Jesu, The Very Thought Of Thee
SATB choral/organ score
PEL2007-Choir and Organ
A HYMN ANTHEM FOR SATB CHOIR AND ORGAN.
Halley’s arrangement of Slater’s melody is lush and lyrical, a beautiful watercolor of vocal harmonies and organ line.
Composed for Noel Edison and the Elora Festival Singers.
Video
Notes
Included on 'Wondrous Love' recording from Pelagosmusic, with Chorus Angelicus and Gaudeamus, directed by Paul Halley (JN104)
Texts
Jesu, The Very Thought of Thee
Words: Twelfth Century Latin, trans. Edward Caswell
Melody: Gordon Slater (1896 – 1979), arranged by Paul Halley (1952 - )
Jesu, the very thought of thee
With sweetness fills the breast;
But sweeter far thy face to see,
And in thy presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find
A sweeter sound than Jesus’ name,
The saviour of mankind.
O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who ask how kind thou art,
How good to those who seek.
But what to those who find? Ah! this
Nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is
None but his loved ones know.
Jesu, our only joy be thou,
As thou our prize wilt be;
In thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity.
Reviews
"Paul Halley's clever and very attractive arrangement of Gordon Slater's 'Jesu the very thought of thee' takes the melody out of its lowly hymn status into a fine anthem but one suitable for most church choirs. - Music Web International
"The more liturgical pieces in the center of the album are all fine, and beautifully done. Of these, one stands out in particular relief: "Jesu, The Very Thought of Thee." It is simply drop-dead gorgeous, with Halley's pipe organ providing a stunning backdrop and underpinnings to the chorus." - Bob Zeidler, Amazon.com Reviews
