Kingsfold (Ralph Vaughan Williams)

Copyright Warning This work is public domain in the USA where the CPDL server is located. However, it may not be public domain in countries which have a longer copyright term. If you do not reside in the USA and are in any doubt as to your legal ability to download any files on this page, please refer to a professional legal advisor. CPDL makes no claim as to the legality of downloading the following files if you are not located in the USA. For more information about when a work enters the public domain, click here.

Music files

**L E G E N D**
ICON	SOURCE
	Pdf
	Pdf
	Midi
	Mp3
	MusicXML
	Capella
	Dorico
	Noteworthy
	Sibelius
	File details
	Help

(Posted 2026-01-17) CPDL #88081:

Editor: Josiah J. Horton (submitted 2026-01-17). Score information: Letter, 1 page, 27 kB Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: The hymn "Teach Us How to Pray Aright" by James Montgomery set to the hymn tune KINGSFOLD.

(Posted 2024-09-22) CPDL #82085:

Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2024-09-22). Score information: A4, 1 page, 55 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: The hymn When Jesus left his Father's throne with four-part harmony and underlaid words in the version published in The Hymnal 1982.

(Posted 2024-09-22) CPDL #82084:

Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2024-09-22). Score information: A4, 1 page, 127 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: The hymn When Jesus left his Father's throne in the version published in The Hymnal 1982, melody with words.

(Posted 2022-03-15) CPDL #68434:

Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2022-03-15). Score information: A4, 1 page, 54 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: The hymn O Jesus, crowned with all renown with four-part harmony and underlaid words in the version published in The Hymnal 1982.

(Posted 2022-03-15) CPDL #68433:

Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2022-03-15). Score information: A4, 1 page, 128 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: The hymn O Jesus, crowned with all renown in the version published in The Hymnal 1982, melody with words.

(Posted 2021-04-18) CPDL #64102:

Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2021-04-18). Score information: A4, 1 page, 49 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: The hymn How shall I sing that majesty to the alternative tune Kingsfold with four-part harmony and underlaid words in the version published in Hymns Ancient & Modern New Standard.

(Posted 2021-04-18) CPDL #64101:

Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2021-04-18). Score information: A4, 1 page, 128 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: The hymn How shall I sing that majesty to the alternative tune Kingsfold in the version published in Hymns Ancient & Modern New Standard, melody with words.

(Posted 2021-04-05) CPDL #63932:

Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2021-04-05). Score information: A4, 1 page, 50 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: The hymn O sing a song of Bethlehem with four-part harmony and underlaid words in the version published in Hymns Ancient & Modern New Standard.

(Posted 2021-04-05) CPDL #63931:

Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2021-04-05). Score information: A4, 1 page, 126 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: The hymn O sing a song of Bethlehem in the version published in Hymns Ancient & Modern New Standard, melody with words.

(Posted 2021-02-14) CPDL #62923:

Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2021-02-14). Score information: A4, 1 page, 48 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: The hymn I heard the voice of Jesus say with four-part harmony and underlaid words in the version published in Hymns Ancient & Modern New Standard.

(Posted 2021-02-14) CPDL #62922:

Editor: Andrew Sims (submitted 2021-02-14). Score information: A4, 1 page, 126 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: The hymn I heard the voice of Jesus say in the version published in Hymns Ancient & Modern New Standard, melody with words.

(Posted 2020-03-13) CPDL #57497:

Editor: Henk Vogel (submitted 2020-03-13). Score information: A4, 2 pages Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Descant for 'Come, join the dance of Trinity' (or in Dutch: 'Dans mee met Vader, Zoon en Geest') with organ accompaniment.

(Posted 2020-03-13) CPDL #57496:

Editor: Henk Vogel (submitted 2020-03-13). Score information: A4, 2 pages Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Another Descant for 'I heard the voice of Jesus say' (or in Dutch: 'Dans mee met Vader, Zoon en Geest' which is another hymn) with organ accompaniment.

(Posted 2020-03-13) CPDL #57495:

Editor: Henk Vogel (submitted 2020-03-13). Score information: A4, 2 pages Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Descant for 'I heard the voice of Jesus say' (or in Dutch: 'Dans mee met Vader, Zoon en Geest' which is another hymn) with organ accompaniment.

(Posted 2007-11-21) CPDL #15485: (Sibelius 4)

Editor: John Henry Fowler (submitted 2007-11-21). Score information: A4, 1 page, 26 kB Copyright: Public Domain

Edition notes: Edition from the Cyber Hymnal™.

