Almost Persuaded in Tonic Solfa
Almost Persuaded in Tonic Solfa to ALMOST PERSUADED: the solfa with the words, staff notation, the three verses, and a piano.
The solfa with the words
| m“Al---fmost-fper- | msuad---ded”-- | dnow--rto-rbe- | mlieve;----- |
| m“Al---fmost-fper- | msuad---ded”-- | rChrist--mto-rre- | dceive;----- |
| fSeems--fnow-fsome | fsoul-mtomsay,-- | s“Go,--rSpi--frit, | fgo-mThymway,-- |
| dSome--dmore-dcon- | dven--rientmday-- | mOn--mThee-rI’ll | dcall.”----- |
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- Key
- G major
- Doh
- G
- Time
- 6/8
- Starts on
- m (B)
- Range
- d to s (G to D, a fifth)
- Tune
- ALMOST PERSUADED
- Words
- Philip P. Bliss
- Music
- Philip P. Bliss
Tune ALMOST PERSUADED by Philip P. Bliss (1838–1876); words by Philip P. Bliss (1838–1876). Sources and licences.
The solfa line by line
The same solfa as plain text, a line of the hymn at a time, with the words of the first verse under it — easy to copy into your own notes or a message to the choir. To print it, download the solfa as a PDF.
Doh is G · 6/8
Staff notation
The melody on the treble staff in G major, with the first verse under the notes.
The staff is drawn here when you scroll to it.
The words
“Almost persuaded” now to believe;
“Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say,
“Go, Spirit, go Thy way,
Some more convenient day
On Thee I’ll call.”
“Almost persuaded,” come, come today;
“Almost persuaded,” turn not away;
Jesus invites you here,
Angels are ling’ring near,
Prayers rise from hearts so dear;
O wand’rer, come!
“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past!
“Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
“Almost” cannot avail;
“Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail—
“Almost,” but lost!
How to sing it from the solfa
- Find doh first. Play or hum G and sing d r m f s up from it, so the whole choir has the key in their ears before you start.
- Pitch the first note. The tune starts on m (B).
- Count the time. 6/8 means two dotted-crotchet beats (six quavers) in each bar. In the grid every cell is half a crotchet: a dash (–) holds the note before it, and _ is a rest.
- Know the notes. The tune uses d r m f s — only 5 different notes, so it is a good one for a choir new to solfa. A comma after a note (s,) is the octave below; an apostrophe (d') is the octave above.
New to solfa? Read how to read Tonic Solfa and how to find the doh of a song.
About the hymn
Philip P. Bliss wrote both the words and the tune ALMOST PERSUADED, published in 1871.
- Words (1871): Philip P. Bliss (1838–1876)
- Music (1871): Philip P. Bliss (1838–1876)
Tune ALMOST PERSUADED by Philip P. Bliss (1838–1876); words by Philip P. Bliss (1838–1876).
Questions about Almost Persuaded
What is the doh of Almost Persuaded?
In this version, in G major, doh is G. If your choir sings it in another key, doh moves to the new key note and every solfa syllable stays the same — that is what movable doh means.
What note does Almost Persuaded start on?
It starts on m (B in G major). Find doh first, then sing up or down to m.
Is Almost Persuaded in the public domain?
Yes. Philip P. Bliss died in 1876, Philip P. Bliss died in 1876; the words were first published in 1871 and the music in 1871. Everyone named died before 1955 and both were published before 1929, so the hymn is out of copyright in the UK, the EU, the United States and Nigeria. Modern arrangements and translations can still be under copyright.