Click above to listen to Alleluias Dancing from the album A Thousand Years (2011 Best Neo-Classical Album Nominee – ZMR Awards, and 2011 Notable Sacred Music – Christianity Today). This piece features piano, angelic vocals, English horn, and guitar. If you enjoy, consider purchasing the song, album download, or CD from Amazon, iTunes, or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available).
Is your spirit dancing today?
Mine often needs refreshing and recalibrating toward the “true north” Saint Francis of Assisi wrote so eloquently about in 1225 A.D. in Assisi, Italy. It would be four hundred years before this hymn was published, and set to the tune of a 1623 melody from a German hymnal.
Let the image below, the original melody, and the unique arrangement of All Creatures of Our God and King (all together known as Alleluias Dancing), and Francis of Assisi’s words wash over you today. My hope and prayer is this will put a little more spring in your step, a little more dance in your spirit today.
All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest man both warmth and light.
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
Let them His glory also show.
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
And thou most kind and gentle Death,
Waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
And Christ our Lord the way hath trod.
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
How did today’s music and words speak into your life’s dance?
Now let the vaults of Heaven resound
In praise of love that doth abound
Christ hath triumphed, alleluia!
Sing choirs of angels loud and clear
Repeat their song of glory here
Christ hath triumphed, and He liveth!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Eternal is the gift He brings
Wherefore our hearts with rapture sing,
Christ hath triumphed, alleluia!
Now doth He come and give us Life
Now doth His presence still all strife
Through His triumph Jesus liveth!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
O fill us Lord with dauntless love
Set mind and heart on things above
That we conquer through Thy triumph!
Grant grace sufficient for life’s day
That by our lives we ever say
Christ hath triumphed, and He liveth!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Adoring praises now we sing
And with the heavenly blessed let us sing
Christ hath triumphed, alleluia!
Be to the Father and our Lord
To the Spirit blest, most Holy God
Thine the glory never ending!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Paul Zeller Strodach, 1876-1947
Thank you Charles for this beautiful hymn in response to All Creatures of Our God and King, and my arrangement of this — Alleluias Dancing. Blessings to you! Stanton
PIANO NOTES FLOATING TO HEAVEN…how blessed are you to play it; how blessed are we to hear it…
Thanks so much for listening Donna, and for your encouraging words. I am so glad you love Alleluias Dancing. God’s blessings to you! – Stanton
Such a beautiful, heart-opening arrangement. I downloaded this song last year because it was one of my father’s favorite hymns and listening to it reminds me of those sacred, peaceful times with him in church. Thank you for creating such beautiful music.
Thank you Stacey, I am grateful for your encouraging words and story about your father, and to know my music is a blessing to you. You are welcome, and may God’s peace, hope, and joy be with you today! – Stanton