For any church organist, the final verse of a hymn is the crowning moment of a service—a chance to lift the congregation’s spirits, provide musical color, and bring a sense of completion. Noel Rawsthorne’s legendary collection, , has long been established as the definitive resource for organists seeking creative, effective, and harmonically rich accompaniments.
Many popular tunes are provided in multiple keys to ensure compatibility with different modern and traditional hymnals.
Rawsthorne’s harmonies are dense. Ensure your right hand or a solo stop clearly defines the soprano melody line so the congregation does not get lost in the altered chords.
For quieter, text-driven final verses ( e.g., Anima Christi ), look for rich string ensembles or warm, cascading diapasons rather than purely loud stops. 4. Introduce Them Gradually
A well-played last verse encourages the congregation to sing with greater enthusiasm. If you'd like, I can: Help you find a licensed retailer for the digital version Suggest similar hymn arrangement books Provide tips for improvising your own last verses Let me know how you'd like to proceed ! References
Rawsthorne frequently utilizes brief, surprising modulations to flat-seven ( ) or relative keys before returning home. How to Effectively Use the Collection
: Due to copyright, the full collection is generally not available as a free legal PDF. It is published by Kevin Mayhew Publishers and is widely available for purchase through music retailers like RSCM or Sheet Music Plus .
You can purchase official, licensed digital copies or physical copies directly from Kevin Mayhew Publishing.
The "400" in the title reflects the expansive coverage of the volume, spanning standard hymnody used across Anglican, Catholic, and mainline Protestant traditions.
As of 2026, this book is still in copyright (Noel Rawsthorne died in 2019, so copyright extends for 70 years after his death, until 2089). Kevin Mayhew Ltd. actively protects its copyrights.
For any church organist, the final verse of a hymn is the crowning moment of a service—a chance to lift the congregation’s spirits, provide musical color, and bring a sense of completion. Noel Rawsthorne’s legendary collection, , has long been established as the definitive resource for organists seeking creative, effective, and harmonically rich accompaniments.
Many popular tunes are provided in multiple keys to ensure compatibility with different modern and traditional hymnals.
Rawsthorne’s harmonies are dense. Ensure your right hand or a solo stop clearly defines the soprano melody line so the congregation does not get lost in the altered chords.
For quieter, text-driven final verses ( e.g., Anima Christi ), look for rich string ensembles or warm, cascading diapasons rather than purely loud stops. 4. Introduce Them Gradually
A well-played last verse encourages the congregation to sing with greater enthusiasm. If you'd like, I can: Help you find a licensed retailer for the digital version Suggest similar hymn arrangement books Provide tips for improvising your own last verses Let me know how you'd like to proceed ! References
Rawsthorne frequently utilizes brief, surprising modulations to flat-seven ( ) or relative keys before returning home. How to Effectively Use the Collection
: Due to copyright, the full collection is generally not available as a free legal PDF. It is published by Kevin Mayhew Publishers and is widely available for purchase through music retailers like RSCM or Sheet Music Plus .
You can purchase official, licensed digital copies or physical copies directly from Kevin Mayhew Publishing.
The "400" in the title reflects the expansive coverage of the volume, spanning standard hymnody used across Anglican, Catholic, and mainline Protestant traditions.
As of 2026, this book is still in copyright (Noel Rawsthorne died in 2019, so copyright extends for 70 years after his death, until 2089). Kevin Mayhew Ltd. actively protects its copyrights.
