Sovereign Grace Music

Sound+Doctrine

FAQ

WEBSITE

  • Where can I find sheet music for your songs?
    You can download any sheet music for a song from the song page. Under the “Featured On” heading to the right, click on “View Media and Resources” and you’ll find all the available sheet music and arrangements for that song.

  • Where can I buy physical CDs of your albums?
    Due to the increase in digital downloads, we now sell only our newer and most popular albums in CD form. You’ll find a link to buy those on their album page or you can go directly to the Integrity Music Shop.

  • I’m looking for sheet music in a different key than what you offer. What do I do?
    We’re happy to transpose lead sheets and piano scores for you. Simply, contact us and let us know the song, key, and type of sheet music you need it in. We’re also working on uploading ChordPro formats of our songs that are easy to transpose in the appropriate software.

  • I’m looking for a transcribed solo part on one of your recordings, but can’t find it. Do you have it?
    Typically, solo instrument parts recorded on our albums are improvised and not written out. Due to limited resources, we often don’t have the time to transcribe what they play. But if you’ve transcribed one and want to send it to us to post on our site, you can do that here!

  • How can I find songs on a specific theme?
    If you visit this page, you can browse the themes by which we’ve categorized our 500+ songs. You can also browse by a variety of other search criteria (like Scripture, key, liturgical elements, and more) by clicking the items listed on the right side of the page.

  • Do you have a Scripture reference index for your songs?
    Yep! Because the songs we sing should enable the word of Christ to dwell in us richly (Col. 3:16), we base them on Scripture. You can view the index of Scripture references here. Those references are also listed on each song page.

  • Do you have any orchestrations for your songs?
    We have sheet music for a number of string, brass, and choral arrangements, as well as various orchestrations available on our site. The easiest way to find them is by searching for a specific arrangement type on our search page. We also offer full orchestrations (PDF and midi file) on SovereignGraceMusic.Bandcamp.com.

  • Do you all offer multitracks for your songs? 
    We don’t currently offer multitracks for all of our albums. However, we are working on making available stems from our newest albums. You can find them on Multitracks.com as they become available. We also encourage the use of live musicians in Sunday gatherings!

  • Do you offer accompaniment tracks? 
    Yes! We link to them on every song page (under “Featured On”). You can also find them on Bandcamp.com. (Accompaniment tracks are the originally recorded tracks with the vocals removed)

  • Who designed this site?
    We are indebted to Mere Agency for their dedicated, excellent, humble, generous help in making this website for us so that we can serve more churches with our music!

OUR STORY

  • How long has Sovereign Grace Music been around? What’s your story?
    Sovereign Grace Music is an outgrowth of the family of churches known as Sovereign Grace Churches. In 1984 we produced our first cassette tape, Mighty God. As our churches grew we started looking for a way to distribute more songs that we were writing for congregational worship. So, Steve Cook recorded 16 song service tapes of about 8 songs each for that purpose, followed by a series of 9 Come & Worship recording projects. During this same time, we also recorded three albums with Word’s HeartCry label. In the early 2000s we moved towards making our albums centered on a specific theme. Since then, we’ve recorded over 30 albums. Bob Kauflin has been involved in Sovereign Grace Music since the mid-80s, and is the current Director of Sovereign Grace Music.

  • Every Sovereign Grace Music album seems to emphasize strong theological content. What has driven your decision to produce music like this? 
    God gave us singing as one way of expressing our love and devotion to Him. But it’s more than that. Singing enables us to learn, rehearse, remember, and respond to the truths of who God is and what He’s done, especially in sending Jesus Christ to redeem us. One of the primary reasons God commands us to sing to him is so that his Word might fill our hearts and our minds. Colossians 3:16 says it like this: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” While singing isn’t the only way we teach and admonish one another when we gather, it certainly is one of the ways God intends that to happen. It’s also clear from the Psalms that words are more critical in our praise of God than the music we use. Otherwise God would have given us an accompanying soundtrack. The emotional fire of our singing needs doctrinal fuel. That’s why theology is important in the songs we sing.

  • Seems like you intentionally don’t record other people’s songs. Is that true?
    We have done some covers back in the mid-80s, as well as on the Next 2009 Live and the Together for the Gospel Live I, II, and III albums. We don’t do them very often because we want to provide opportunities for Sovereign Grace songwriters to use their gifts. But we are overjoyed when God raises up so songwriters from other churches and ministries to serve the church with Christ-exalting songs!

