My Soul's Best Song
Incorporating "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" and "Love Lifted Me", "My Soul's Best Song" is an energetic, rhythmic arrangement of two 19th century gospel hymns. It is set for 5-7 octave handbell choir and optional 5 octave handchime choir and offers an exciting and challenging ringing experience for more advanced ringers. The title is taken from the text of "Love Lifted Me", written by James Rowe, born in Devonshire, England, on New Year's Day, 1865. By his own word, he wrote more than nineteen thousand song texts before his death in Wells, Vermont. A shuffle/swing rhythm occurs in the eighth-note accompaniment until measure 48, where the eighth notes become even until the end of the piece.