CHIAPAS! THE HEBREWS SCRIPTURE SONGS PROJECT!

To read more about the amazing story of how God brought the writer (Alicia Pearce), and the producers (the Terrell family) of the Hebrews Scripture Song Project together, click here. In the summer of 2008, Renee Terrell and I (Alicia) launched the Hebrews Scripture Songs Project; a group effort to produce the entire book of Hebrews, King James Version, to music. I had already written the melodies and marked out the harmonies needed for each song.

I arrived in Chiapas on June 4th, not knowing what to expect. I found the mission center bustling with ministry and activity. The work that first brought the Terrells to Chiapas was recording and producing Scripture translations of indigenous Indian languages, as well as dubbing the Jesus movie, the Luke film, the Acts movie, and other discipleship materials into these same languages. Hospitality and personal outreach is a big part of their ministry as well. So, along with work on the Hebrews Scripture Song Project, there were beds to be made, dishes to be done, people to talk to, dental work in the villages, students to teach, etc.

Renee working on Ophelia's teeth

In between all this, the Hebrews Scripture Songs Project progressed faithfully. The first two weeks were spent revising the melodies. Overall, about a third of my original melodies were rewritten. We then moved on to creating a overview of the entire book, deciding which instruments and voices would best interpret each song. Our ideas became more and more grandiose as our plans developed. It became evident that we would not be finishing this project in three months, as was first optimistically hoped for.

After our overview, we began to try our hand at arranging. What mental contortions one goes through, to try to analyze ten staves of music at one time to find out where that dissonance is coming from. But, oh, what a thrill to hear your own musical creation coming through with such clarity and purpose! Renee and I worked on one arrangement together, in which we learned a lot about our music notation software program, Sibelius, and then we each worked separately on a piece. We found out that our contrasting personalities complimented one another perfectly in both our teamwork, and in reviewing each others arrangements. God knows how to put people together!

Moving on to the business of recording. Jorge, our guitar player, had committed to arranging and recording three guitar pieces for the Hebrews Scripture Songs Project. We set to work getting these pieces etched in silicon before he had to return to music school.

Renee, Jorge, and Alicia in our bunk house recording studio.

Our original plan was to try to get some of our arrangements recorded with strings and harp and piano before I had to leave in September, but the schedule was just too tight to fit it in. So with our three arranged pieces, we tweaked Sibelius' playback to closely resemble what we wanted it to sound like, and we began to record rough draft (very rough draft) voices to our six semi-completed songs. Mixing and splicing was tedious, but necessary. We worked up to the minute that I left for Michigan.

Here are some rough drafts of our work:

Hebrews 3:12-19

Hebrews 6:1-15

Hebrews 9:22-28

Hebrews 10:32-39

We are in need of help! There are 36 songs total, and we need skilled arrangers to help us finish this project in a timely manner. Also, we are need of trained singers to take up the task of interpreting these songs accurately and with purpose. All work on this project is volunteer, for the glory of God, and for the edification of His people. We are planning to offer it for free download, with any donations going towards producing more Scripture music and/or missions. If you think you can help us, or know of someone who can, please contact us!