Nearer My God to Thee sheet music

Choosing by ensemble

The three scores suit different groups: a piano solo, a string quartet for two violins, viola and cello, and a six-cello ensemble. Choose the version that matches the players you have. No difficulty grade is supplied for any of these scores, so a smaller ensemble does not necessarily mean an easier part.

Opening key, metre and tempo

The piano score opens with two flats in 4/4 and gives no opening tempo. The string quartet opens with one sharp in 4/4 at 60 BPM, and the six-cello score opens with one sharp in 4/4 at 80 BPM. These opening indications describe individual scores; they do not establish one performing key or tempo for the piece.

Attribution to Lowell Mason

Lowell Mason is named as the artist on all three selected scores, and one score gives the composer as 'attr. to Lowell Mason'.

What the scores do not establish

The scores show instrumentation and opening indications, but they do not identify a named edition, an original scoring or a difficulty level. The piano, quartet and six-cello versions also give key signatures rather than named keys. Check a reliable edition or reference before relying on these points for performance or programme notes.

Scores to open first

• Nearer my God to Thee

  Score parts: Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Violoncello. Catalogue duration 4 min 48 sec. Opening key signature: 1 sharp. Opening time signature: 4/4. Opening tempo: 60 BPM.

• Nearer, My God, to Thee SV

  Score parts: Piano. Catalogue duration 2 min 13 sec. Opening key signature: 2 flats. Opening time signature: 4/4.

• Nearer, My God, to Thee

  Score parts: Violoncello I, Violoncello II, Violoncello III, Violoncello IV, Violoncello V, Violoncello VI. Catalogue duration 2 min 11 sec. Opening key signature: 1 sharp. Opening time signature: 4/4. Opening tempo: 80 BPM.

Related collections

• More by Lowell Mason
• Classical
• Practise sheet music
• Reading a score

Common questions