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THE GREEN HILL (Stebbins)

Composer: George C. Stebbins

Stebbins studied music in Buffalo and Rochester, New York, then became a singing teacher. Around 1869, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, to join the Lyon and Healy Music Company. He also became the music director at the First Baptist Church in Chicago. It was in Chicago that he met the leaders in the Gospel music field, such as George Root, Philip Bliss, & Ira Sankey. At age 28, Stebbins moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where he became music director at the Claredon Street Baptist Church; the pastor there was Adoniram Gordon. Two years later, Stebbins became music director at Tremont Temple in Boston. Shortly thereafter, he became involved in evangelism campaigns with Moody and others. Around 1900, Stebbins spent a year as an evangelist in I… Go to person page >

Tune Information

Title: THE GREEN HILL (Stebbins)
Composer: George C. Stebbins (1878)
Meter: 8.6.8.6 with refrain
Incipit: 33343 32135 55433
Key: E Major
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

George Coles Stebbins (b. East Carlton, NY, 1846; d. Catskill, NY, 1945) composed THE GREEN HILL in 1877 to accompany Cecil F. Alexander's hymn “There Is a Green Hill Far Away.” The tune was published in Gospel Hymns No.3 (1878). The slow harmonic rhythm and mostly stepwise melody build to a climax in the last line. This music bears an animated tempo, but organists must be sure to tie over many of the bass tones.

Stebbins grew up on a farm and attended a small country school. At the age of thirteen he enrolled in a singing school and became so enthralled with music that he decided to make it his career. In 1869 he moved to Chicago, where he worked at the Lyon and Healy Music Company and became music director at the First Baptist Church. There he also became acquainted with famous gospel musicians Root (PHH 93), Bliss (PHH 479), and Sankey (PHH 73). In 1874 he moved to Boston and became music director of the Clarendon Baptist Church and later of Tremont Temple Baptist Church.

Associated with Dwight L. Moody and Ira D. Sankey from 1876 until 1899, Stebbins traveled on their evangelism campaigns throughout England and the United States as well as in India, Egypt, and Palestine. Along with Sankey and McGranahan, he edited and published three editions of Gospel Hymns (1878-1891). He also edited The Northfield Hymnal (1904) for Moody's Bible Conference in Massachusetts. Stebbins composed some fifteen hundred songs, many of them under the pseudonym "George Coles." His Reminiscences and Gospel Hymn Stories (1924) are a helpful account of gospel music in the urban revivals of the late nineteenth century.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988

Timeline

Arrangements

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations

  • Two Hundred One Hymn Tune Prelude Miniatures
    Composer/Editor Mark Winchester
    Published By: Frog Music (2005) pp. 59

Organ Solo

  • The Organist's Library Volume 55
    Composer/Editor Brian Glyncannon
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2014) pp. 29
  • O Sacred head: An Organ Collection for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter
    Composer/Editors Michael Shea; Lucy Ann Warriner
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2010) pp. 18
  • Communion Call: Meditations for Organ
    Composer/Editors Eugene McCluskey; Brian Glyncannon
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1996) pp. 39
  • Easy Organ Library Volume 15: A Collection of Organ Voluntaries for Church Use
    Composer/Editor Lucy Ann Warriner
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1994) pp. 24
  • The Organist Volume 97 Number 1 March 1993: A Bi-Monthly Publication for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors James Mansfield; Lucy Ann Warriner
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1993) pp. 24
  • Let Us Break Bread Together: Organ Arrangements for Communion Service
    Composer/Editor Harold H. DeCou
    Published By: Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc. (1992) pp. 34
  • The Organ Portfolio Volume 55 Number 3 February 1992: A Bi-Monthly Anthology for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors Dorothy Wells; Lucy Ann Warriner
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1992) pp. 9
  • The Organist's Easter Companion
    Composer/Editor Geoffrey R. Lorenz
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1984) pp. 10
  • The Organ Portfolio Volume 46 Number 3 February 1983: A Bi-Monthly Anthology for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors Dorothy Wells; Lani Smith
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1983) pp. 14
  • Easy Organ Music for Lent and Easter
    Composer/Editors Dorothy Wells; Roger C. Wilson
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1982) pp. 18
  • Gospel Hymn Voluntaries Number 4 for the Organ
    Composer/Editor Robert J. Hughes
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1981) pp. 24
  • Gospel Hymn Voluntaries Number Four: For the Organ
    Composer/Editor Robert J. Hughes
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1981) pp. 24
  • Holy Week Hymns and Classics: Arranged for Organ
    Composer/Editor Albin C. Whitworth
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (1981) pp. 26
  • In Sacred Memory: Communion Meditations for Organ
    Composer/Editors Eugene McCluskey; Robert J. Hughes
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1980) pp. 8
  • The Easter Promise: Easy Organ Voluntaries for the Easter Season
    Composer/Editors Dorothy Wells; Lani Smith
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1978) pp. 20
  • The Organist Volume 81 Number 6 January 1978: A Bi-monthly Magazine for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors Roger C. Wilson; Robert J. Hughes
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1978) pp. 10
  • The Organist Volume 82 Number 1 March 1978: A Bi-Monthly Publication for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors Roger C. Wilson; Lani Smith
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1978) pp. 34
  • Emergency Organ Book: For All Occasions
    Composer/Editor Dorothy Wells
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1976) pp. 28
  • Emergency Organ Book for All Occasions: Christmas Palm Sunday
    Composer/Editors Dorothy Wells; Robert J. Hughes
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1976) pp. 28
  • The Organist Volume 79 Number 1 March 1975 Easter Issue: A Bi-Monthly Publication for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors Roger C. Wilson; Edward Broughton
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1975) pp. 36
  • The Amateur Organist No. 68: A Collection of Organ Voluntaries for Church Use
    Composer/Editor Robert J. Hughes
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1974) pp. 36
  • The Amateur Organist Number 68: A Collection of Organ Voluntaries for Church Use
    Composer/Editor Robert J. Hughes
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1974) pp. 36
  • The Organist Volume 78 Number 1 March 1974: A Bi-Monthly Publication for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors Roger C. Wilson; Stebbins-Hughes
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1974) pp. 42
  • The Amateur Organist No. 65: a Collection of Organ Voluntaries for Church Use
    Composer/Editor Robert J. Hughes
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1973) pp. 42
  • The Sunday Morning Organist Volume Five
    Composer/Editor Harold H. DeCou
    Published By: Singspiration Music, Inc. (1973) pp. 34
  • Gospel Hymns for Organ: Registered for All Organs
    Composer/Editor Ralph Sunden
    Published By: Pointer System, Inc. (1968) pp. 32
  • The Chapel Organist Volume Two: Designed for Worship, Evangelism and the Home
    Composer/Editor Norman Johnson
    Published By: Singspiration Music, Inc. (1967) pp. 20
  • The Organ Portfolio Volume 30 Number 3 February 1967: A Bi-Monthly Anthology for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors L. N. Porter; Van Denman Thompson
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1967) pp. 82
  • Portfolio of Easter Voluntaries: For Organ
    Composer/Editor Roger C. Wilson
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1966) pp. 16
  • Clayton's Organ Melodies No. 1: A Collection of Beloved Hymns and Gospel Songs
    Composer/Editor Norman J. Clayton
    Published By: The Rodeheaver Company (1964) pp. 29
  • Preludes on Well-Known Hymn Tunes Volume 2: For Organ with Hammond Registration
    Composer/Editor Samuel W. Shanko
    Published By: Broadman Press (1963) pp. 3
  • The Organ Portfolio Volume 26 Number 3 February 1963: A Bi-Monthly Magazine for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors Ellen Jane Lorenz; Roger C. Wilson
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1963) pp. 59

