If you are looking for a hymn by Charles H. Gabriel in
Soul-Stirring Songs & Hymns, and you start at the back
of the book, this’ll be the second hymn you come to.
Gabriel’s Awakening Chorus seems influenced by
Handel. It has the same character as the Hallelujah
Chorus, and parts of it remind us of “Joy to the
World” (“the rocks and rills the vales and hills
resound with gladness”). Like these, the song is a
celebration of God’s power and dominion. I’ve
never heard it performe...(+)
If you are looking for a hymn by Charles H. Gabriel in
Soul-Stirring Songs & Hymns, and you start at the back
of the book, this’ll be the second hymn you come to.
Gabriel’s Awakening Chorus seems influenced by
Handel. It has the same character as the Hallelujah
Chorus, and parts of it remind us of “Joy to the
World” (“the rocks and rills the vales and hills
resound with gladness”). Like these, the song is a
celebration of God’s power and dominion. I’ve
never heard it performed before, but it’s a good
one—perfect, in fact, for choir specials. The words
are as follows:
1. Awake! Awake! and sing the blessed story;
Awake! Awake! and let your song of praise arise;
Awake! Awake! the earth is full of glory,
And light is beaming from the radiant skies;
The rocks and rills, the vales and hills resound with
gladness,
All nature joins to sing the triumph song.
2. Ring out! Ring out! O bells of joy and
gladness!
Repeat, repeat anew the story o’er again,
Till all the earth shall lose its weight of
sadness,
And shout anew the glorious refrain;
With angels in the heights sing of the great
salvation
He wrestled from the hand of sin and death.
Chorus: The Lord Jehovah reigns and sin is backward
hurled!
Rejoice! Rejoice! lift heart and voice, Jehovah
reigns!
Proclaim His sov’reighn pow’r to all the world,
And let His glorious banner be unfurled!
Jehovah reigns!
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Rejoice! Jehovah reigns!
SHEET MUSIC