A festive yet flexible anthem or processional for two-part mixed choir, leader, congregation, handbells, triangle, tambourine, and clapping.
O clap your hands is one of a handful of original compositions by Peter Hallock contained in the Episcopal Church’s transitional Songs for Liturgy, published for the Joint Commission on Church Music by Walton Music, and was the first piece in that publication. The compilation sought to introduce new service music, canticles, hymns, songs, and spiritual songs that utilized different and interesting sounds; many were unaccompanied. Some titles made it into Hymnal 1982, most did not. Many works, like this one, deserve a fresh look.
While Hallock scored this work for two-part mixed choir, leader, congregation, handbells, triangle, tambourine, and clapping, music directors should use instruments available to them—be it separate groups clapping to cover the triangle or tambourine parts, or a piano in place of handbells.
