VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, Roderick Williams OBE, soloist

I. How Fair is Thy Face
How fair is Thy face,
Yea fair, yea fair,
Thou Son of God, Thou Prince of Grace!
O Thou my Shulamite, sweet and kind,
Yea kind, yea kind,
All that I have is also Thine.

My Friend, Thou art mine,
Yea mine, yea mine;
Forevermore let me be Thine.
Thou canst me save, canst me save,
Yea save, yea save,
Both here on earth and ‘yond the grave.

Remember my plight,
Yea plight, yea plight:
Around me hostile swords flash bright.
Fly hither, Dove of Grace, Dove of Grace,
Apace, apace!
Among the rocks are peace and space.
—Translation by Percy Grainger

II. God’s Son Hath Set Me Free
God’s Son hath set me free
From Satan’s tyranny,
From base desire,
Enslavement dire,
From fear of death and hell’s hot fire.
Lord Christ did intercede
With God for me did plead;
He underwent
My punishment,
To torture, death, was sent.
I cannot fathom love so great
However much I contemplate:
That He
Could be
So merciful to me,
A sinner frail, whom naught could suit
But tasting the forbidden fruit;
By day, by night,
Old Satan’s might
My soul had captured quite.

But now I’m in God’s care,
In spite of Satan’s snare;
No longer sad,
I wander glad
In Liberation purple-clad.
How deeply I rejoice
To follow Jesus’ voice:
He bids me cleave
To Him and leave
All sin—forget to grieve.
Let Mamnon not expect to find
Me e’er again so weak, so blind.
Nay, nay!
I’ll stray
No more from off this way.
For my salvation Christ did pay;
I shall not gamble it away.
I do despise
The tempter’s lies,
To heaven lift my eyes.

My heart laughs blithe and bold
When I my grave behold;
No flow’ry bed,
Nor princely stead,
Can show a couch so free from dread.
To where God’s castle stands
In Deathless Life’s fair lands
Death pilots me
Across the sea—
Towards Eternity.
Though stormy winds about me still
Are blowing contrary and chill
My soul is whole
And craves the perfect goal.
My spirit leaps, like deer or hind,
To think of leaving sin behind;
Oh blessed sign!
Christ’s Cross doth shine,
Makes bliss eternal mine.
—Translation by Percy Grainger

III. Jesus Christ Our Lord is Risen
Jesus Christ our Lord is risen
Heavenward from out death’s prison.
With angel legions
He captured hell’s dread regions.
Kyrie eleison!

Savior Jesus, we thank Thee, Lord,
For Thy great blessings us toward;
Through Thy ascending
Our fears of death found ending.
Kyrie eleison!

Thy ascension, in joyous lays,
With heart and mouth and tongue we praise,
And join the chorus
Of angels singing o’er us.
Kyrie eleison!
—Translation by Percy Grainger

IV. In Heaven Above
In heaven above, in heaven above,
Where God Almighty dwells;
What bliss to reach that realm of love,
My heart with longing swells;
For there in all eternity
In dazzling radiance we shall see
The Lord of Sabaoth.

From darkest night, from darkest night,
Our bodies ‘neath the mould,
Shall then become all shining bright—
As bright as purest gold;
Our wounds assuaged by heavenly grace,
We’ll see our Maker face to face,
The Lord of Sabaoth.

Each soul shall find its comfort there
As promised long ago;
The wreath of righteousness shall wear
A robe as white as snow.
Oh God! What rapture will be mine,
To see Thee in Thy radiance shine,
O Lord of Sabaoth.
—Translation by Percy Grainger