A. A. Blocker's Heavenly Joys (1960 Denson Ed.)

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Brady Santoro

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May 3, 2026, 6:41:25 AM (12 days ago) May 3
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Hello all,
Would anyone know if "Heavenly Joys" in the 1960 Denson Edition, attributed to A. A. Blocker, is an arrangement of an older tune, like "Showers of Blessings", or an original composition? I've looked (not very hard) at potential source material, it bears a very cursory resemblance to Holyoke's "Malabar" (as arranged by D. P. White), but appears to be an original tune, as far as I can tell. If people know anything more, I'd be interested in more information about the tune (quite singable) and its author.
Sincere thanks,
Brady Santoro,
Chicago, IL

Robert Vaughn

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May 3, 2026, 9:20:59 AM (12 days ago) May 3
to Fasola Discussions, Brady Santoro
Brady, according to Makers of The Sacred Harp, "the melody of SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS was taken from a tune called IF CHRIST BE IN MY ARMS in the Cooper Revision, itself an adaptation of GRAFTON by Joseph Stone" (p. 88). I would concur.

IF CHRIST BE IN MY ARMS is 494 in the Cooper Revision. 

Sing On,
Robert Vaughn 
Mount Enterprise, TX
Ask for the old paths, where is the good way
For ask now of the days that are past...
Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land.


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Robert Vaughn

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May 3, 2026, 5:09:26 PM (12 days ago) May 3
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Follow up, after wiping the egg from my face!

I see in the 1960 book that on the left side (which normally should only mean the words) of HEAVENLY JOYS it has "ARR. BY A. A. B." Since the putting together of the 1960 is quite a mess, and since the words do not actually seem to be "arranged" in any way -- but are as usually printed in hymnals -- it may be that "ARR." intends (at least by Blocker) to refer to the music. SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS has the same note in the 1960 book, and we know that music was arranged.

In the 1966 book on SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS it has on the left "Arr. by A. A. B." and in the cheese notes it says "The words were arranged by him." However, the words are the just same as they appear in GREENLAND and MORGAN, so there really is no arrangement of the words. (Blocker had died before the 1966 book was printed, and possibly the editors just assumed by the former placement of the note that he had edited the words?)

My guess is that Blocker sent both of these songs in as arrangements of existing tunes, and that HEAVENLY JOYS was considered by him to be an arrangement of some older song. I do not know which one. Maybe someone else will.

Sing On,
Robert Vaughn 
Mount Enterprise, TX
Ask for the old paths, where is the good way
For ask now of the days that are past...
Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land.


On Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 02:50:59 PM CDT, Robert Vaughn <rl_v...@yahoo.com> wrote:


Brady, I see I did not carefully read your email. Maybe I had not had enough coffee yet! Sorry about that.

I see in the 1960 book that on the left side (which normally should only mean the words) of HEAVENLY JOYS it has "ARR. BY A. A. B." Since the putting together of the 1960 is quite a mess, and since the words do not actually seem to be "arranged" in any way -- but are as usually printed in hymnals -- it may be that "ARR." intends (at least by Blocker) to refer to the music. SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS has the same note in the 1960 book, and we know that music was arranged.

In the 1966 book on SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS it has on the left "Arr. by A. A. B." and in the cheese notes it says "The words were arranged by him." However, the words are the just same as they appear in GREENLAND and MORGAN, so there really is no arrangement of the words. (Blocker had died before the 1966 book was printed, and possibly the editors just assumed by the former placement of the note that he had edited the words?)

My guess is that Blocker sent both of these songs in as arrangements of existing tunes, and that HEAVENLY JOYS was considered by him to be an arrangement of some older song. I do not know which one. Maybe someone else will.

Sing On,
Robert Vaughn 
Mount Enterprise, TX
Ask for the old paths, where is the good way
For ask now of the days that are past...
Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land.


On Sunday, May 3, 2026 at 12:37:49 PM CDT, Brady Santoro <brady....@gmail.com> wrote:


Robert,
Thanks for this information. I was wondering more, though, about "Heavenly Joys", also published in the 1960 Edition with the words of "Oh the delights, the heavenly joys" attributed (words and music!) to Blocker. If you happen to know anything about that song or about Blocker himself, I would be grateful to know more. 
In sincere thanks,
Brady Santoro
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