Shaker songs are fantastically good as eight-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 …
Category: Church Music
Just As I Am (WOODWORTH) – Eight handbells
Charlotte Williams wrote Just as I Am in 1840. It’s been used for altar calls with tremendous frequency, but it also is a poignant solitary meditation of faith. Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidd’st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, …
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (CWM RHONDDA) – Eight handbells
Fanny Crosby wrote Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah, which is sung as a prayer to God for leading and strength. Guide me, O my great Redeemer / pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but Thou art mighty / hold me with Your powerful hand. Bread of heaven, bread of heaven / feed …
All the Way My Savior Leads Me (ALL THE WAY) – Eight handbells
Fanny Crosby wrote some of America’s most beloved hymns in the nineteenth century. All the Way My Savor Leads Me is one of her songs of faith and devotion to God. All the way my Savior leads me / What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy / Who through life …
The King of Love My Shepherd Is (ST. COLUMBA) – Eight handbells
Henry Baker wrote The King of Love My Shepherd Is based on Psalm 23, first publishing it in Hymns Ancient and Modern in 1868. This arrangement will appeal to you because of its beauty as well as its musical variety! The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never. I nothing lack if …
O Worship the King (LYONS) – Eight handbells
The text O Worship the King has been matched with a number of melodies. This arrangement uses the LYONS hymn tune. O worship the King all-glorious above, O gratefully sing His power and his love: Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days, Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise. O tell of His might …
When Morning Gilds the Skies (LAUDES DOMINI) – Eight handbells
We just love this eight-bell arrangement of When Morning Gilds the Skies because it has… well, that “morning” quality on a cool spring day when the sun rises gently in the east over hills of flowers. When morning gilds the skies my heart awaking cries: May Jesus Christ be praised! Alike at work and prayer, …
Were You There? (WERE YOU THERE?) – Eight handbells
The familiar African-American spiritual does indeed fit into eight bells! Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree? Were you …
Kingsfold (KINGSFOLD) – Eight handbells
The English tune KINGSFOLD has been matched with many hymn texts. Its solemn/meditative feel lends itself well to thoughts of great depth. One such text is O Sing A Song of Bethlehem; the metrical index search link below provides a way to identify other lyrics matched with the tune. O sing a song of Bethlehem, …
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded (HERZLICH TUT MICH VERLANGEN) – Eight handbells
Few hymns have had a more enduring effect on the Church than the Crucifixion remembrance, O Sacred Head, Now Wounded. O sacred head, now wounded with grief and shame weighed down, Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, your only crown. O sacred head, what glory and blessing you have known! Yet, though despised and gory, I …
