All Peoples, Clap Your Hands


This setting of Psalm 47 was written by Pascal Jordan, a Benedictine brother from Trinidad. We learned it from Hilary Seraph-Donaldson in her wonderful series of instructional videos, Break into Song.

A solo or cantor line carries the psalm text, while the community responds with “Alleluia,” and rhythmic leg-slapping and clapping. The rhythmic underpinning is reminiscent of a child’s clapping game or the ubiquitous accompaniment of drum kit, congas, and other percussion that drives a steel drum band. This infuses the song with the strong sense that the whole community is drawn into the act of worship.

Sheet music can be found in Andrew Donaldson's With Many Voices Songbook.

Here's the episode of Break into Song that features All Peoples, Clap Your Hands:


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  • Rachel Kroh
    responded with submitted 2020-05-12 00:44:58 -0400
  • Rachel Kroh
    tagged this with Print 2015-04-01 16:40:41 -0400
  • Rachel Kroh
    tagged this with Video 2015-04-01 16:40:39 -0400
  • Rachel Kroh
    responded 2015-04-01 16:39:47 -0400

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