Cecil Frances Alexander wrote All Things Bright and Beautiful in 1849. The joyous text and its happy melody are perfectly matched! Here’s our new arrangement of the hymn tune ROYAL OAK for sixteen handbells. This score is available in C5-B6 and G4-F#6 versions; the latter can be played on a standard two-octave set of handbells. …
Tag: hymn
Hymns are the musical substance of the traditional church. They typically have high doctrinal content with classical/choral music. Many of the older (up to the 20th century) were written with four choral parts for choirs to sing.
Modern hymnals go beyond this definition, however, because continuing history provides more and more choices of music for worship. New hymnals include more international and contemporary songs as well. This is in keeping with the definition "hymn: a religious song or poem of praise to God".
Jan 27
Take My Life and Let It Be (MESSIAH) – for twelve handbells
Hymnody, the body of hymns that we have and sing, often combines the same words with several different tunes. Sometimes we also match the same melody with different words – it can enrich our Christian musical experience. In this case, Louis Hérold wrote the hymn tune MESSIAH, which also works with the same words as …
Jan 24
How Can I Keep From Singing? – Twelve-Handbell Version
Christian joy depends only on God and His everlasting goodness. Because of that, believers have the power to rise above even the most troubling of times and circumstances. Here’s our twelve-bell arrangement of this hymn. No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging. Since Christ is Lord of heaven and …
Jan 20
America the Beautiful (AMERICA/MATERNA) – Handbells, 3 to 5 octaves, Level 4
I think of America the Beautiful as a “wannabe national anthem”, because it says so much about what matters in the country where I live. Our Level 4 arrangement for three to five octaves of handbells will sparkle in your church service or patriotic gathering. O beautiful for spacious skies / For amber waves of …
Jan 14
Come Down, O Love Divine (DOWN AMPNEY) – (Handbells, 3 or 5 octaves, plus handchimes, 3 octaves, Level 3-)
This lovely hymn tune was written by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Here’s our handbell arrangement for three or five octaves of handbells plus three octaves of handchimes. Purchasing the handbell choir version of this arrangement grants permission to print and maintain up to fifteen copies for your handbell ensemble; purchasing the single copy version grants permission …
Nov 29
Jesus Paid It All (ALL TO CHRIST) – for eight handbells
The message of Jesus Paid It All goes far beyond the title. True enough, He gave Himself to pay the penalty of our sins, but the hymn text also intimates that we have an infinite debt to Him that goes along with receiving the free gift that He offers. Of course… it’s impossible to repay …
Nov 08
The Lord Bless You and Keep You (BENEDICTION) – for Sixteen-Handbells
Peter Lutkin composed this famous benediction in 1900. It’s a favorite farewell song at the Bay View Association, a Chautauqua institution located near Petoskey, Michigan. Our arrangement is written in the same key as the original, so your congregation or vocal ensemble can sing the SATB parts along with the handbells. The Lord bless you …
Nov 04
Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken (AUSTRIAN HYMN) – for eight handbells
Here’s the grandiose hymn that also serves as the national anthem of Germany. It was composed by Haydn (possibly with a Croatian song as source material), and today it still inspires Christians around the world. We’ve added our “standard” arrangement for eight handbells to our repertoire! Purchasing this 8-bell arrangement gives you permission to print …
Oct 18
The Heavens Declare Your Glory (FAITHFUL) – for eight handbells
Our arrangement of this joyous hymn is generally appropriate for worship services. It also can be played at Easter as O Joyous Easter Morning. The heavens declare your glory, the firmament your power; day unto day the story repeats from hour to hour. Night unto night replying, proclaims in every land, O LORD, with voice …
Oct 07
Jesus, Good Above All Other (Handbells, 3 octaves, Level 2+)
Jesus is good, and wonderful, and holy, and well… He’s God. What else could He ever be? This is a relatively simple arrangement of the gentle hymn Jesus, Good Above All Other. Purchasing the handbell choir version of this arrangement grants permission to print and maintain up to fifteen copies for your handbell ensemble; purchasing …