The Southern Harmony hymn tune HOLY MANNA, often sung as Brethren, We Have Met to Worship or God, Who Set the Star-Spangled Heavens, here is set for eight handbells in the range C5-C7. We think of a sparkling stream where all of our cares are washed away by God’s love and care, and want to keep playing it over and over as we continue to be refreshed!
History aside, though… we really enjoy this piece because it’s just Fun to Play!
Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God;
Will you pray with all your power while we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Brethren, see poor sinners round you slumb’ring on the brink of woe;
Death is coming, hell is moving, can you bear to let them go?
See our fathers and our mothers, and our children sinking down;
Brethren, pray and holy manna will be showered all around.
Sisters, will you join and help us? Moses’ sister aided him;
Will you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin?
Tell them all about the Savior, tell them that He will be found;
Sisters, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too;
Let us love and pray for sinners till our God makes all things new.
Then He’ll call us home to heaven at His table we’ll sit down;
Christ will gird Himself, and serve us with sweet manna all around.
Our piano-accompanied six-handbell arrangement of Holy Manna 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; if you don’t happen to have an accompanist available, we also have an accompaniment MP3 available for purchase.
Bells used: G5, A5, C6, D6, E6, G6
Key: C major
Church Calendar: Thanksgiving
Hymn tune: HOLY MANNA
Find metrically-matched hymn texts
Six Handbells with Piano Accompaniment: | ||
Score Package: | $10.00 US | |
Piano Accompaniment MP3: | $4.00 US |
Also available for 8 handbells.
Purchasing this 6-bell arrangement gives you permission to print and maintain up to three copies for your handbell group (plus the accompaniment score) – so you only need to pay once. Purchase also gives permission for performance, broadcasting, live-streaming and video-sharing online. See our licensing agreement for full details, and please remember to mention the title and arranger of the piece on video-sharing sites, social media and any printed materials such as concert programs.
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