  • Are all the musicians that play on your albums from Sovereign Grace churches?
    The musicians on our albums have come from a variety of sources. We’ve used Nashville studio musicians, members of bands like Phatfish, GLAD, and Enfield, musicians here in Louisville, KY, and in Sovereign Grace Churches.

  • What makes Sovereign Grace Music distinctive and what role (if any) do you endeavor to play in the world of evangelical worship music?
    We don’t consider our music “distinctive” in the sense that nobody else is doing what we’re doing. We’re happy to be one of an increasing number of individuals, churches, bands, and ministries that want to provide songs for the church characterized by theologically-informed, Christ-exalting lyrics, singable melodies, and creative musical arrangements. Because our theological blend combines elements of Reformed and Continuationist theology, our music seems to benefit both conservative churches wanting to broaden their musical styles as well as charismatic churches looking for a greater biblical depth in their songs.

  • Do you know of any other artists who share the same values as you guys?
    In God’s kindness, there are many artists these days who desire to produce Christ-exalting songs for the local church. Some of them are Brook Hills Music, Enfield, Gospel Song Union, Indelible Grace Music, Keith and Kristin Getty, Matt Boswell, Matt Searles, Norton Hall Band, Sandra McCracken, Sojourn Music, The Corner Room Music, Immanuel Worship, and the Village Church.

SONGS

  • Who writes your songs?
    The majority of our songs are written or co-written by members of Sovereign Grace Churches.

  • Who decides the theme for each album you produce?
    Ultimately, Bob Kauflin bears that responsibility, but he draws from a multitude of counselors (songwriters, Sovereign Grace leaders, Sovereign Grace Music production team, etc.).

  • How, when, and where are your songs written?
    Most songs start at our songwriting retreats, which usually take place once a year. We gather our songwriters together for a few days of teaching, writing, and fellowship. Over those few days we usually end up with about 30-40 new songs to review, edit, and craft further. Each retreat tends to focus on writing for one or two upcoming albums. Here’s a little glimpse into what those retreats look like.

  • Would you mind if I changed the lyrics to one of your songs?
    Thank you for asking! As a matter of practice, we don’t give permission to change, remove, or add lyrics to our songs. We do this in order to protect the integrity of the songwriter’s original work, as well as to avoid the confusion of having multiple versions of a song in circulation. Bob Kauflin wrote a helpful post on this here. If you have any remaining questions, contact us and we’d be happy to discuss them with you.

  • How do I get permission to use one of your songs? 
    The Permissions page should help you with that. If you still have questions after reading that, contact us.

GETTING INVOLVED

  • How do I stay updated on new resources and album releases with you guys?
    You can sign up for our email newsletter here!

  • Will Sovereign Grace Music publish, promote, listen to, record, or give my music a chance?
    Unfortunately, we can barely find enough time to do all those things with our own music! We’d encourage you to show your songs to musicians in your local church to get their feedback.

  • What about submitting a song for review? 
    Due to our limited time and resources, we only review and publish songs from our team of songwriters that are a part of Sovereign Grace Churches.

  • I’ve made an arrangement of one of your songs and would love to share it with you all. Is that ok?
    Definitely! Send us the Sibelius/Finale file (if available) and a PDF to be considered for posting on our website. If it’s an orchestration, a MIDI MP3 would be helpful. Thanks!

  • Can I audition to be part of a Sovereign Grace Music album?
    Our first priority is to give an opportunity for people already serving in their local Sovereign Grace church to use their gifts to serve the wider body of Christ. We’ll occasionally ask friends of Sovereign Grace Music to participate as well. If you are a musician serving in a Sovereign Grace church and want to be considered for a future album, but don’t have a lot of experience recording in a studio, we suggest investing time in that first. If you do have recording experience and want to get involved, send us a couple demos (of differing dynamic ranges) to review.

  • I’d like to lead songs for my church, but I need help. Where do you suggest I begin?
    A great place to start is to get involved in your local church. Talk to your pastor or the individual in charge of the music at your church and tell them you want to grow. Here are a few great resources on what God has to say about the role of corporate worship:

  • Can I post a video of one of your songs on YouTube, Vimeo, etc?
    Visit our Permissions page to find out more info on how and when you can use our music online.

TRANSLATIONS

If we didn’t answer your question here, check out our About or Permissions page, or contact us.