice it, incredibly well produced! I too was drawn in to the lyrics by the dynamic changes of the accompaniment. Don’t think I could use this at my church, but it’s great to listen to! You were a close second for me.
I liked 1 and 6, but my vote has to go to #3. It is so sweeping and grand. It is Lord of the Rings meets worship music. Epic.
#3!!!!!!!
Number three, the best !
What talented artists the Lord has gifted! But my vote goes to number three.
#6 would be my choice, I loved the arrangement.
#3 – Behold the Lamb – by Joshua Spacht – beautiful arrangement – I sang it all weekend after I heard it!
I vote for #3 by Joshua Spacht…Amazing & so beautiful!
I am grateful and consider it a blessing to enjoy the work of these finalists. According to your request of helping you pick the winner, you state for us to chose:”the most creative arrangement that also complements and supports the song”. Furthermore “creative” describes that which has the quality of something ‘created’ rather than ‘immitated’.
In applying this criteria, Behold The Lamb (arr. by Joshua B. Spacht) is the at the top of this class due to the mix of odd-time signatures, unique instrumentation, challenging musicianship, and full spectrum dynamics. This epic arrangement is exactly the complement and support needed for a song about the lamb of God.
Thanks to Sovereing Grace Music for this contest. Mr. Spacht, thank you for sharing your gift with the world.
I vote for #3.
#6 “You Have Captured Me”
Simple arrangement that really allows for great focus on the lyrics. I love it when everything come down for “I am ruined for this world” the first time.
Very well done.
#6 is my vote. It has an up to date melody. The words and arrangement are terrific! The main thing is that it has the melody that is not out dated. I would love these chords to do it in my church/youth group! All of the entries are amazing though! Awesome job everyone!
#3 is amazing!! I love movie scores, so to hear a Sovereign Grace song that sounds like one is VERY exciting! The music compliments the lyrics so well!
#3!
#3. The complexity of the instrumentation just gives wonderful depth and richness to match the truths of Christ Jesus in the song.
Gosh, I thought #3, Behold the Lamb was great, but I vote for #2, Teresa Thomas’ arrangement of In My Heart. It was my favorite–just the right mix of contemplative worship for the song’s meaning.
Thanks!
Sharon
Behold the Lamb is amazing by Joshua
#3 is definately my choice
such a lovely song!
Well done everyone! While every song has unique qualities, only one is truly different from the rest. I vote for number 3 by Joshua Spacht. Let’s introduce this arranger to many in the church, and let everyone be blessed through the music of a young man who is daily beholding the Lamb and being transformed personally, spiritually, and musically.
Ryan, wondering if you happen to be related to Joshua…
My vote is for Video 2. The piano/vocal arrangement is simply haunting. it portrays very effectively our fallen state and our hope in God to change our hearts. Beautiful arrangement.
Just wanted to clarify that the Jonathan of comment #61 is not me. :)
@Jon, thanks for the clarification!
He’s my big brother, and a brother in the Lord. Does my vote still count?
@Ryan, of course your vote counts! Great to see you supporting your brother!
Mr. Kauflin,
Could you please give us your thoughts on each arrangement.
They are all wonderful peaces, but we desire to hear your opinion!
Pretty please….
@Aaron, I’ll think about that idea…
Does the winner get to meet you Mr. Kauflin?
i vote #3
Well, though I’ve entered a submission in this competition, I wanted to give a shout out for #1. Well produced, well sung and represents the intent of the lyrics in the arrangement. I like how the voice is upfront and not overly edited. Good groove with guitars and drums and a fresh, updated sound overall. Well done, brother.
#3 is beautiful!
#2 “In My Heart” captured my heart. While the original version may have been more upbeat, this version came out more like a heart-cry. I worshiped through it, and felt like doing so over and over again. I can picture this song being used in a dance presentation at church (being a worship dancer myself).
I vote for number 3! Great Arrangement!
#3!!! Love it!
