I Will Give Thanks to the Lord

On an earlier post http://bearhollowmusic.blogspot.com/2006/03/look-ma-im-in-korea.html I mentioned how one of my songs had been translated into Korean.


일　자 : 2008-04-27
제　목 : 사랑성가대“마음 다해 주께 감사 드리리”- R.Lyndel Littleton

Now - through the wonders of the world wid web, google and youtube - I'm able to share a video of a choir singing I Will Give Thanks to the Lord in Korean. How cool is that? Hmmm, I can't get youtube to post it here. You can see it on youtube at

It's kind of funny. I wrote it as a sort of up beat kind of song but the Koreans sing it slow and pretty. I like it both ways.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

I don't think this piece is in print anymore. I ran across this recording because on my "feedjit" on my worship blog - www.hilldaleworship.blogspot.com - I noticed that someone in Japan had googled my name. Wierd! I don't know why anyone in Japan would do that. Unless perhaps Lyndel Littleton is a common name there. I don't think it is since the letter "L" isn't one of their favorite letters...

Anyway, when I clicked on the google link from feedjit I saw this link to the Georgetown College Handbell Ensemble playing an arrangement of mine. It was published by LifeWay several years ago.

Here's what is on the link. (I think the "click here" link will work from blogger.)

Georgetown College Handbell Ensemble
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
arr. R. Lyndel Littleton
Click here if the video does not load automatically.

This is an excerpt recorded on November 4, 1999 at the combined concert of the Handbells, Chapel Brass and String Ensemble.
The Handbell Ensemble is under the direction of Dr. Angela Easterday.

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come, Thou fount of Every Blessing is a great hymn tune. In this arrangement, the bass bells play the accompaniment in 6/8, but when the melody comes in it is in 3/4. It makes for a cool feel to have the bass bells in one meter and the treble in another. I now don't remember if I directed it in 2 (6/8) or in 3. I know it changes later.

There are some interesting, quick key changes in this piece too. It's hard for me to write a piece and keep it in one key. You can hear the meters and the keys easier than I can describe them, so click on the link and listen.

It is published by Beckenhorst. And of course you can buy it from Jeffers Handbell Supply 1-800-JHS-BELL

Listen here

HB216
Handbell Level 4
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
R. Lyndel Littleton

Count Your Blessings

A really fun handbell piece of mine is Count Your Blessings. Here's the description of it found at http://www.handbellworld.com/

"Mix white, beach sand, turquoise water, palm trees, warm sun, a parrot or two and Lyndel Littleton's arrangement of this favorite gospel hymn for a taste of the Caribbean! Both the melody and accompaniment are syncopated with several techniques added to give the effect of steel drums and other island sounds. For further imagery add the optional instruments triangle, maracas, claves, bongos, string bass and guitar. Refreshing!"

The treble bells play a fun synchopated accompaniment and then the bass bells begin playing the melody. At one place there are three different themese going at the same time.

Practice the different parts separately and then put them together. A fun idea for m.74-89 is to have your bass players lay their bells out like a piano (with "black" keys moved up) and then let one ringer play all the bass bells as a solo - like on a big marimba. Then all ringers should step back into place on m.89. This piece is fun to play and fun to watch!

That is how I performed it the very first time it was played. I had written the piece for the handbell choir at Central Baptist Church in Martin. I was their director, but on this piece I played with them. When the choir stepped back and I played the "marimba" bells the crowd loved it!