Piano Solo

  • Classical Hymn Creations: Solo Piano Arrangements for Worship, Concerts, or Recitals
    Composer/Editor Gail Smith
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (2003) pp. 25
  • Creative Keyboard's Complete Church Pianist: Hymn Arrangements for Every Occasion
    Composer/Editor Gail Smith
    Published By: Creative Keyboard Publications (2000) pp. 146
  • The Church Pianist Volume 6 Number 4 March April 1990: The Pianist's Companion for the Church Year
    Composer/Editors Hugh S. Livingston, Jr.; Mark Weston
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1990) pp. 32
  • Quiet Time Piano Volume Two Christmas and Easter: Simply Beautiful Arrangements for Private Moments of Inspiration & Relaxation
    Composer/Editor Dick Bolks
    Published By: Jolica Music (1988) pp. 32
  • The Gospel Pianist
    Composer/Editors Geoffrey R. Lorenz; Robert J. Hughes
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1986) pp. 9
  • The Church Pianist Volume 1 Number 4 March 1985: The Pianist's Companion for the Church Year
    Composer/Editors Hugh S. Livingston, Jr.; Robert J. Hughes
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1985) pp. 11
  • Piano Hymn Classics Book One: Variations on Sacred Favorites For the Advanced Pianist
    Composer/Editor Rene Frank
    Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (1961) pp. 14

Piano and Organ Duet

  • From Palms to Resurrection: Duets For Organ and Piano
    Composer/Editor Lani Smith
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1995) pp. 16
  • Lorenz's Organ and Piano Duets No. 1
    Composer/Editor Ellen Jane Lorenz
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1939) pp. 2

Media

Christian Classics Ethereal Hymnary #843
  • Four-part harmony, full-score (PDF, NWC)
The Cyber Hymnal #6763
Text: There Is a Green Hill Far Away
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
The Cyber Hymnal #15686
Text: ஓர் குன்று தூர உண்டங்கே
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)
Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #63
Text: O LORD, My God, Most Earnestly
  • Full Score (PDF, XML)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
Small Church Music #2043
Text: 遠山迢迢,其色青青 (There is a green hill far away)
  • PDF Score (PDF)

Instances

Instances (1 - 12 of 12)
ScoreAudio

Christian Classics Ethereal Hymnary #843

Text

Hymns and Devotions for Daily Worship #199

TextPage Scan

Hymns of Faith #152

Nyimbo za Imani Yetu #80

Page Scan

Praise! Our Songs and Hymns #222

Text InfoTune InfoTextScoreAudioPage Scan

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #63

Sheng tu shi ge = Hymnary (聖徒詩歌) #67

Audio

Small Church Music #2043

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #6763

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #15686

TextPage Scan

Trinity Psalter Hymnal #63B

TextAudio

TTT-Himnaro Cigneta #128e

Include 123 pre-1979 instances
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