This edition was prepared by David Anderson — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Chime On, Sweet Bells
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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Chime On, Sweet Bells by John R. Dunham — Lyrics
Mellow chimes whose silver sweetness
All the depths of memory wakes,
As upon the Sabbath stillness,
On the ear your music breaks;
I have heard you in my childhood,
Down through all the mist of years;
I can hear your soft chimes pealing,
Full of mingled smiles and tears.
Chime on, chime on,
Chime on, sweet village bells,
Chime on, chime on,
Chime on, sweet village bells.
Sounding through the verdant meadows,
Lingering in the quiet dells,
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About Chime On, Sweet Bells
The gentle chiming of village bells evokes a flood of memories in this SATB setting of an English text. The composer captures the sentimentality of the lyrics, which recall childhood echoes and the passage of time. The bells are portrayed as a constant presence, marking both joyous occasions and times of sadness throughout the changing seasons. This evocative piece, suitable for secular choral programmes, paints a nostalgic soundscape where distant echoes return from verdant meadows and quiet dells, filling the air with a sense of enduring continuity. It’s a reflective exploration of how familiar sounds can connect us to our past.
