Sufjan Stevens’ 2004 album Seven Swans is an intimate yet cinematic collection of songs covering Christian themes. These tracks address grief, revelations and other forms of expression through songs that both speak directly to us and reveal more than expected.
Sufjan utilizes one technique in this genre is creating a set of chords with similar tones for root and third notes that serve as sixth or ninth add-ins between major and minor chords for an exquisite sound that makes each change all the more noticeable.
Greensleeves
Greensleeves is a beloved folk song with an easygoing melody that has been arranged into different musical styles since 16th Century England.
The lyrics of the song tell a tale of an emotionally broken man who falls for a woman only for her to reject his advances. After she turns him away, he mourns his lost love while imploring her for an apology and to return his affections.
Some believe that Henry VIII wrote the song for Anne Boleyn himself; however, music scholars discredit this belief because its composition demonstrates Italian musical elements which did not arrive until after Henry’s death.
Greensleeves has long been popular, dating back to at least 1601 AD and continuing today. It forms the basis of many Christmas carols such as What Child Is This.
Fragile
Sting’s 1987 song Fragile remains relevant today as an anti-war protest anthem, having been inspired by the tragic murder of American Peace Corps Volunteer Ben Linder by Contra rebels in Nicaragua in 1987.
This song’s lyrics highlight how someone can be fragile yet strong at the same time, as well as how kindness of strangers should not let life’s fragility get us down.
This piece for classical guitar is easy and straightforward, without needing complex finger positions or intricate skills to play it well. Comprised of four chords (Em, Am7, B and Am), this tune works beautifully on its instrument.
If you want to learn this song, the best approach is to start slow and gradually pick up speed if necessary. This will enable you to master the seven swan chords and become an excellent guitarist.
Swan Lake
Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake has long been considered the world’s favorite ballet. The story tells of love that’s doomed by an evil sorcerer, who transforms Princess Odette and her companions into swans before turning them back into humans at nightfall.
Tchaikovsky’s music for ballet dramatically raised the standard. He excelled at melody writing, while orchestral colour helped bring life to his compositions.
Tchaikovsky used light notes in the opening waltz of his ballet to convey an image of an anxious heartbeat, beginning with string tremolos and harp arpeggios that crescendo into an oboe solo that builds into an explosion of orchestral color.
The Swan Theme also plays a prominent role in the ballet’s ballroom dance. In its most well-known pas de deux, Odette performs her signature self-indulgent movements while Siegfried submissively slumps and sways away from Odette’s desperate gestures with his solemn gaze.
Just As I Am
“Just As I Am” has long been recognized as an iconic hymn, with Charlotte Elliot writing the original lyrics and music back in 1835 – making it one of the oldest Christian songs still widely performed today.
This song’s lyrics are straightforward: Jesus loves you just the way you are, and wants nothing but for you to be happy and satisfied with life. No wonder it has inspired so many Christians around the world to follow their hearts and put faith in the Lord as their guide in order to improve their lives for the better.
“Just as I am” lyrics have become a trendy theme within religious communities, with some churches trying to turn their congregations into feel-good Christians by emphasizing self-improvement or fashion trends rather than discussing hard topics like sin, forgiveness and salvation. Luckily, however, there are other churches out there which do not succumb to such hype and can stand up to its influences.