Church Book ‎#20

20. Alleluia! best and sweetest

1 Alleluia! best and sweetest
Of the hymns of praise above!
Alleluia! thou repeatest,
Angel host, these notes of love.
This ye utter,
While your golden harps ye move.

2 Alleluia! Church victorious,
Join the concert of the sky!
Alleluia! bright and glorious,
Lift, ye saints, this strain on high!
We, poor exiles,
Join not yet your melody.

3 Alleluia! strains of gladness
Suit not souls with anguish torn:
Alleluia! sounds of sadness
Best become our state forlorn:
Our offences
We with bitter tears must mourn.

4 But our earnest supplication
Holy God, we raise to Thee:
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Make us all Thy joys to see!
Alleluia!
Ours at length this strain shall be.

Text Information

• First Line: Alleluia! best and sweetest
• Latin Title: Alleluia, dulce Carmen
• Author: John Chandler (1837)
• Meter: 8, 7.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1890
• Topic: Worship: Praise and Thanksgiving; Septuagesima Sunday
• Notes: Alternate tune #292 or #293

Tune Information

• Name: ALLELUIA, DULCE CARMEN
• Meter: 8, 7.
• Key: A Major
• Notes: Composer from index: attributed to M. Haydn, 1800