Jubilate descants

Several Jubilate composers (especially John Barnard, David Iliff and Noel Tredinnick) have written last verse descants to established popular hymns, bringing them to a fitting and exciting climax. Below are the top 50 Jubilate descants; we hope to add more to this list in the months ahead.

If you don't have a strong soprano line you might consider using these instrumentally with a flute or violin. The scorch score option also gives you the possibility to transpose these descants for a Bb trumpet or clarinet.

1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound (AMAZING GRACE)
2. Angel voices ever singing (ANGEL VOICES)
3. Angels from the realms of glory (IRIS)
4. As with gladness (DIX)
5. Ascended Christ, who gained (DARWALL'S 148th)
6. Away in a manger (CRADLE SONG)
7. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning (EPIPHANY HYMN)
8. Christ triumphant, ever reigning (GUITING POWER)
9. Christians join in celebration (REGENT SQUARE)
10. Come with all joy (FULDA)
11. Come, you thankful people, come (ST GEORGE'S, WINDSOR)
12. Crown him with many crowns (DIADEMATA)
13. Eternal Father, strong to save (MELITA)
14. Glory to Jesus! risen, conquering Son (MACCABAEUS)
15. Go forth and tell! O church of God, awake (YANWORTH)
16. God of God, the uncreated (CORDE NATUS)
17. God who created light (MOSCOW)
18. God, we praise you! God we bless you! (LUX EOI)
19. How the enigma of holiness beckons! (EPIPHANY HYMN)
20. In Christ we died; with Christ we live (ST PETER)
21. Jesus Christ is risen today (EASTER HYMN)
22. Jesus Christ the Lord is born (PUER NOBIS)
23. Jesus comes with clouds (Lo, he comes) (HELMSLEY)
24. Jesus lives! Your terrors now (ST ALBINUS)
25. Let us gladly with one mind (MONKLAND)
26. Lord, for the years (LORD OF THE YEARS)
27. Love divine, all loves excelling (BLAENWERN)
28. Name of all majesty (MAJESTAS)
29. O come, O come Emmanuel (VENI EMMANUEL)
30. O God, our help in ages past (ST ANNE)
31. O little town of Bethlehem (FOREST GREEN)
32. O Lord, who came from realms above (HEREFORD)
33. O worship the King all glorious above (HANOVER)
34. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness (WAS LEBET)
35. On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry (WINCHESTER NEW)
36. Once in royal David's city (IRBY)
37. Praise God for harvest time (MADRID)
38. Praise him, praise him (ST HELENS)
39. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven (PRAISE, MY SOUL)
40. Praise to the Lord, the almighty (LOBE DEN HERREN)
41. Rejoice, the Lord is king! (GOPSAL)
42. Ride on, ride on in majesty (WINCHESTER NEW)
43. The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord (AURELIA)
44. The first nowell (THE FIRST NOWELL)
45. The people who in darkness walked (DUNDEE)
46. The works of the Lord are created in wisdom (STREETS OF LAREDO)
47. Through all the changing scenes of life (WILTSHIRE)
48. To you, O Lord, our hearts we raise (GOLDEN SHEAVES)
49. We plough the fields and scatter (WIR PFLUGEN)
50. What wondrous love is this (WONDROUS)
51. While shepherds watched their flocks (WINCHESTER OLD)