You gave me Music Lord to sing your praise,
A token of your love and graciousness,
Bade me this discipline to well embrace,
A discipline superb and glorious.
You gave for it the talent and the skill
To play upon the various instruments,
Your secret purpose thereby to fulfill,
With other gifts that flowed out of your hands.
You gave me rhythm and the perfect pitch,
The meter, time, the pulse and passionate beat,
Made my dull composition tull and rich,
With notes discordant rendered right and sweet.
Thus I embrace the music ministry,
To give you laud and praise for evermore.
And thank you gracious Lord upon my knee
For tunes and strains and well writ music score.
You made me understand the notes and staff,
And signs and quavers trembling like winged stars,
Gave the inverse and unison octave,
Held fast within the framework of the bars.
You gave me counterpoint and harmony,
Inspired the keen mordant and the trill,
And sent for guide and lead the melody.
Therewith the hearing audience to thrill.
You gave me many chords and clefs and keys,
Explained each single note's anatomy, -
All signs and symbols dearest Lord wherewith
The hearer cannot but give praise to Thee.
You gave the pipes, the winds, the strings and reeds,
And nudged me hug the strings, - the pedal harp,
Inserting notes upon the music sheet,
To show the impact of a flat and sharp.
You made the Presto and Allegro run,
Gave pizzicato and staccato grit.
Gave the Burlesque enlivening wit and fun.
But made devotion a prerequisite.
We give you thanks and praise for music Lord!
And for the blessing of its ministry,-
May every note ring out and every chord
As our praise's thankful symphony.
