In the Bliss of Old Predicted in Tonic Solfa
In the Bliss of Old Predicted in Tonic Solfa to KALMAR, doh is G: the solfa with the words, staff notation, 3 verses and a piano.
The solfa with the words
| dIn-dthe-l,bliss-l,of- | t,old-s,pre--ddict--ded,- |
| mHeaven-fand-rearth-sto- | sday-fere--sjoice;--- |
| dMen-dand-l,an--l,gels,- | t,one-s,in-dspir--dit,- |
| mShout-fa--rloud-sin- | sglee--feful-svoice;--- |
| sFor,-mto-lthose-sin- | fdark--mness-rdrear,--- |
| mGod-din-fhu--mman- | rflesh-ris-dnear.--- |
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- Key
- G major
- Doh
- G
- Time
- 4/4
- Starts on
- d (G)
- Range
- s, to l (D to E, a ninth)
- Tune
- KALMAR
- Words
- Traditional Greek, John Brownlie
- Music
- Swedish Traditional
Tune KALMAR (Swedish Traditional); words by Traditional Greek; translated by John Brownlie (1857–1925). 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 · 4/4
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
In the bliss of old predicted,
Heaven and earth to-day rejoice;
Men and angels, one in spirit,
Shout aloud in gleeful voice;
For, to those in darkness drear,
God in human flesh is near.
Cave and manger show the mystery;
Shepherds tell the wondrous tale;
Bearing gifts to lay before Him
From the East the Magi hail;
Taught by angel words to sing,
We unworthy praises bring.
Glory be to God eternal!
Peace on earth its reign begin!
For the one Desire of nations
Comes to save us from our sin;
Freedom He will now bestow
From the bondage of the foe.
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 d (G).
- Count the time. 4/4 means four crotchet beats 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 l t and the chromatic fe. 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
John Brownlie translated these words from the Greek service books for Hymns of the Greek Church (Edinburgh and London, 1900).
The book printed the words without tunes. They are in 8.7.8.7.7.7, and this page sets them to KALMAR; any other 8.7.8.7.7.7 tune fits them as well.
- Words: Traditional Greek
- Translated (1900): John Brownlie (1857–1925)
- Melody (1676): Swedish Traditional
Tune KALMAR (Swedish Traditional); words by Traditional Greek; translated by John Brownlie (1857–1925).
Sung to the same tune: Christ Is Born, Go Forth to Meet Him, Hark! Ten Thousand Harps and Voices, Jesus, Brightness of the Father, Let Us Love, and Sing, and Wonder, One There Is, Above All Others, Precious Bible! What a Treasure, Through the Day Thy Love Hath Spared Us, Who Is This That Comes from Edom, Yes! Since God Himself Has Said It.
Questions about In the Bliss of Old Predicted
What is the doh of In the Bliss of Old Predicted?
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 In the Bliss of Old Predicted start on?
It starts on d (G in G major). Find doh first, then sing up or down to d.
Is In the Bliss of Old Predicted in the public domain?
Yes. John Brownlie died in 1925; the words were in print by 1900 and the music in 1676. 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.