Tune: BECHLER

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BECHLER

Composer: Johann Christian Bechler
Published in 17 hymnals

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Audio files: MIDI, Recording

PowerPoint
	SING HALLELUJAH, PRAISE THE LORD! (Celeb…

Composer: Johann Christian Bechler

John Christian Bechler (Jan. 7, 1784 – Apr. 18, 1857) was a Moravian bishop, educator, and composer. Born on Oesel Island (now part of Estonia), he was trained in Moravian schools and served in the United States as professor and principal at Nazareth Hall and the Bethlehem Seminary before returning to Europe for wider leadership. An accomplished organist, he composed several anthems and hymn tunes, notably Eternal Praise (also called Bechler), written about 1812 for John Swertner’s text Sing Hallelujah, Praise the Lord. His music remains a cherished element of Moravian worship. J. S. McDuff (from Moravian Church historical records and early-nineteenth-century hymn collections in the public domain, retrieved 9/15/2025) Go to person page >

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Tune Information

Title:	BECHLER
Composer:	Johann Christian Bechler
Meter:	8.6.8.6.8.8.8.6
Incipit:	51122 34543 3221
Key:	A♭ Major
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Texts

Sing Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!

All texts published with BECHLER ^ top

Alternative Tunes

More tunes with meter 8.6.8.6.8.8.8.6 ^ top

Notes

"Recent manuscript studies suggest a date for the tune around 1814 when Bechler served on Staten Island," Albert H Frank, Companion to the 1995 Moravian Book of Worship (Bethlehem, PA: Moravian Music Foundation, 2004), p. 128.

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Timeline

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PowerPoint

SING HALLELUJAH, PRAISE THE LORD! (Celebration Hymnal 13)

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Organ Solo

The Sacred Organ Journal Volume 36 Number 1 September 2001: A Bi-Monthly Anthology for Church Organists
Composer/Editors Mark Barnard; John Christian Bechler
Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2001) pp. 3
The Sacred Organ Journal Volume 36 Number 1 September 2001: The Organist's Companion for the Church Year
Composer/Editors Mark Barnard; John Christian Bechler
Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2001) pp. 3
From Prelude to Postlude: Service Music for the Church Organist
Composer/Editor Roy W. Brunner
Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (1999) pp. 37
The Hymnlet: A Choice Collection of Hymns and Hymntunes from 17th, 18th, & 19th Century American Hymnals, Songbooks and Psalters
Composer/Editor Samuel Walter
Published By: The Organ Historical Society, Inc. (1976) pp. 30