Hymn #524: This Little Light of Mine
THIS JOY is the name of this tune, taken from the opening phrase of “This Joy I Have.” It was arranged by Jeffrey Radford in 1993. As with much African American music, great latitude can be taken in the singing of the melody, and improvisation is encouraged.
Jeffrey Radford (1953-2002), a member of The New Century Hymnal committee, arranged this tune for congregational singing from an African American tune of unknown origin. Radford was responsible for arranging eight different spirituals for The New Century Hymnal and for several keyboard arrangements in the accompanist edition.