This haunting song is an adaption from an ancient chant used as far back as 275AD, originally written in Greek, as a “Cherubic Hymn”, which is sung to incorporate those present at the Divine Liturgy into the company of those surrounding the throne of God. It is traditionally sung during the Eucharist, but has also become a favorite to use thematically on the feast of All Souls/All Saints.
The words come from Habakkuk 2:20, and was set to the French tune PICARDY. Indeed the words and melody send that holy chill down the spine of those who can truly picture themselves in the presence of the angels and the Most High!
1- Let all mortal flesh keep silence, And with fear and trembling stand; Ponder nothing earthly-minded, For with blessing in His hand, Christ our God to earth descendeth, Our full homage to demand.
2 -King of kings, yet born of Mary, As of old on earth He stood, Lord of lords, in human vesture, In the body and the blood; He will give to all the faithful His own self for heav'nly food.
3 - Rank on rank the host of heaven Spreads its vanguard on the way, As the Light of light descendeth From the realms of endless day, That the pow'rs of hell may vanish As the darkness clears away.
4 - At His feet the six-winged seraph, Cherubim with sleepless eye, Veil their faces to the presence, As with ceaseless voice they cry: "Alleluia, Alleluia Alleluia, Lord Most High!"
- Translated/Arranged by Gerald Moultrie & Ralph Vaughn Williams
- Tune PICARDY
- FX: TC Helicon Voicelive 3 Extreme, GarageBand iOS
- This arrangement by Liz Dieleman 2020
(Sorry about the technical glitches! We’ve bought a new camera) ;)
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