This evening we had another great crowd at the Bloomsbury singing – nearly 50 people. The sound was again beautiful. This song comes from the Christian Harmony. It is a perfect advertisement for the austere beauty of shapenote music.

Hark the Glad Sound, the Saviour Comes (Tune: Derrick, from the Christian Harmony)

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And here is another Christmas song – Rapturous Scene  (from the Christian Harmony)

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“Wrapped in the silence of the night lay all the eastern world,

when bursting glorious heavenly light the wondrous scene unfurled.

Hark how cherubic armies shout, and glory leads the song,

goodwill and peace are heard throughout th’harmonious heavenly throng.

 

With songs and honours sounding loud, address the Lord on high.

Over the heav’ns he spreads his clouds and waters veil the sky.

He sends his showers of blessings down to cheer the plains below;

he makes the grass the mountains crown, and corn in valleys grow.

 

His steady counsels change the face of each declining year.

He bids the sun cut short his race, and wintry days appear.

On us his providence has shone with gentle smiling rays,

o, may our lips and lives make known his goodness and his praise.