Ring Out, Ye Bells! is a joyful Christmas carol for SATB chorus and piano. Here, an exuberant piano part mimics the powerful resonance of harps and bells.

 

This piece sets a text by Paul Laurence Dunbar and was premiered by VocalEssence (Philip Brunelle, director) as a winner of their 2013 Welcome Christmas Carol Contest.

 

Peruse or purchase all three voicings of this piece (accompanied by piano) at Graphite Marketplace.

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The new chorus & strings and chorus & orchestra arrangements of this piece are now available. If budget is a barrier to programming this piece with your ensemble, please reach out for more flexible pricing options.

 

 

TEXT

 

Ring out, ye bells!

All Nature swells

With gladness at the wondrous story, —

The world was lorn,

But Christ is born

To change our sadness into glory.

 

Sing, earthlings, sing!

To-night a King

Hath come from heaven's high throne to bless us.

The outstretched hand

O'er all the land

Is raised in pity to caress us.

 

Come at his call;

Be joyful all;

Away with mourning and with sadness!

The heavenly choir

With holy fire

Their voices raise in songs of gladness.

 

The darkness breaks

And Dawn awakes,

Her cheeks suffused with youthful blushes.

The rocks and stones

In holy tones

Are singing sweeter than the thrushes.

 

Then why should we

In silence be,

When Nature lends her voice to praises;

When heaven and earth

Proclaim the truth

Of Him for whom that lone star blazes?

 

No, be not still,

But with a will

Strike all your harps and set them ringing;

On hill and heath

Let every breath

Throw all its power into singing!

 

—Paul Laurence Dunbar​

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