Hills of the North, Rejoice is usually sung in the United Kingdom as an Advent song. Here’s our arrangement for eight handbells and piano. Hills of the North, rejoice, river and mountain-spring, hark to the advent voice; valley and lowland, sing. Christ comes in righteousness and love, He brings salvation from above. Isles of the …
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".
Oct 19
For All the Saints (SINE NOMINE) – for eight handbells and piano
Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote the music for this hymn in 1906. Strangely (or not!), the hymn tune is SINE NOMINE, which is Latin for “without name”. Whether or not it actually has a name, therefore, is for the philosophers to sort out… but the hymn is probably most often used on All Saints’ Day when …
Oct 15
Now Thank We All Our God (NUN DANKET) – for eight handbells
In the U.S., Now Thank We All Our God is one of the hymns that makes an annual appearance in November (because of the national Thanksgiving holiday, of course)… but it really can (should?) be played all year round! Here’s a new eight-handbell arrangement for you to play!
Oct 05
Come, Ye Thankful People, Come (ST. GEORGE’S WINDSOR) – for eight handbells and piano
Come, Ye Thankful People, Come is most often sung in the United States at Thanksgiving. It’s a harvest-is-over song that uses bringing the crop from the fields as an illustration of God bringing His saints home after they’ve completed their earthly responsibilities. Here’s our arrangement of this hymn for eight handbells and piano. Come, ye …
Sep 28
O Little Town of Bethlehem (FOREST GREEN) – for six handbells plus piano
his Christmas carol reflects the quiet joy of the Savior’s birth. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. …
Sep 24
Blessed Assurance (ASSURANCE) – for eight handbells and piano
Our arrangement of Blessed Assurance for eight handbells and piano will work well with your small handbell ensemble (duet, trio, or quartet)! Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. This is my story, this is my …
Sep 10
Jesus es Mi Rey Soberano (MI REY Y MI AMIGO) – for eight handbells
Isn’t it amazing that the King of Kings wants to be our Savior … and our Friend? It’s our joy to make our eight-bell arrangement of this hymn available. Jesús es mi Rey soberano, Mi gozo es cantar su loor; Es Rey, y me ve cual hermano, Es Rey y me imparte suamor. De jando …
Aug 31
Simple Gifts – for six accompanied handbells
Shaker songs are fantastically good as six-bell music! “‘Tis a gift to be simple”, yes… but this arrangement is a lot of fun to play! ‘Tis a gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free ‘Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be, And when we find ourselves in the …
Aug 17
Nyanyikanlah (NYANYIKANLAH) – for six accompanied handbells
Our piano-accompanied six-handbell arrangement of the Indonesian melody NYANYKANLAH (translated as “Hallelujah!”) provides an opportunity to play as a two-bells-each trio. Another possibility is to play as a duet where one ringer plays four bells and the other (perhaps a younger/newer player!) plays two bells. The six bells in the score are accompanied by piano; …
Aug 13
Let All Things Now Living (THE ASH GROVE) – for eight handbells
You’ll enjoy playing this eight-bell arrangement of the ASH GROVE! It’s often encountered in hymnody as Let All Things Now Living. Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving to God the Creator triumphantly raise, who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us, who guides us and leads to the end of our …