Favorites:
1. High quality track, obviously put in a lot of effort, great vocals.
4. Great guitar sound, love the dualing effect. Fun Shane&Shane type vocals.
3. This one wins it for me with huge cinematic feel. I love the movements and dynamic which complement the lyrics well.
My vote is for Video #3 Behold the Lamb (Mark Altrogge), arr. by Joshua Spacht
Good work to all though, tough competition!
#3 sounds great, but i don’t think it’s realistic for a church setting, and thus I vote #1.
@86 Ooh Ooh Ooh! I wanna meet Mr. Kauflin!
I vote for #3.
All great efforts, but my favorite is #3, “Behold the Lamb”!
Video #3 is INCREDIBLE!! This guy is talented!! I would love to hear this performed at my church!
My vote goes to #3! love this arrangement!
I’m voting for number 3…I love this guys voice and the lyrics that show the greatness of Christ!
Wow all these songs are great but I have to vote for number three!!
#3 is clearly my favorite!!!
Im thankful for all these songs for they all worship Christ but #3 is a step ahead for me!
#3 – Behold the Lamb by Joshua Spacht. Simply amazing.
I pick #3
# 5 is my pick. I like the back up sound.
Bob,
In my biased, but accurate opinion, I’ll go with #2. I think that the contemplative nature of Teresa’s arrangement most acutely addresses the struggle “In My Heart”, which is what I think drew her to the song in the first place.
All of the other songs were terrific. Kudos to #3 for it’s magnificent grandeur and the terrific arrangement of #6….
However, I must say I love the catchy, personable and FUN arrangement of #4
Michael (Teresa’s Husband) Thomas
I just love the arrangement by Teresa Thomas!
That one gets my vote!
Thanks!
I liked number 2 the best – voice, music, words, etc.
They are all so good in different ways! It was so hard to pick. But I would have to go with song #2 by Theresa Thomas. It was so beautiful. The piano piece and voice was simply fantastic!
Love #3. Chills were up and down my spine. The strings are unbelievable. Majestic!! There are some real artists who have submitted their work here.
#3
1
#3 is wonderful!
#3 again captures our heart’s cry to our Saviour! Well done. I still love the original too!
#4
#3 with two thumbs up!!!!! It is a brilliant arrangment and musical experience that draws you to truly behold the lamb of God! Such a marvelous thing to set our gaze on as we prepare to open God’s word!
While not crazy about the vocal style, the arrangement of # 3 better by far. Needs some electric guitar ala Skillet added in.
Sound matches substance. ‘Nuff said.
#3.
This was fun to participate in. I liked the spectrum of different ideas people came up with.
I have to give my vote to #3 – Joshua B. Spacht’s arrangement of “Behold the Lamb”. Honoroable mentions for me go to #5 – Joel Sczebels version of “The Glory of the Cross”.
#1 sounds the best by far. I can worship to this song all day long. Great sounding voice. Would like to hear more songs from this guy.
Love love #3. The arrangement is engaging.
Love them all! But have to go with #3.
I loved #1 and #6 the best! #3 was a gorgeous arrangement; however, I do feel it was more movie score-ish as others have mentioned, vs. a more congregation friendly version. Final vote has to be… #6!!
They are all amazing, but I vote for #3 — the intricacies of the arrangement are a wonderful match to the depth of the lyrics.
they are all very well done songs with much to commend in each
#5 is my favorite – it is original, but highlights the lyrics the best. you could easily sing it in church and it is a little more modern and relateable by a wider group of people but understated in its simplicity (a good thing)
(though admittedly the video/audio for video posted is poorer quality…)
#3 !!!
Voting for #3, Behold the Lamb. I love this song and have not heard it any better! The 7/8 time is epic…
#3 is my favorite.
#3 Hands Down!
Close your eyes…tune out the world…Worship the Lamb!
# 3 – Behold the Lamb has my vote!
#3 hands down!!
i absolutely love every single instrument and ultimately the lyrics!
#2 touches my heart in a special way. The graceful simplicity and angelic vocals of this arrangement make it a heartfelt, reflective piece. Bravo, Teresa!
