Joy to the World

I have several important memories about the creation of this piece. I knew I wanted to arrange this hymn for my women's choir in 2016. Ideas started coming, but with a four-hand piano accompaniment. I thought, "I don't know how to do that!" Then, I felt like the Lord said, "I can teach you..." And so I began, using Dan Forrest's "O Come All Ye Faithful" as a reference (great piece with 4-hand piano!)

I remember creating this arrangement in my home...playing the things I was feeling as best I could with only two hands. I could FEEL this one...it was POWERFUL! I felt like I was creating it for the Lord. For His coming. This is not just a Christmas song to me...it is about the JOY we will feel when He comes again! One moment stands out as I played the ending of the accompaniment in my home - I got to the end, and it was INTENSE! My 10 year old son, looked up and said, "Mom, wow!" I think he could feel it too.

One of my favorite things about this piece, is that I had to finish it without a piano...another thing I don't usually do. I almost always write at the piano. But as the deadline for this piece neared, I prayed I would have TIME to finish it. My husband and I were on a trip to San Diego. On the way home, we ended up staying in the San Diego airport for 9 HOURS due to some issue with our plane. I realized the Lord had granted me time...I had my laptop and some headphones...but no piano. I prayed and worked and listened and prayed and worked and was able to finish this arrangement! To me, it was truly a miracle and an answer to prayers. 

You'll need two excellent pianists, and either SSAA or SATB. In the SSAA version, you need some really high sopranos. :) The SATB is a bit simpler, but still very exciting. 

Voicing: SATB - OR - SSAA

Accompaniment: 4-hand piano

Topics: Christmas, Second Coming


Lyrics: Isaac Watts, 1674–1748; alt. by William W. Phelps, 1792–1872


Music: George F. Handel, 1685–1759

Arranged: Rachel P. Mohlman

LYRICS

 Joy to the world, the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King!
Let ev’ry heart prepare him room,
And Saints and angels sing,
And Saints and angels sing,
And Saints, and Saints and angels sing.

Rejoice! Rejoice when Jesus reigns,
And Saints their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more will sin and sorrow grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He’ll come and make the blessings flow
Far as the curse was found,
Far as the curse was found,
Far as, far as the curse was found.

Rejoice! Rejoice in the Most High,
While Israel spreads abroad
Like stars that glitter in the sky,
And ever worship God,
And ever worship God,
And ever, and ever worship God.