Hark, a Thrilling Voice is Sounding

For Advent

Words: "Vox clara ecce intonat", By unknown author, c. 900¹;
Translation by Rev. Edward Caswall (1814-1878), 1849, alt.

Compare: Hark! A Gladsome Voice Is Thrilling
Hark! A Mystic Voice Is Sounding
Lo! Now A Thrilling Voice Sounds Forth

Music: "O der alles", Neues geistreiches Gesangbuch, Halle, 1705
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF / XML
Alternate Music:
Merton: MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / XML
Stuttgart: MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / XML
Meter: 87 87

Source: W. H. Monk and C. Steggall, eds., Hymns Ancient and Modern (London, William Clowes and Sons, Old Edition, 1889), Hymn 47

See Also Hymn #60 from The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941
Text: Rom. 13:11
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep:
for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

1. Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding!
"Christ is nigh!" it seems to say;^1a
"Cast away the dreams of darkness,^1b
O ye children of the day!"

2. Startled² at the solemn warning,
Let the earth-bound soul arise;
Christ, her Sun, all ill dispelling,^2a
Shines upon the morning skies.

3. Lo, the Lamb, so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from heaven.
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
One and all, to be forgiven,

4. That, when next He comes with glory
And the world is wrapped in fear,
With His mercy He may shield us³
And with words of love draw near.

5. Honour, glory, might, and blessing,⁴
To the Father and the Son,
With the everlasting Spirit,
While eternal ages run!

Sheet music from A. B. Goodrich, ed., A New Service And Tune Book For Sunday Schools (New York: Gen. Prot. Episc. S. S. Union and Church Book Society, 1863, New Edition, Enlarged, 1866), #73, p. 77.

Sheet Music "Merton" by W. H. Monk from Mary Palmer and John Farmer, eds., Church Sunday School Hymn-Book (London: Church of England Sunday-School Institute, 1892), #32.

Notes:

1. Some cite a 6^th century Latin hymn as the source. Return

1a. Or: 'we hear it say' Return

1b. Or: 'works of darkness'

2. Or: 'Startled by the solemn warning.' Return

2a. Or: 'all sloth dispelling' Return

3. Or: 'He may with His mercy shield us' Or 'He may shield us with His mercy' Return

4. Or: 'Honor, glory, might, dominion,' Return

Some information from The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) and Oremus.org

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