Ross Farnworth Sacred Choral Music
Hymn Arrangements
The arrangements shown below are all based on the words and melodies found in the hymnbook of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - so the basic melody of the arrangement will be familiar to you if you are familiar with the hymn.
To hear the computer rendition of the arrangement, please click the arrow button. To see the printed music and/or download the pdf document for the arrangement, please click the "Sheet Music" link.
A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief
Instrumental only.
Violin, Cello and Piano
Piano solo
Abide With Me
The first two verses are unison - women first and men second. The third verse uses all 4 parts for the choir.
SATB, with Flute
Vocal Solo, with Flute
Awake and Arise
SATB
Beautiful Savior
SATB
Based on the Spencer Cornwall arrangement found in The Choirbook. Primary difference is instead of a soprano descant on the last page, all 4 parts have been re-written thru the end with a couple of added "Amens".
Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy
SATB, with optional violin and cello
TTBB
Christmas Piano Preludes
Instrumental only.
Angels We Have Heard On High
Hymn #203, 2 verses
Away in a Manger
Hymn #206, 2 verses
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Hymn #209, 2 verses
It Came upon the Midnight Clear
Hymn #207, 2 verses
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Hymn #208, 2 verses
Silent Night
Hymn #204, 3 verses
The First Noel
Hymn #213, 2 verses
Download all 7 in one file
Come, All Ye Saints Who Dwell on Earth
SATB
Come, Come Ye Saints
Instrumental only.
Piano solo
Come, Follow Me
SATB
1st and 3rd verses use the traditional melody, the 2nd and 4th use an alternate melody and the last verse is different than any of the others.
Come, O Thou King of Kings
SATB
Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd
SSAATTBB
Dearest Children, God Is Near You
Hymn Format
This arrangement uses the original melody and much of the original harmony.
Did You Think to Pray?
SATB
Does the Journey Seem Long?
SATB
This is basically the hymn harmony with some liberties taken in the note values and a couple minor variations.
Each Life That Touches Ours for Good
Vocal Solo, Optional Cello
Families Can Be Together Forever
Church Music Submission (2016-Hymn Arrangements), Finalist.
SAB
SAB, Optional Violin and Cello
Father In Heaven
SATB, Optional Flute
For Our Devotions, Father
SATB
From All That Dwell Below the Skies
SSAATB
The division in the soprano and alto parts is only for a couple of measures in the last verse.
God Be With You Till We Meet Again
Mostly unison for the voices. SATB for the last chorus.
SATB
God Is Love
SATB
1st verse basic hymnbook, 2nd verse men unison, 3rd verse alternate harmony.
God of Our Fathers Known of Old
TTBB
God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand
SSATB
On the last verse the second sopranos carry the melody while the first sopranos have a descant/harmony part.
Church Music Submission (2021-Arrangements for Mixed Chorus), Special Recognition.
Great God, Attend While Zion Sings
SAB
I think this hymn has the prettiest melody in the hymnbook. Accompaniment brings in some of the musical phases from "As the Dew From Heaven Distilling".
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
The "Amen" at the end breaks into 8 parts - but that is the only place and could probably be reduced back to 4 fairly easily.
SATB
How Long O Lord Most Holy and True
SATB
This is basically the hymn harmony with a 1st soprano descant part on the last verse.
I Am a Child of God
SATB
I Know That My Redeemer Lives
On the last chorus there are splits for the tenors and sopranos, and two notes where the altos split.
SATB, Optional Violin and Cello
SATB
I Need Thee Every Hour
SATB, Optional Oboe
The melody to the verses has been altered and the chorus is a new melody. But since the verses were based on the hymn I have included it in this section, rather than the "Original Compositions" section - but a lot of this is new.
I Stand All Amazed
SSAATB
Vocal Solo
I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go
Piano solo
Instrumental only.
In Hymns of Praise
SATB
There is also a new melody inserted in this arrangement (in addition to the traditional melody).
Church Music Submission (2022 - Arrangements for Men's/Women's Chorus), Special Recognition for SSAA version.
SSAA
The choral arrangement requires a good, strong men's section in the choir.
Church Music Submission (2020-Instrumental Music). Special Recognition for piano solo. The piano solo was based on the choral arrangement. Violins were added to the solo for the duet version.
Joseph Smith's First Prayer
SSAATTBB
Piano solo
Violin Duet
Joy to the World
SSATB, Organ, Piano, Violin and Congregation
Let Zion In Her Beauty Rise
SSATB
More Holiness Give Me
SAATBB
The divisions for the altos and the basses are not many. The first verses are mostly unison - women first, men second, all on the last.
Now Let Us Rejoice
SSAATBB
It does break into 7 parts (SSAATBB) for a few notes towards the end - for the most part it is SATB.
O Saints of Zion
SATB
O Thou Kind and Gracious Father
SATB
This does split into 4 parts for the women for a couple of measures in the last verse.
The first verse is women unison, second verse is men unison. The last verse is where the 8 parts are needed. In this arrangement, the second and third verses are reversed. The second verse is the one that begins "Yea Lord we greet thee...", and the concluding verse is the one that begins "Sing choirs of angels..."
The 2nd version has the option of including the congregation on the melody on the last verse. It also has optional violin and cello parts.
SSAATTBB, Optional Violin, Cello and Congregation
Oh, Come All Ye Faithful
Once in Royal David's City
Piano and Optional Organ and/or Congregation
This is designed as accompaniment for congregational singing. "Once in Royal David's City" is hymn number 205 in the Church's Hymnbook. This accompaniment is to add to the organ and congregation. It may also be used as a solo, but the melody is lost on the 3rd verse. There are no changes in harmony so the congregation and organ may use the parts written in the hymnbook and they will fit well together.
Praise the Lord with Heart and Voice
SSAATB
Praise to the Lord the Almighty
The third verse is 4 part men. 1st Sopranos have a descant part on the last verse.
Sopranos divide only on the last chorus.
Praise to the Man
SSATB, with Tenor Solo
Rock of Ages
SATB
Piano solo
The First Noel
TTBB
Church Music Submission (2020-Arrangements for Men's/Women's Chorus), Special Recognition for TTBB.
I found a rendition of the TTBB arrangement on YouTube by Adventus Vocal Group. It's in Romanian (S-a născut Emanuel) and very nicely done. They embellished the accompaniment a little and added some vocal upper harmony on the last phrase - wish I would have thought of it. A link to their performance is included.
Soprano Duet
The Iron Rod
SSAATTBB
The Lord Is My Shepherd
SATB, with Flute
We Ever Pray for Thee
SATB
1st Verse, women only melody. 2nd verse, men only melody. 3rd verse harmonies are the same as the hymnbook. Tag ending may be omitted by going directly from the end of measure 64 to measure 72 and having the choir hold the last chord (the one on 64) for an additional measure.
We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet
SATB
4-part men on the 2nd verse. Piano part on the last verse is not easy.
First verse men unison, second verse women unison with some harmony, last verse is 4 parts. A version of this arrangement with an alternative treatment of the 3rd verse was a Church Music Submission (2010-Hymn Arrangements) Finalist and is published at Music Playlist (churchofjesuschrist.org).
Where Can I Turn for Peace?
Church Music Submission (2021-Arrangements for Men's/Women's Chorus), Award of Merit for TTBB.
This arrangement was performed at the 2022 Annual Church Music Festival, "Rejoice!"
With Wondering Awe
TTBB
Vocal Solo