Product Description
OH HAPPY DAY is a 1967 gospel arrangement of a 1755 hymn by clergyman Philip Doddridge (set to a 1704 melody by J. A. Freylinghausen), with words based on Acts 8:35. The original recording was made at Hawkins' church, the Ephesian Church of God in Christ in Berkeley, California, by the Edwin Hawkins Singers. In 1969 it became an international hit, reaching No. 4 in the US, No. 1 in France, Germany and the Netherlands, and No. 2 in Canada, the UK and Ireland. In 1970, it won a Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance.
Kathleen McGuire's choral arrangement, based on the SISTER ACT 2: BACK IN THE HABIT version, was first performed by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus with Transcendence Gospel Choir in 2004 (recorded on their collaborative OH, HAPPY DAY! live CD) and has since been performed by many choirs in the US and Australia. The SATB is a re-voicing of McGuire's TTBB arrangement, which calls for a soloist and a choir ready to memorize the music, sway and clap! It includes key changes and opportunities for dynamic contrasts and dramatic ad lib solo(s).
Included with the piano-vocal score is a separate part for bass guitar. A drum kit is essential, too - an experience drummer can easily follow the bass part. The piano part includes chord symbols, allowing for the addition of a rhythm guitarist.
Also available for TTBB.
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.