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.

Volume 1 of our Patriotic collection contains four classic patriotic tunes and three complete Sousa marches. Altogether this has 15 minutes of music that both you and your audience are sure to love.

These arrangements can be played with anywhere from 3 to 7 parts, suitable for a small chamber group, accompaniment for a choir, or a full band or orchestra (school, community, or professional). This is one of the most versatile collections you'll ever use!

To demonstrate the flexibility of this collection, the audio clip has "America the Beautiful" performed as a full concert band, a string orchestra, and a woodwind trio.


The songs included in Volume 1 are:

The Star-Spangled Banner (US National Anthem), by John Stafford Smith.
America the Beautiful, by Samuel Ward.
Battle Hymn of the Republic ("Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory").
My Country, 'Tis of Thee ("America", known as "God Save the King/Queen" in England).
Stars and Stripes Forever, by John Philip Sousa.
Washington Post March, by John Philip Sousa.
Semper Fidelis, by John Philip Sousa.


These songs are also available separately through the publisher link above.

Each song is in its original key, so it is easy to combine these with your own choir or piano/organ parts.

This collection contains a full score, as well as individual parts in all the appropriate clef and transposition to support the following ensembles:

Brass trio, quartet, quintet, and sextet.
Woodwind trio, quartet, quintet, and sextet.
String trio, quartet, quintet, and sextet.
Clarinet trio, quartet, quintet, and sextet.
Saxophone trio, quartet, and quintet.
Mixed trio, quartet, quintet, and sextet, with optional percussion.
Wind ensemble, brass ensemble, string orchestra, full orchestra, and full band.


The parts are described as follows:

Part 1 [D4-Ab5] is the main melody. Flute/Piccolo, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, Alto Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Bb Trumpet, Violin, Viola.
Part 2 [G3-Eb5] has some B-section melody and harmony. Bb Clarinet, Alto/Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, French Horn, Bb Trumpet, Violin, Viola.
Part 3 [G3-Bb4] is additional harmony. Bb Clarinet, Alto/Bass Clarinet, Alto/Tenor Saxophone, French Horn, Bb Trumpet, Baritone, Trombone, C/Bb Euphonium, Violin, Viola, Cello.
Part 4 [F2-C4] is the main bass line. Bass Clarinet, Baritone/Bass Saxophone, Bassoon, French Horn, Trombone, Bass Trombone, C/Bb Euphonium, Tuba, Cello, Bass.
Part 5 [E2-C4] is other harmony. Bass Clarinet, Bass Saxophone, Bassoon, French Horn, Trombone, Bass Trombone, C/Bb Euphonium, Tuba, Cello, Bass.
Part 6 [E2-F4] is the main melody down an octave, with some additional notes. Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, Trombone, C/Bb Euphonium, Cello, Bass.
Part 7 is an optional percussion part (snare drum, cymbal, bass drum) that can be added to any of the above combinations, or skipped entirely.

We recommend the following combinations:

Trio: Parts 1, 2, 4 (4 works better than 3 for trio).
Quartet: Parts 1, 2, 3, 4.
Quintet: Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Sextet: Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Septet: Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

Be sure to also check out our three volumes of Christmas Carols for All!