Be Thou My Vision
I fell in love with this ancient text and tune when I came across it while sifting through old music.
I wanted to set it for my ward choir, but it grew a mind of its own and got much bigger than that. You'll need a lot of voices (8 parts) and two flutes for this one. ~Rachel
"Be Thou My Vision" received an Award of Distinction as a hymn arrangement in the 2010 LDS Church Music Submission.
Voicing: SATB, divisi
Accompaniment: Piano and two flutes
Topics: Comfort, Exaltation, Faith, Faithfulness, Guidance, Hope, Steadfastness
Lyrics: Ancient Irish Hymn, Translated by Mary E. Byrne, Versified by Eleanor H. Hull, adapted
Music: Old Irish Hymn Tune, arranged by Rachel P. Mohlman
Score-PDF Flute 1-PDF Flute 2-PDF
LYRICS
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, and Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Pow'r of my pow'r.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whate'er befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.