Robert Lowry wrote this hymn after meditating on a picture of heaven in Revelation 22:1-2a, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city” (ESV). After contemplating the question “Shall we gather at the river?” the answer came to him in faith, “Yes, we'll gather at the river.”
Text:
This hymn was written by Robert Lowry in the summer of 1864 in Brooklyn, New York. The text came out of Lowry's thoughts on the metaphor of the river in Christian thoughts about death. He wrote, “I began to wonder why the hymn-writers has said so much about the 'river of death' and so little about 'the pure water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb'” (William J. Reynolds, Companion to Baptist Hymnal, p. 191). It was first published as “Beautiful River” in Happy Voices in 1865.
The text originally had five stanzas and a refrain, but the fourth (“At the smiling of the river”) is usually omitted. The first stanza asks a question about meeting the saints who have gone on before at the river of life, and the refrain is an affirmative answer. The remaining stanzas expand on the theme of Christian death and eternal life.
Tune:
The tune is also by Robert Lowry and was written for the words in 1864. It was named HANSON PLACE after Hanson Place Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York, where Lowry was serving as pastor at that time. The stanza and refrain have two phrases each, and share common rhythmic motifs. At a fast tempo, this tune sounds like marching band music, but at a moderately slow tempo, it sounds thoughtful. This hymn works well when sung in harmony.
When/Why/How:
This hymn is appropriate for services with a theme of a Christian approach to death, or on scriptures such as Revelation 22. It may also be sung at funerals or for All Saints' Day. This hymn could be used as a prelude in an instrumental arrangement such as “At the River” for the interesting combination of cello and handbells. Settings suitable for use as a choral anthem abound. A calm yet energetic setting of this hymn is “The Shining River” for choir and keyboard with optional brass and percussion. “Shall We Gather at the River” is also quite popular in combination with spirituals. One of the arrangements in “Spirituals for Two Voices” is a medley of “Deep River” and “Shall We Gather at the River.” This same arrangement is for choir in “Singin’ in the Spirit.” Pepper Choplin's “Gather by the River to Pray” is a combination of the spiritual “As I Went Down to the River to Pray” with Lowry’s hymn for choir with simple piano accompaniment.
Tiffany Shomsky,
Hymnary.org
Robert Lowry was born in Philadelphia, March 12, 1826. His fondness for music was exhibited in his earliest years. As a child he amused himself with the various musical instruments that came into his hands. At the age of seventeen he joined the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia, and soon became an active worker in the Sunday-school as teacher and chorister.
At the age of twenty-two he gave himself to the work of the ministry, and entered upon a course of study at the University of Lewisburg, Pa. At the age of twenty-eight he was graduated with the highest honors of his class. In the same year of his graduation, he entered upon the work of the ministry. He served as pastor at West Chester, Pa., 1851-1858; in New York City, 1859-1861;… Go to person page >
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