Joy to the World (Congregation)
About the Song
Here’s an example of an arrangement I hate to even call an “arrangement.” It was designed as an accompaniment to support a large congregation, and its predominant virtue is volume. Though the organ score is just the basic hymn as found in the 1985 LDS hymnal, it does contain a few extra measures and a key change so your organist will need to play from this score. The piano score contains all the extras to fancy up the standard hymn. I wouldn’t recommend this one as an accompaniment for a choir presentation–it’s too repetitive.
Directors, you will need to hold and cue your congregations well, as they will need to hold the last note of each verse longer than they expect, and the last three notes of the final verse are doubled. They can sing unison or use the harmony parts as written in their hymnals.
Sheet Music Downloads
Lyrics
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Many years ago our daughter started playing this at Christmas in her ward. Now two granddaughters carry on the tradition in their ward every year, and everyone loves it. At our family Christmas gatherings we just have the piano part–long memorized by our granddaughters–and we all sing along with that since we know it so well. Thank you again for this very soul-stirring arrangement. And for sharing your talents so freely with everyone.
I am assuming these are meant to be played together as an organ/piano duet? Or should I just be chosing one or the other for my congregation?
That’s correct. The organ provides the (mostly) standard SATB accompaniment for congregational singing and the piano adds the spice and punch.
Same here. It us hard fir me to direct the congregation snd know where to come inn, etc since I dont play piano or organ
Do you by chance have an arrangement of Joy to the World for a choir to sing it and then the congregation join the choir on the last verse? Our stake is planning a community Christmas concert with churches of other faiths and we were thinking as the closing song it would be nice if all of the choirs from the different churches joined together in singing a Christmas hymn and then the congregation joining in on the last verse. We’ve done this in the past with just the stake choir singing, and the congregation, which included the other choirs, joining in on the last verse of Silent Night, but this year we thought it would be nice to sing Joy to the World and have all the choirs sing together up on the stand.
Is there by any chance a full score (piano, organ, lyrics) of this song? Please?!
Our ward did this last year, and I have misplaced my copy. It is so beautiful that we want to do it again.
This is wonderful! Thank you! I will have to modify it slightly to match the way our music leader directs it, but other than that it should work great! I was looking for something just like this that would enhance the hymnal version without being too showy, and would fit with what the organist is already playing
More than a few years ago, at least 12, I used this version of Joy to the World at the closing of our ward Christmas Sacrament meeting. Because our ward includes a popular resort area in Hawaii, we are used to many visitors every Sunday. That particular day, there were 3 apostles visiting. (I’m not sure that it’s proper to name names…)
But afterwards one of the wives approached me and asked about that wonderful accompaniment. I told her it was from your website. And a couple minutes later, her husband approached me with the same question! I mentioned that his wife had just asked the same thing. He laughed and said they had mentioned how nice the arrangement was to each other.
( I’m planning to use it this December at our stake Christmas musical fireside. )
What would the world do without Sally DeFord music? I’m forever grateful that you have shared your talents so freely and generously with so many. One of my very favorite parts of the holiday season is performing this (and/or some of your others) during Sunday meetings. It just wouldn’t be Christmas for me without it! Your website is a much loved resource for me and so many other musicians that I know. Heartfelt thanks, and Merry Christmas to you!
Thank you for all of your beautiful arrangements. I love that so many include an instrumental countermelody part. I am wondering if you have an instrument part for “Joy to the World”. I am hoping to add a violin to this number. Do you already have a instrumental countermelody arranged for this that I might be granted access to?
Hello, curious if you have a violin part written for this arrangement? I would love a copy of you do!
Can I request a full score with lyrics? It would make it much easier for the music director to bring in the congregation at the correct places (rather than looking back and forth between three different music parts).
This might happen… someday… when I have an extra day or two in the week, when I don’t have a house full of company, and when we’re not all sick. 😉 In the meantime, good old analog tools will have to do… pen… pencil… crayon… 🙂
Haha, thanks. I may have to resort to using a pencil this week. Hope you all feel better soon.
Thanks!
Is this a good arrangement to play 4 hands on organ and piano together? I love some of your other Chtistmas hymns that have been written just for that reason. It really enhances the congregational singing and spices things up!
Is there a choir version that sings with the congregation adding / augmenting the arrangement and the congregation to sing together?
Sang this is church last Sunday in Hudson Oaks Ward, Texas–it was wonderful to feel like I was part of a huge ‘choir’!!! Great arrangement.
Love this arrangement! Thank you! We have used it more than once.
Is there a recording of this?
I found a video of someone playing it on YouTube (not by Sally deFord).
https://youtu.be/7ZNEVOikCgg
i found one onYouTube…I love this arrangements and introduce it to the music chairman at every ward I have been in since I discovered it. (3 wards)
Thank you very much for your sheet music. It has helped our Parish here in Sakinaka, Mumbai, India into a full fledged choir group. I have used these resources for every ocassions in the Parish & School
Thank you for sharing your music so freely! I am the Music Director of a Catholic Church with a small, but capable choir. I’ve used your Joy to the World for the last 3 years with our Midnight Mass. I found your site through the LDS Music site. Even though our theological differences prevent me from using some of your music, there is still an abundance of music that I can use. I am always pleased when we can stretch across the aisle and celebrate our similarities and music is a divine way of drawing people together. Thank you for letting this Music Director with a small budget have access to quality music for my choir and church!
Dawn, I totally agree with you! Music is a perfect way to share the things we love in common. 🙂
Thank you for your wonderful music. I am very excited to use this arrangement for Christmas. By any chance could you write a flute part to go with this. I love having Choir, Congregation, Organ and piano arrangements, especially during the holidays. Adding the flute is extra special and I have someone who can play.
Thank you so much for sharing your music with us.
This is such a fun arrangement! It’s very forgiving for the pianist since the organ and congregation are both happening at the same time. It’s become a tradition in our ward to sing as the closing hymn for the past few years. The one tiny suggestion I have is to add the lyrics to the piano part. I had to write them in because if I happen to get lost there’s not a good way to figure out where I’m at again. Haha…maybe that’s just me though.
I so agree! I love just having the music for me as an organist and pianist, but not all ward music directors know music super well and it really throws them off. It would be nice to have a full score for them.
Yes please, one with the lyrics posted below the music would be helpful, thank you!
This might happen… someday… when I have an extra day or two in the week. 😉 In the meantime, Kristy has it right. Good old analog tools… pen… pencil… crayon. 🙂
I love this arrangement. We are going to use it in our sacrament meeting program. Thank you for sharing your talents with us.