Song of Thanksgiving

Composer
Difficulty
Moderately Easy radio_button_checked radio_button_checked radio_button_unchecked radio_button_unchecked radio_button_unchecked
Voicing(s)
Psalm
136
Instrumental Only?
No
Description

Grade 3-6 Children's Choir for unison treble voices (with opt. 2nd part) and organ (or piano). A Great version of this anthem for kids! Rythmic and joyful.  Also available for SAB OR SATB choirs.

  • Text Source: John Milton (1608-1674)
  • Worship Use: Praise/Thanksgiving
  • Vocal Part(s): Unison treble voices with optional 2nd part
  • Vocal Range: d to f#’
  • Key: D major – F major – D major
  • Meter: 2/2
  • Accompanying Instrument: Organ (or piano)

Teaching Guide

The changing tonalities in this anthem provide wonderful material for teaching more about keys and key relationships. Each two bar phrase, rehearsed  in ascending half steps, yields an accessible set of anthem based vocalizes to reinforce memory of melodic fragments. Divided voices occur only in m. 44, m. 46, and mm. 51-54, but accurate tuning is imperative. Practice tuning each individual interval before attempting to put that interval in the context of the bar of music.

Audio
Lyrics

Let us with a gladsome mind
Praise the Lord, for he is kind;
For his mercies ay endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

Let us blaze his name abroad,
For of gods he is the Lord,
For his mercies ay endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

He the warm and golden sun
Causes in its course to run,
And the moon to shine at night,
mid her starry sisters bright.

All things living he doth feed,
his full hand supplies their need.
For his mercies ay endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.