What Sound is This?

1. What sound is this which strikes my ear?
‘Tis Gabriel’s trump which now I hear,
‘Tis Gabriel’s trump which now I hear;
    The expected day has come.
Behold the heav’ns, the earth, the sea,
Proclaim the year of Jubilee,
Proclaim the year of Jubilee,
    Return, ye exiles, home.

2. Behold the stormy skies ablaze,
Illuminated by His gaze,
Illuminated by His gaze,
    Behold Him now draw near!
Fair Zion rising from the tombs,
To meet the Bridegroom, lo! He comes,
To meet the Bridegroom, lo! He comes,
    And hails the festive year.

3. My soul is striving to be there;
I long to rise and wing the air,
I long to rise and wing the air,
    And trace the sacred road.
Farewell, farewell, all earthly things;
Oh that I had an angel’s wings,
Oh that I had an angel’s wings,
    I’d quickly see my God.

4. Fly, ling’ring moments, fly, oh fly,
I thirst, I pant, I long to try,
I thirst, I pant, I long to try,
    Angelic joys to prove!
Soon shall I quit this house of clay,
Clap my glad wings and soar away,
Clap my glad wings and soar away,
    And shout redeeming love!

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Instrumental – Sampled Sounds

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This rousing hymn came from the original Millerite hymnal, The Millennial Harp (1842).

As with many small religious songbooks of that time, there were only a few songs that had music included, but fortunately this was one of them! It was originally scored for 3 parts, and I re-arranged it for SATB.

Even today, the enthusiasm that animated the believers back then bursts forth from this song.

Tags: Advent, Gabriel, Jubilee, Resurrection, Trump