Celtic Hymn Medley

Description

Some melodies refuse to stay in one place. This captivating song first stole my heart as the hymn “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say.” Then I met it again as the Christmas hymn “Oh Sing a Song of Bethlehem.” In my hymnal it was called KINGSFOLD — but the very same notes are beloved in Ireland as the folk song “Star of the County Down.” I’ve heard it as a haunting ballad, a lilting jig, counted in both 4/4 and 6/8. And it’s always a favorite in every venue I encounter it!

For my CD Hymns & Variations, I wove KINGSFOLD into a lively Celtic-style medley inspired by traditional Irish tune “sets” I’d been studying, where multiple melodies slip seamlessly into one another. For the second melody, I reached for another favorite hymn, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” which I’d learned to the Welsh tune ABERYSTWYTH. In this arrangement, I reimagined not as a lumbering organ piece, but as an exuberant, driving dance.

And to tie them together? I composed an original third melody — unlike a lot of traditional tunes original designed for fiddle, I designed something unmistakably to fit the fingers on the harp, yet still pulses with that fast Celtic rhythm.

The result is a rollicking, joy-filled medley where Irish and Welsh hymnody intertwine with an original dance tune. It’s endlessly fun to play (especially if you dare to take it a little too fast!) and beautifully suited for both lever and pedal harp.

From hymn to folk song to dance, this arrangement invites you to feel the Celtic pulse — and perhaps fall in love with these melodies all over again.

A combination of energetic minor hymn tunes pulled together in a Celtic jig style, perfect for church solo, wedding prelude or student exploring Celtic ornamentation.

• Advanced beginner-intermediate
• Key of E Minor
• No Lever or Pedal Changes
• 3 Minutes