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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

This less well known hymn shows the tender side of Arthur's music. It was composed in 1874 - the year before Trial by Jury. (One source gives the tune as Samuel, however Hymns A&M shows 574 as 'Samuel', a different tune composed by W H Monk). The same words in both cases are by J D Burns. Moreover, 'Hymns for Today's Church' ISBN 0340 27045 4, shows the Sullivan tune - named Samuel - to different words by Timothy Dudley-Smith (born 1926). The mystery deepens! - help from Hymn Scholars please¹.. 

The story within this hymn is a fascinating one from the book of Samuel. Grab any Bible and check it out for yourselves. This is a lovely tune and we hope you'll enjoy singing it with us . . .

Hushed was the evening hymn,
The Temple courts were dark;
The lamp was burning dim
Before the sacred ark;
When suddenly a Voice divine
Rang through the silence of the shrine

The old man, meek and mild,
The priest of Israel slept;
His watch the temple-child,
The little Levite kept;
And what from Eli's sense was sealed,
The Lord to Hannah's son revealed.

Oh! give me Samuel's ear,
The open ear, O Lord,
Alive and quick to hear
Each whisper of Thy word,
Like him to answer at Thy call,
And to obey Thee first of all.

Oh! give me Samuel's heart,
A lowly heart that waits
Where in Thy House Thou art,
Or watches at Thy gates
By day and night, a heart that still
Moves at the breathing of Thy will.

Oh! give me Samuel's mind,
A sweet unmurmuring faith,
Obedient and resigned
To Thee in life and death,
That I may read with childlike eyes
Truths that are hidden from the wise.

Shall we go with Arthur to hear the  Angels Sing . . .?

1.    Footnote: We have been contacted by the Revd John Ford in Nottinghamshire. He has seen the site and kindly given us the following additional information.  Hymns Ancient & Modern 574 has these words set to a tune by W H Monk.  Hymns for Today's Church has the Sullivan tune at 268 to the words "Lord, as the day begins, lift up our hearts in praise".  Hymns & Psalms (Methodist) has the 'right words to the right tune'; so does The Church Hymnal for the Christian Year (Anglican, pub 1917, now thought to be out of print) - Children's Supplement 28.  Finally Revd John tells us: (a) - Neither the hymn nor tune appears in any of the mainstream Anglican hymn books. (But see Anglican Hymn Book 361(2);  (b) - He loves the Sullivan Tune and is thinking of using it in a future service; and (c) He has used the tune in the key of C (ours is in D).  And, he reminds us: You can read the story of Samuel in 1 Samuel, Chap. 3. The MusicSmiles team sends him our grateful thanks for these comments. Return to story.

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