This handbell arrangement of For the Beauty of the Earth by Conrad Kocher is set by Daniel Gibby for 5-7 octaves hand bells and 5-7 octaves hand chimes.
This beautiful and purposeful arrangement of the beloved Thanksgiving hymn is meant to remind participants and listeners of the beauty of God’s creation. The motif of “All Creatures of Our God and King” noticeably repeats throughout, while the verses transition from pensive to joyous and back again.
Hand chime parts counter and complement the handbells. Ringing techniques include R, LV, Table mallets (ML), Singing Bell (SB), Suspended Mallet (+), and Random Ring (RR).
For the Beauty of the Earth
for 5-7 octaves handbells and hand chimes
For the Beauty of the Earth Hymn Lyrics which inspired Daniel Gibby to make this handbell arrangement
For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flow’r,
Sun and moon, and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
Text by: Folliott S. Pierpoint,