SEEK YE FIRST

Composer: Karen Lafferty

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Tune Information

Title: SEEK YE FIRST
Composer: Karen Lafferty (1972)
Meter: Irregular
Incipit: 33453 21612 34543
Key: D Major
Copyright: © 1972 Maranatha! Music (admin, by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Notes

Named after its composer, LAFFERTY is a "simple is beautiful" tune consisting of one repeated musical line accompanied by a descant that encourages even the smallest congregation to sing in two-part harmony. A popular Scripture chorus published in many informal collections, it was one of the first to be included in recent denominational hymnals. LAFFERTY can be sung in different ways; one elaborate (though easy to learn) performance that extends the song is to treat the descant like a refrain in a two part round; when the first group finishes the first stanza, it begins the alleluias as the second group begins stanza 1. Flute and guitar provide beautiful accompaniment; Karen herself plays guitar and oboe–try that for variety!

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Timeline

Arrangements

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations

  • Hymn Tunes in Lower Keyes: The Book to Grab When the Congregation Complains that the Hymns are Too High!
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (2011) pp. 255
  • Hymn Tunes in Lower Keys: The Book to Grab When the Congregation Complains that the Hymns are Too High!
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (2011) pp. 255
  • Pull Out the Stops! Volume II: Congregational Song Accompaniments for Organ
    Composer/Editors Norma Aamodt-Nelson; Mark Weiler; Aaron David Miller
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2001) pp. 103

Organ Solo

  • Hymn Prelude Library Volume Ten Tunes S: Lutheran Service Book
    Composer/Editors Kevin J. Hildebrand; Nancy M. Raabe
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (2016) pp. 96
  • Seek Ye First: Praise and Worship for Organ
    Composer/Editor Douglas E. Wagner
    Published By: Hope Publishing Company (2000) pp. 18

Piano Solo

  • The Church Pianist Volume 18 Number 3 January 2002: The Pianist's Companion for the Church Year
    Composer/Editor Karen Lafferty
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2002) pp. 26
  • Big Purple Book of Praise & Worship Piano Solos
    Composer/Editors Ken Barker; Carol McMillen Tornquist
    Published By: Word Music Group, LLC (2001) pp. 138
  • Seek Ye First: Praise and Worship for Piano
    Composer/Editor Douglas E. Wagner
    Published By: Hope Publishing Company (2001) pp. 18
  • Big Gold Book of Medium Difficult Piano Solos
    Composer/Editors Carol McMillen Tornquist; Ken Barker
    Published By: Word Music Group, LLC (2000) pp. 8
  • Big Red Book of EZ Piano Solos
    Composer/Editor Carol McMillen Tornquist
    Published By: Word Music Group, LLC (1998) pp. 5
  • The Piano Project: 25 Years . . . . . . 25 Songs
    Composer/Editor Carol McMillen Tornquist
    Published By: Word Music Group, LLC (1998) pp. 22
  • Piano Praise & Worship: Preludes, Offertories, and Postludes Creative Piano Settings by Fred Bock
    Composer/Editor Fred Bock
    Published By: Fred Bock Music Company (1993) pp. 12
  • Praise Classics The Best of Our Praise: 20 Praise Classics for Piano
    Composer/Editors Carl Seal; Karen Lafferty
    Published By: Maranatha! Music (1993) pp. 16
  • My Lord Is Near Me All the Time: Easy Piano Arrangements
    Composer/Editor Gayden Sikes
    Published By: Genevox Music Group (1992) pp. 24
  • Bock's Best Volume IV: 50 Outstanding Piano Arrangements of Hymns and Gospel Songs
    Composer/Editor Fred Bock
    Published By: Fred Bock Music Company (1991) pp. 111
  • Classical Praise Piano
    Composer/Editor Tom Keene
    Published By: Word Music Group, LLC (1991) pp. 22
  • Glorious: Hymns for the Classical Pianist
    Composer/Editor Gail Smith
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (1991) pp. 7
  • Classical Piano Praise
    Composer/Editors Tom Keene; Barry Liesch; Rick Tery
    Published By: Maranatha! Music (1988) pp. 23

Piano and Organ Duet

  • Holy Holy Holy: Hymn Duos for Piano and Organ
    Composer/Editors Ron Sprunger; Linda Sprunger
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (1997) pp. 37
  • Holy, Holy, Holy: Hymn Duos for Piano and Organ
    Composer/Editors Ron Sprunger; Linda Sprunger
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (1997) pp. 37
  • Symphony of Praise: A Musical Tapestry of Praise Choruses and Classical Themes
    Composer/Editor Linda McKechnie
    Published By: Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc. (1996) pp. 96

Piano Duet+: Piano Duet One Piano

Voices: Vocal Solo

  • Songs 4 Worship: 66 of the Greatest Praise & Worship Songs of All Time
    Published By: Integrity Incorporated (2001) pp. 232
  • Gathering to Praise: Songs of Celebration for a New Day
    Composer/Editors Nancy Schaefer; Romona D. Colao
    Published By: Word Music Group, LLC (1981) pp. 7

Instances

Instances (1 - 76 of 76)

¡Cantad al Señor! #48

Alabanzas Favoritas No. 2 #138

Ancient and Modern #775

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #652

Baptist Hymnal 1991 #478

Baptist Hymnal 2008 #524

Breaking Bread (Vol. 39) #435

Cáliz de Bendiciones #201

Cantos del Pueblo de Dios = Songs of the People of God (2nd ed.) #148

Celebrating Grace Hymnal #436

Celebremos #8

Celebremos Su Gloria #415

Chalice Hymnal #354

Christian Science Hymnal #572

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #641

Common Praise (1998) #458

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #590

Complete Mission Praise #590

CPWI Hymnal #851

El Himnario #364

El Himnario Presbiteriano #364

Gather (3rd ed.) #658

Gather Comprehensive #615

Gather Comprehensive, Second Edition #600

Glory and Praise (3rd. ed.) #613

Text InfoAudio

Glory to God #175

Himnario Adventista del Séptimo Día #226

Himnos de la Iglesia #363

Hymnal #324

Hymns for a Pilgrim People #370

Hymns of Faith #447

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #641

Hymns of Promise #65

Journeysongs (2nd ed.) #720

Journeysongs (3rd ed.) #685

Audio

Lift Up Your Hearts #899

Lutheran Service Book #712

Mil Voces para Celebrar #201

Moravian Book of Worship #605

One and All Rejoice #274

One in Faith #754

Oramos Cantando = We Pray In Song #576

Praise for the Lord (Expanded Edition) #883

Praise! Our Songs and Hymns #438

Text InfoTune InfoAudio

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #209

Rejoice Hymns #411

RitualSong (2nd ed.) #800

RitualSong #728

Santo, Santo, Santo #126

Sing 'N' Praise Hymnal Vol. 2 #30

Sing and Rejoice! #98

Sing Joyfully #615

Singing the Faith #254

Songs for Life #155

The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #237

The Book of Praise #625

The Celebration Hymnal #713

The Hymnal 1982 #711

The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration #42

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #568

The Presbyterian Hymnal #333

Audio

The United Methodist Hymnal #405

The Worshiping Church #447

This Far By Faith #149

Together in Song #745

Voices Together #417

Voices United #356

Audio

With Heart and Voice #35

With One Voice #783

Worship (3rd ed.) #580

Worship (4th ed.) #663

Worship and Rejoice #349

Worship His Majesty #544

Worship in Song #100

تسابيح المحبة #710

찬송과 예배 = Chansong gwa yebae = Come, Let Us Worship #136

Include 4 pre-1979 instances
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