The Church Hymnal ‎#666

666. Hark! a burst of heavenly music

1 Hark! a burst of heavenly music
From a band of seraphs bright,
Suddenly to earth descending,
In the calm and silent night.
To the shepherds of Judea,
Watching in the earliest dawn,
So they bear the joyful tidings,
"Jesus, Prince of Peace is born."

Refrain:
Sweet and clear those angel voices
Echoing through the wintry sky,
As they chant the heavenly music,
"Glory be to God on high."

2 Slumb'ring in a lowly manger
Lies the mighty Lord of all,
And before the holy Stranger
See the trembling shepherds fall.
He has come, the long-expected,
Full of Wisdom, love, and grace,
To redeem His ruined creatures,
To restore our fallen race.

Refrain:
So let angels wake the chorus,
So let ransomed men reply,
Chanting the celestial anthem,
"Glory be to God on high."

3 And this joyful Christmas morning,
Breaking o'er the world below,
Tells again the wondrous story
Shepherds heard so long ago.
Who shall still our tuneful voices,
Who the tide of praise shall stem,
Which the blessed angels taught us
In the fields of Bethlehem.

Refrain:
Hark! we hear again the chorus
Ringing through the starry sky,
And we join the heavenly anthem,
"Glory be to God on high."

Text Information

• First Line: Hark! a burst of heavenly music
• Author: M. N. Meigs
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1920
• Topic: Youth and School Life: Carols

Tune Information

• Name: [Hark! a burst of heavenly music]
• Composer: F. Schilling
• Key: D Major