Hillsong Releases Acoustic Version of Popular Worship Songs

By Felicia Howard, Christian Post Correspondent Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Hillsong released its newest album Tuesday. Yahweh was created in response to churches around the world asking for acoustic versions of their popular songs.

The album is the first installment of Hillsong Chapel, which is a series of intimate and devotional arrangements of the worship band's songs. The "unplugged"or acoustic versions were recorded live in Hillsong Church's chapel in Sydney, Australia.

Worship leader and songwriter for Hillsong Ben Fielding commented, "It's our role as worship leaders and musicians to help create the most inspiring and inviting atmosphere for worship within our churches. It's amazing the difference that some small changes can make – changing the key so you can sing quieter; slightly slowing a quick song; using less instruments; being creative with drums and percussion. It was intimate, it was kind of acoustic, it was our team and it was definitely one of my most favorite meetings. And what's more ... we recorded it!"

EMI CMG Publishing will host a live Web event on Nov. 2, where Hillsong team members will play songs from Yahweh and demonstrate to worship leaders how to translate the songs in an intimate setting. Ben Fielding, Annie Garratt, Nigel Hendroff, and Reuben Morgan are some of the worship team members that will be featured in the live streaming on www.worshiptogether.com. They will also answer questions and run select videos from the Yahweh DVD.

Yahweh contains organic and contemplative versions of such top Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) songs as "Hosanna," "From The Inside Out," and the No. 1 CCLI song sung by an estimated 40 million people every week in church services around the world, "Mighty To Save."

The CD also includes all the song chord charts that worship leaders can use with their worship teams in their local church services.

Based in Sydney, Australia, Hillsong Church is one of the world's fastest-growing ministries, with a 25,000-plus strong congregation in Australia. Hillsong Music has sold over 11 million albums to date and has earned 30 Gold and Platinum awards around the world.