Doxology, the Old 100th
Praise God from Whom
All Blessings Flow
"Doxology" means "glory saying" or "glory words." Download two different versions of this Thanksgiving song "the Old Hundredth," as it's also called: as a four-part harmony or choral/piano arrangement, or as a lead sheet with the Doxology lyrics.
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
Why do I call it a "Thanksgiving song?" Because giving praise to God for the glory of His deeds and His character is one way of thanking God.
Here is a less traditional version of the Doxology, arranged in a gospel style and sung by a wedding party of groom and groomsmen!
You will notice (if you are not playing a melody-only instrument) that I haven't put the chords in these lead sheets!
Sorry! I might get around to it if enough people ask me for them.
But if you have a knowledge of chord theory and a background in figuring out "What's the I, IV & V chords of this song?" then this will not be too hard to figure out.
In fact, this is an excellent chord theory exercise for your students, piano or guitar!
The Old Hundredth CAN be harmonized with just the I, IV, and V chords. (Challenge your students to figure out the chords to the Doxology!)
But if you wish to have a more traditional sound, here is the order of the chords as I prefer them:
I I V vi V I V I
I I I V vi IV I V
I V I V I IV V I(vi)
I(iv) I vi ii ii I V I
For those of you completely baffled by what I just wrote, here's a brief exercise:
Play the C scale on the piano.
From left to right, that scale is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. (It's the best scale to use for an example, because no black keys are involved in the key of C.)
As you play the piano keys from C to C, say to yourself, "Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do," or "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8."
Those steps are called, in music theory, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th steps of the scale. (1 and 8 are the same: "Do," pronounce "Doh".)
The chord built on the first step of the scale, C, is called "the I chord." Roman numerals are always used for chords in music theory.
Capitol letters are for major chords, and small-case letters are for minor chords.
So the major chords C, F, and G, which is the most common combination of chords in the music we hear in the Western world, are called the I, IV, and V chords.
The minor chords Dm, Em, and Am are called the ii, iii, and vi chords. (The B or vii chord is a different kind of chord, a diminished chord. I'm not going there today... )
If your students don't understand Roman numerals, this is a fun way to introduce them!
Now here is the four-part harmony or piano accompaniment for the Doxology, also in four different keys:
Please scroll down the page for the download links.
Why is it called "The Old Hundredth?" As Wikipedia says,
"Although the tune was first associated with Psalm 134 in the Genevan Psalter, the melody receives its current name from an association with the 100th Psalm, in a paraphrase by William Kethe entitled All People that on Earth do Dwell."
In Psalm 150, we read:
1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.
The lead sheet links:
Download the Doxology lead sheet in the key of A
Download The Old Hundredth lead sheet in the key of Eb
Download "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow" lead in the key of F
Download "Awake My Soul and With the Sun" lead sheet in the key of G
The links to the harmonized melody:
Download Thanksgiving song in the key of A
Download Old Hundredth in the key of Eb
Download song for Thanksgiving in the key of F
Download Awake My Soul in the key of G
Dianna:
Your website is a light in the darkness. THANK YOU for all you do in helping to spread the love of music. It matters!
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Audrey:
I just wanted to tell you that I have found your website EXTREMELY helpful!
I have a young group of children that I have started a youth choir with and I was searching for music ideas and I came across your website. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Liz:
Hello - I just want to say THANK YOU so much for the duet version of Oh Holy night (in Bb too!), which is great, as I have two students at school that are going to sing this in a concert in 3 weeks.
With not much time and no budget, it is so nice to find an arrangement! Thank you.
Shanette, US:
I just purchased O Holy Night to use as a duet for Christmas Eve Mass.
Thank you so much for this simple, easy to read version as my vocalists are not professional and this music won't be quite so intimidating as other arrangements I have. Your expertise is much appreciated!! Merry Christmas!
About the Author
Hi, I'm Dana! (Say that like "Anna".) I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and a newer site, SingTheBibleStory.com.
Like some of you, I've been playing the piano since early childhood, and have added a few other instruments along the way, plus an interest in arranging and composing music.
You can find out more about me and the reason for this website at my About Me page.
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