Lift Every Voice
"Lift eve'ry voice in a song to the Lord, a song of praise, a song of Joy!" so begins the text of this original work for 2-part treble voices with keyboard and 4 optional handbells (A5, B5, C#6 and D6). The mood is up-tempo with slight syncopation and unison and imitative texture in the vocal parts. The bells enter on the last two phrases and ring in half notes in a unison line. The bells could be easily distributed among the singers.