#3 – Behold the Lamb.
Deat Mr. Kauflin, Thank you so much for hosting this competition. I was wondering that , in light of some of the comments above ,is it ok if I post this comment? Thank you!
This is a video from Grace Immanuel Bible Church’s Christmas concert called Redeemer: Christ Our Lord Revealed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx8OXo0YNgw
I am posting this as an example of how the type of music in video #3 by Joshua Spacht can be done in a church setting. The choir and orchestral instruments used throughout the concert were live whereas the percussion and electronic instruments were sequenced in a track. This type of music does take a little more effort than other Christian music songs but the involvement of multiple people in the church to make music about and for Christ is such a blessing to be part of!
#6 You Have Captured Me
#3 – Behold the Lamb
Have to go with #3 – way to go, Josh. That was amazing.
I love Jon Althoff’s version of “You Have Captured Me”.
Thankfully, I get to enjoy his humble leadership as he leads worship each Sunday. He has written and recorded a number of cross-centered/gospel-centered worship songs that are worth listening to (do a search). So, my vote is #6.
#6! I hope I’m not too late :/
Video #3
I think there is a wall of support for #3, but I vote #6.
#3 Behold the Lamb
Joshua Spacht’s!
Video #3.
From the first you are captivated, taken on a Grace journey! #3! Joshua Spacht did a great job..BUT JESUS gets the Glory!! As Joshua would desire!
All were really well done – especially #3 – but if the point was to draw me to the throne of grace in worship, then hands down (or should I say hands up) I vote for #2 = genuine worship!
#3 – love the arrangement! The music served the lyrics very well, and kept my attention focused on the lyrics.
#3 ….. Great Music!
#3 …as the nuances of the music build, and the underlying resonant theme plays out… God’s Word comes to mind, of Jesus Christ, the Great I AM, the One to whom every knee will bow both in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that HE IS LORD…The Worthy Lamb of God
My votes would have to go the #3 and #6, just primarily because of it compositions!
Appreciated all entries… enjoyed the grandeur and ostentation of the arrangement to compliment the amazing truth in the lyrics of Video #3 Behold the Lamb (Mark Altrogge), arr. by Joshua Spacht
all are great! my vote will be for #3 Behold the Lamb…transcendant arrangement!
In the Beginning by Joshua Spacht
Behold the Lamb is just one of many amazing and beautifully orchestrated pieces that Joshua has arranged. This piece particularly adds a dramatic element to it with the sense of contrast from verse to chorus. What struck me as remarkable was the sense of stillness that overcomes the soul as Joshua breaks out into the first chorus… The entire mood and rhythmic elements change in order to accomplish this. This in turn perpetuates the second verse and into the repeat of the chorus. So with out any more delay….#3 would be my choice.
#6 hands down. Beautiful.
#6. A beautiful song, done so simply and worshipfully. This will be beautifully received and appreciated when sung in church, or as a solo. He Has Captured Me!
I love the creativity and simplicity of #6.
Gotta go with #6, Jon Althoff’s arrangement. Best match of music to message… It invites other voices to join in and sing His praise.
I like #5 – Szebel’s The Glory of the Cross
Number 6, for sure! Beautiful song. Fantastic arrangement!
Video #2 by Teresa Thomas
Lovely!
I vote for #6. It’s simple and well crafted. Definatelyvhas the ability to be done in small churches as is or could be arranged for a big setting. Yep #6.
#3 is outstanding. Give us more of this. So glorifying to the LOrD in every way.
Loved them all but #3 Behold The Lamb gets my vote!
#3 is my favorite!
I love # 1.
Jouhua thank you so much for you vote. Congrats on wining. Great stuff bro! This was a blessing to be apart of. Thanks again Bob for putting this together.
I like #2 the best!
#2 is my pick. I liked the sound of #3 accompaniment, but when put with the lyrics it sounded a bit off. I thought it was too big. I love the simplicity and haunting sound of #2.