Here?s a new collection of thirty-two of America?s best-loved hymn tunes for brass, at a bargain price too! The arrangements are intended either as stand-alone pieces that could be used as interludes in a service, or they could be used to accompany solo, choral or congregational singing.

The publication consists of full scores for each hymn plus separate instrumental parts and an optional simplified keyboard part. All the arrangements are in four parts, reflecting the traditional SATB voicing. The parts include 1st trumpet in B flat; 2nd trumpet in B flat; horn in F; horn in E flat; trombone and optional tuba; bass in B flat and bass in E flat. There are also two optional baritone parts in B flat (T.C.) and C (B.C.) in case you need them. They are the same as the tenor part. In some hymns, you might prefer to assign any baritones to doubling the bass or doubling the melody an octave lower. The baritone part in C is also playable by trombone. The trombone and tuba parts appear on a single staff. Of course, you can use any number of instruments to a particular part. The scores and all the parts are contained in a single 178-page PDF file.


The optional keyboard part has been simplified and whenever possible limited to single notes in the left hand part and no more than two-note chords in the right. Using the keyboard part, you can use the arrangements as solos, duets or trios. Because the music has been set in brass-friendly keys, the arrangements are not compatible with the string collection of the same title.

The collection includes the following titles: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Ein? Feste Burg); All Creatures Of our God and King (Lasst uns Erfreuen); All People that on Earth do Dwell (Old Hundredth); Abide with Me (Eventide); All Hail the Power of Jesus? Name (Coronation); Amazing Grace (Trad); At the Cross (Alas and Did My Savior Bleed) (Hudson); Be Thou My Vision (Slane); Blessed Assurance (Assurance); Blest Be the Tie That Binds (Dennis - Nägeli); Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Nettleton); Come We That Love the Lord (St. Thomas); Crown Him with Many Crowns (Diademata); Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah (Cwm Rhondda); Holy, Holy, Holy (Nicea); How Firm a Foundation (Foundation); It is Well with my Soul (Ville du Havre); Jesus Christ is Risen Today (Easter Hymn); Jesus, Lover of My Soul (Hollingside); Jesus Paid it All (All to Christ); Joy to the World (Antioch); Just as I Am, Without one Plea (Woodworth); Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (Hyfrydol); Nearer my God to Thee (Bethany); Praise To the Lord, The Almighty (Lob den Herren); Rock of Ages (Top¬la¬dy); Shall we gather at the River? (Hanson Place); The Day thou Gave us, Lord is Ended (St. Clement); To God Be The Glory (To God be the Glory); There is a Fountain (Cleansing Fountain); What a Friend We Have in Jesus (Converse) and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (Hamburg).

The audio demo contains the following titles (1) Love Divine, all Loves Excelling; (2) Abide with Me; (3) That a Friend we have in Jesus; (4) Nearer my God to Thee; (5) Shall we gather at the River?

Internationally acclaimed guitarist Ellsworth ("El") McMeen has done over 220 solo fingerstyle guitar arrangements and compositions in the last 30 years. He has numerous recordings, books,
and DVD lessons and has concertized throughout the United States.

Of his work, he has selected for this voluminous book
60 pieces with his favorite melodies. (Among them is an instrumental
he composed for his wife, called "Song for Sheila.")

The music is diverse in genre and mood, but each piece is compelling in its own way.
Included are folk tunes, a classical piece, hymns, a patriotic song,
ancient Celtic harp music, lullabies, El's favorite Christmas song
("In the Bleak Midwinter"), El's favorite Irish jig ("The Kid on the Mountain"),
laments, love songs, and Irish airs.

El is included in the Digitaldreamdoor listing of the 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists.
https://tinyurl.com/GreatestGuitarists Several of his recordings are referenced here:
https://elmcmeen.bandcamp.com/

The audio sampler contains all or part of the following selections, in the CGDGAD tuning
except as otherwise indicated. (When El has recorded some of this music, he has used a capo,
usually at fret II or IV, for tonal atmosphere.)

1. America the Beautiful
2. Be Still, My Soul
3. Be Thou My Vision
4. Carolan's Concerto
5. Carolan's No. 179
6. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
7. Give Me Your Hand
8. Hector the Hero
9. In the Bleak Midwinter
10. Jerusalem (Drop D)
11. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
12. Kid on the Mountain
13. My Mary of the Curling Hair
14. Niel Gow's Lament for the Death of His Second Wife
15. Rose of Allendale
16. Song for Sheila