General Information

Title: Kingsfold
Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams
Lyricist: Louis F Benson^{create page}
Lyricist: Horatio Bonar

Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Sacred, Hymn Meter: 86. 86. D (C.M.D.)

Language: English
Instruments: Keyboard

First published:
2nd published: 1983 in Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Standard, no. 247
Description:

External websites:

Cyber Hymnal™ entry for hymn tune "Kingsfold":
http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/o/s/i/osingson.htm

Original text and translations

English text

1.
O sing a song of Bethlehem, of shepherds watching there,
And of the news that came to them from angels in the air.
The light that shone on Bethlehem fills all the world today;
Of Jesus’ birth and peace on earth the angels sing alway.

2.
O sing a song of Nazareth, of sunny days of joy;
O sing of fragrant flowers’ breath, and of the sinless Boy.
For now the flowers of Nazareth in every heart may grow;
Now spreads the fame of His dear Name on all the winds that blow.

3.
O sing a song of Galilee, of lake and woods and hill,
Of Him Who walked upon the sea and bade the waves be still.
For though like waves on Galilee, dark seas of trouble roll,
When faith has heard the Master’s Word, falls peace upon the soul.

4.
O sing a song of Calvary, its glory and dismay,
Of Him Who hung upon the tree, and took our sins away.
For He Who died on Calvary is risen from the grave,
And Christ, our Lord, by Heaven adored, is mighty now to save.

Lyrics: Louis F. Benson, 1889.

English text

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘Come unto me and rest;
lay down, thou weary one, lay down
thy head upon my breast:’
I came to Jesus as I was,
so weary, worn and sad;
I found in him a resting-place,
and he has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘Behold, I freely give
the living water, thirsty one;
stoop down and drink and live:’
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘I am this dark world’s light;
look unto me, thy morn shall rise,
and all thy day be bright:’
I looked to Jesus, and I found
in him my star, my sun;
and in that light of life I’ll walk
till travelling days are done.

Words: Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

English text

How shall I sing that majesty
which angels do admire?
let dust in dust and silence lie;
sing, sing, ye heavenly choir.
Thousands of thousands stand around
thy throne, O God most high;
ten thousand times ten thousand sound
thy praise; but who am I?

Thy brightness unto them appears,
whilst I thy footsteps trace;
a sound of God comes to my ears,
but they behold thy face.
They sing because thou art their Sun;
Lord, send a beam on me;
for where heaven is but once begun
there alleluias be.

How great a being, Lord, is thine,
which doth all beings keep!
Thy knowledge is the only line
to sound so vast a deep.
Thou art a sea without a shore,
a sun without a sphere;
thy time is now and evermore,
thy place is everywhere.

Words: John Mason (c. 1645-1694)

English text

O Jesus, crowned with all renown,
since thou the earth hast trod,
thou reignest and by thee come down
henceforth the gifts of God.
Thine is the health and thine the wealth
that in our halls abound,
and thine the beauty and the joy
with which the years are crowned.

Lord, in their change, let frost and heat,
and winds and dews be given;
all fostering power, all influence sweet,
breath from the bounteous heaven.
Attemper fair with gentle air
the sunshine and the rain,
that kindly earth with timely birth
may yield her fruits again:

that we may feed the poor aright,
and, gathering round thy throne,
here, in the holy angels’ sight,
repay thee of thine own:
that we may praise thee all our days,
and with the Father’s Name,
and with the Holy Spirit’s gifts,
the Savior’s love proclaim.

Words: Edward White Benson (1829-1896)

English text

When Jesus left his Father’s throne,
he chose an humble birth;
like us, unhonored and unknown,
he came to dwell on earth.
Like him may we be found below
in wisdom’s path of peace;
like him in grace and knowledge grow
as years and strength increase.

Sweet were his words and kind his look,
when mothers round him pressed;
their infants in his arms he took,
and on his bosom blessed.
Safe from the world’s alluring harms,
beneath his watchful eye,
thus in the circle of his arms
may we for ever lie.

When Jesus into Zion rode,
the children sang around;
for joy they plucked the palms and strowed
their garments on the ground.
Hosanna our glad voices raise,
hosanna to our King!
Should we forget our Savior’s praise,
the stones themselves would sing.

Words: James Montgomery (1771-1854)

Kingsfold (Ralph Vaughan Williams)

Music files

General Information

External websites:

Original text and translations

Navigation menu

Search