The Best Hymns of All Time
Arranged for Strings by Colin Kirkpatrick

Book 3

We?re really excited to present the third and last book of our collection of sixty of the best-loved hymns ever composed. The hymns are scored in four parts and could be used with virtually any combination of stringed instruments: string quartet or quintet or any size string ensemble. They are presented in a set of three books and include full four-part instrumental scores plus four separate parts for 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola and cello (and double bass). The bass part is also optional because it doubles the cello part an octave lower. There?s also an optional but useful simplified keyboard part intended for less experienced keyboard players. The left hand plays only the bass part most of the time, with the right hand part kept as simple as possible. The piano part too means that you can use the arrangements as solos, duets or trios. To make the music accessible to less experienced players, the range of the notes has been kept fairly low so that many of the arrangements can be played in first position. However, to produce a brighter and richer sound, a few of the more experienced violinists could play an octave higher. You can hear this effect in the audio samples.

These 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. This is essential music for schools and many churches and contains probably all the hymns you?ll ever need. The scores and all the parts of Book 2 are contained in a single 65-page PDF file.

Book 3 contains the following twenty popular hymns: All Hail the Power of Jesus? Name (Miles Lane); All things Bright and Beautiful (Bright and Beautiful); Alleluia, Sing to Jesus (Hyfrydol); Blessed Assurance (Assurance); Come, Ye Thankful People, Come (St George?s Windsor); Father, Hear the Prayer we Offer (Sussex & Gott Will's Machen); For the Beauty of the Earth (Dix); Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken (Austrian hymn); How Firm a Foundation (Foundation); Jesu, Lover of my Soul (Hollingside); Jesus Loves Me, This I Know (Jesus Loves Me); Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Hymn to Joy); Kum Ba Yah (Afro-American folksong); Mine Eyes have Seen the Glory (Battle Hymn of the Republic); O God, Our Help In Ages Past (St. Anne); Morning has Broken (Bunessan); Praise to the Lord the Almighty (Lob den Herren); Shall We Gather at the River? (Hanson Place); The God of Abraham Praise (Leoni); When Peace Like a River (Ville du Havre).

The audio samples include (1) All things Bright and Beautiful, (2) How Firm a Foundation, (3) Kum Ba Yah and (4) Morning has Broken. The music has been set in string-friendly keys so they are not compatible with the brass collection of the same name.

Song List: Awake There, Arise As a Mother for Her Children Beat the Drums of Welcome Behold, the Holy Lamb of God Be Merciful to Us, O God Bless The Lord, O My Soul Chiuta Is Our Sure Defense Christ Yesu Was Born (Odi, Odi) Come, Let Us Seek Our God's Protection Come, Let Us Walk This Road Together Crowds Following Yesu Everyone's Rejoicing Gift of God to Humankind Glorious Light Has Dawned God Grant That We May Be Transformed God Sends Us the Spirit God's Home Is Here God, We Pray Here in Your Sight Great Chiuta Help Us, God, to Be Peace-makers He Must Die or All Will Perish Humbly in Your Sight If It's Peace You Long For, Friends Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love Just as a Lamb Is Led to the Slaughter Leap, Leap My Soul Let the World Unite and Sing Life of the World Night Has Fallen Our Troubles Do Abound Should We Accept that Evil Means Sing Welcome to Our Savior To Loving Yesu, Our Dearest Friend We're Glad that We Belong to You We May Choose to Walk (Free to Serve) We Remember You, Our Yesu When Our Savior Yesu Went Away Yesu Bids Us Work for Peace and Justice Yesu Born in Bethlehem Yesu Our Child at Home Lies Dying Yesu's Calling You Who Wait to See a King