About This Song
Original Tune: Harrison Millard, 1830-1895
Text: George Manwaring, 1854–1889
Music: Sylvanus Billings Pond, 1792–1871; adapted by A. C. Smyth, 1840–1909
Media
SoundCloud Audio
(SATB Choir/Piano/Violin version)
Performed by a joint Stake Choir from Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Timothy Max, piano.
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PDF Downloads
Three versions of this arrangement are available. Additional orchestrations are included below and may be added to any version:
SATB choir & piano | Catalog # 1016.1
- SATB Choir & Piano Score | Catalog # 1016.1 / 1016.4
- SATB Choir-only part | Catalog # 1016.1A / 1016.4A
- Piano-only part | Catalog # 1016.1B / 1016.4B
Vocal solo & piano (for high voice) | Catalog # 1016.3
- Voice, & Piano Score (includes Violin) | Catalog # 1016.3
- Voice-only part | Catalog # 1016.1A / 1016.3B
- Piano-only part | Catalog # 1016.1B / 1016.4B
SSA choir & piano | Catalog # 1016.5
- SSA Choir & Piano Score | Catalog # 1016.5
- SSA Choir-only part | Catalog # 1016.5A
- Piano-only part | Catalog # 1016.1 / 1016.4 / 1016.5B
Optional voicings
Add any of the following combinations of instruments to your chosen version above:
Violin solo
- Violin-only part | Catalog # 1016.3A
String trio
- Violin 1 part | Catalog # 1016.1C
- Violin 2 part | Catalog # 1016.1D
- Cello part | Catalog # 1016.1E
- Full score (Choir, String trio, Piano) | Catalog # 1016.1
Five-part string orchestra with optional percussion
- Violin 1 part | Catalog # 1016.4C
- Violin 2 part | Catalog # 1016.4D
- Viola part | Catalog # 1016.4E
- Cello part | Catalog # 1016.4F
- Double bass | Catalog # 1016.4G
- Percussion part (Wind chimes and Suspended Cymbal) | Catalog # 1016.4H
- Full score (Choir, Strings, Piano, Percussion) | Catalog # 1016.4
Lyrics
- Oh, how lovely was the morning!
Radiant beamed the sun above.
Bees were humming, sweet birds singing,
Music ringing thru the grove,
When within the shady woodland
Joseph sought the God of love,
When within the shady woodland
Joseph sought the God of love. - Humbly kneeling, sweet appealing–
’Twas the boy’s first uttered prayer–
When the pow’rs of sin assailing
Filled his soul with deep despair;
But undaunted, still he trusted
In his Heav’nly Father’s care,
But undaunted, still he trusted
In his Heav’nly Father’s care. - Suddenly a light descended,
Brighter far than noonday sun,
And a shining, glorious pillar
O’er him fell, around him shone,
While appeared two heav’nly beings,
God the Father and the Son,
While appeared two heav’nly beings,
God the Father and the Son.
- “Joseph, this is my Beloved;
Hear him!” Oh, how sweet the word!
Joseph’s humble prayer was answered,
And he listened to the Lord.
Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,
For he saw the living God,
Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,
For he saw the living God.Ending
Joseph’s humble prayer was answered
when he sought the God of love.