Songs of Praise the Angels Sang

portrait — James Montgomery
1771–1854
National Portrait Gallery

Music: Monkland John Antes, in A Collection of Hymn Tunes Chiefly Composed for Private Amusement by John Antes, circa 1790. Arranged by John B. Wilkes, 1861 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

Culbach, from Heilige Seelenlust, by Johann Scheffler, 1657 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Innocents, The Parish Choir, 1850. Harmony by William H. Monk, 1861 (🔊 pdf nwc)

If you know where to get a good picture of Antes or Wilkes (head-and-shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels), would you ?

Virgin and Child with Angels
Pietro Perugino
1445–1523

Songs of praise the angels sang,
Heav’n with hallelujahs rang,
When Jehovah’s begun,
When He spoke, and it was done.

Songs of praise awoke the morn
When the Prince of Peace was born;
Songs of praise arose when He
Captive led captivity.

Heav’n and earth must pass away;
Songs of praise shall crown that day;
God will make new heav’ns and earth;
Songs of praise shall hail their birth.

And will man alone be dumb,
Till that glorious kingdom come?
No: the church delights to raise
Psalms, and hymns, and songs of praise.

Saints below, with heart and voice,
Still in songs of praise rejoice,
Learning here, by faith and love,
Songs of praise to sing above.

Borne upon their latest breath,
Songs of praise shall conquer death;
Then amidst eternal joy,
Songs of praise their powers employ.

Hymns of glory, songs of praise,
Father, unto Thee we raise;
Jesus, glory unto Thee,
With the Spirit, ever be.

Scripture Verse

Introduction

Lyrics