Abide with Me
Abide with Me
Eventide - from Hymns Ancient and Modern
This beautiful hymn Abide With Me is sung by Christians all over the world in times of sorrow and deep distress.The lyrics of this famous hymn were written in 1847 by Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847), an English pastor, poet and musician, only a few weeks before he died from tuberculosis. He was inspired by Saint Luke's account of Christ's appearance with His two disciples on the way to Emmaus :
They urged Him strongly : Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.(Luke 24:29).
The music was composed by William Henry Monk, music editor of the famous Anglican Church hymnal Hymns Ancient and Modern, and it was included in the first edition of that hymnal in 1861.
Mrs. Monk has described in her own words the context :
This tune was written at a time of great sorrow - when together we watched, as we did daily, the glories of the setting sun. As the last golden ray faded, he took some paper and penciled that tune which has gone all over the earth.
This score is the complete version of Abide With Me for choir SATB.
It is set in the key of E flat Major.
For your greater enjoyment, this sheet music includes the complete lyrics in English (five verses).
Editor's note : in measure 7, fourth beat, tenor voice, some editions show an F; however, the original clearly has an E flat.
Words : Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847), 1847.
Music : William Henry Monk, Eventide (1861).
Meter : 10 10 10 10.Duration : 00:56
Source : William Henry Monk (1823-1889), Hymns and Church Music.
This sheet music appears in the following collections :
