Jesus Saves! in Tonic Solfa
Jesus Saves! in Tonic Solfa to JESUS SAVES: the solfa with the words, staff notation, the four verses, and a piano.
The solfa with the words
| s,We-,s,have | dheard---,s,thedjoy--,rful | msound:---sJe--,ssus | ssaves!---mJe--,dsus | rsaves!---s,Spread-,s,the |
| dtid----,s,ingsdall-,ra- | dround:---sJe--,ssus | ssaves!---rJe--,msus | dsaves!---dBear-,dthe |
| fnews---,ftofev--,fery | fland,---dClimb-,rthe | mmoun----,mtains,scross-,mthe | rwaves;---sOn--,sward! |
| s’tis---,mourfLord’s-,scom- | lmand;---sJe--,ssus | ssaves!---rJe--,msus | dsaves!--- |
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- Key
- G major
- Doh
- G
- Time
- 3/4
- Starts on
- s, (D)
- Range
- s, to l (D to E, a ninth)
- Tune
- JESUS SAVES
- Words
- Priscilla J. Owens
Tune JESUS SAVES by William James Kirkpatrick (1838–1921); words by Priscilla J. Owens (1829–1907). 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 · 3/4
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
We have heard the joyful sound:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to every land,
Climb the mountains, cross the waves;
Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command;
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Waft it on the rolling tide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Tell to sinners far and wide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing, you islands of the sea;
Echo back, you ocean caves;
Earth shall keep her jubilee:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing above the battle strife:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
By His death and endless life
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout it brightly through the gloom,
When the heart for mercy craves;
Sing in triumph o’er the tomb:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Give the winds a mighty voice:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Let the nations now rejoice:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout salvation full and free;
Highest hills and deepest caves;
This our song of victory:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
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 s, (D), on the word “We”, as a pickup before the first full bar.
- Count the time. 3/4 means three 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. A cell split by a comma holds two quarter beats: d -,r is a dotted quaver and a semiquaver, d,r two semiquavers. That comma sits between two syllables; an octave mark sits small and low against its own letter (s,).
- Know the notes. The tune uses d r m f s l. 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
Priscilla J. Owens wrote the words, published in 1882 with the tune JESUS SAVES by William J. Kirkpatrick.
- Words (1882): Priscilla J. Owens (1829–1907)
- Music (1882): William James Kirkpatrick (1838–1921)
Tune JESUS SAVES by William James Kirkpatrick (1838–1921); words by Priscilla J. Owens (1829–1907).
Questions about Jesus Saves!
What is the doh of Jesus Saves!?
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 Jesus Saves! start on?
It starts on s, (D in G major), a pickup on the word “We” before the first full bar. Find doh first, then sing up or down to s,.
Is Jesus Saves! in the public domain?
Yes. Priscilla J. Owens died in 1907, William James Kirkpatrick died in 1921; the words were first published in 1882 and the music in 1882. 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.