Description

“And the Trees Do Moan” is a harmonically intriguing arrangement of a Southern Mountain Folk Song. It is written in c minor, but has many accidentals as well as suggestions for damping certain bells. With a mix of chords and flowing passages, it is 83 measures of listening interest. Two verses of text are printed at the end of the piece. Though specified as a handbell piece, because of the few special techniques required, it is possible that a 5 octave chime choir may be able to ring it.

In the valley of Judea, Cold and wintry blown, Christ was born one frosty morning, And the trees do moan. Darkened skies, and men a-stumbling; High above there shone One bright star a-moving Eastward, Where the tress do moan. Herod and the ruling Romans Stately sat upon the throne, Sent the soldiers out a-looking, And the trees do moan, And the trees do moan. Mary took her little baby, Set out all alone; Down in Egypt land they tarried, Where the trees do moan. Jesus then became a carpenter, Worked with wood and stone; Nails he drove and cross-arms fashioned, And the trees do moan. There one day while in the forest black, One tree he picked for his own, A Christmas tree, an evergreen one, And the trees do moan, And the trees do moan.