Handbell - Level 2 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.953733

Composed by Frank M. Davis, Henry Smart, John Hughes, Robert Lowry, William B. Bradbury, and and George A. Young. Arranged by G. R. Adkison. Christian,Sacred. Score. 10 pages. Gary Ray Adkison #14705. Published by Gary Ray Adkison (A0.953733).

God: Our Leader Medley is a 120 measure arrangement for 4-5 octave handbell choir and 3 octaves of OPTIONAL associated handchimes, although the handchime parts can also be played by handbells. The overall theme is the leadership of God in the life of the Christian. This is a medley of 7 Christian hymns. The first 4 are requests---requests to God to lead us. The last 3 are descriptions of God leading us (responses by God). The 1st request is presented by the handchimes playing Savior Lead Me. This is a simple, easy to play section in the key of D. Still in D, the 2nd request is Lead on, O King Eternal. After a false modulation, the 3rd request is Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us. This features a few bass runs. After a modulation to the key of G, the 4th request starts with Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehova. Also featuring some bass runs, it also makes use of descant lines. The 1st response, also in G, is All the Way My Savior Leads Me. This section is not in the original 3/4 time, but in 4/4 time, although near the end it reverts to the normal 3/4. It makes heavy use of fills and a brief descant line. The 2nd response is a 6/4 version of God Leads Us Along in the key of C. Again, there is a brief descant line. The last response is He Leadeth Me, also in C, that features two descant passages, and bass runs in the last two lines. After the first section of the overall arrangement, the chords used are often significantly more interesting than the chords normally used with these 7 hymns. This arrangement uses various dynamic and tempo markings, in order to achieve musical contrast, and still be true to the character of the original hymns. (The MP3 audio demonstration file provided is in a piano patch (voice), although the actual arrangement is for (and, of course, will sound better with a) handbell choir.) This arrangement is probably a level 2+ (2 plus) degree of difficulty.