Lo! He comes with clouds descending

As promised, here is the first of the daily hymns for the season. I chose this great masterpiece since it corresponds well with St. Mark's Gospel for this, the first Sunday in Advent.

The tune comes from a collection ("Select Hymns") of Charles Wesley (1707-1788), the melody having been "noted" by T. Oliver (1725-1799). The name of the tune is "Helmsley."

The words, also by Wesley, paint an electrifying and astounding scenario - the Second Coming. The scene shows all of the glory, majesty, and awful dread of that great day. Just reading the words gives me chills.

A note about the performance - this a grand hymn in the true sense of the word. Therefore the performance reflects that. It is played as if there were a congregation of 500 people singing it. I don't want to give the impression that I play only loud hymns, or that I believe that full organ is the "normal" registration for hymns!

My hymn series will use many different styles and organs, so, I hope you will listen and SING each day!

Better yet, why not post an Advent hymn of your own?!?

Lo! he comes with clouds descending,
Once for favoured sinners slain;
Thousand thousand saints attending
Swell the triumph of his train:
Alleluya! (3 times)
God appears, on earth to reign.

Every eye shall now behold him
Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold him,
Pierced and nailed him to the tree,
Deeply wailing (3 times)
Shall the true Messian see.

Those dear tokens of his passion
Still his dazzling Body bears,
Cause of endless exultation
To his ransomed worshippers:
With what rapture (3 times)
Gaze we on those glorious scars!

Yea, Amen! let all adore thee,
High on thing eternal throne;
Saviour, take the power and glory:
Claim the kingdom for thine own:
O come quickly! (3 times)
Alleluya! Come, Lord, come!