Pentecostal Power in Tonic Solfa
Pentecostal Power in Tonic Solfa to OLD-TIME POWER (GABRIEL): the solfa with the words, staff notation, the four verses and the refrain, and a piano.
The solfa with the words
| mLord,- | ras-dof-dold,-rat- | dPen--t,te--t,cost,-s,Thou- |
| fdidst-fThy-fpow’r-fdis-- | mplay—-----mWith- |
| rcleans--ding,-dpu--rri-- | dfy--t,ing-t,flame,-dDe-- |
| rscend-ron-mus-feto-- | sday.---sLord,--- |
| msend-,mthemold----rtime- | rpow--der,---mthe- |
| dPen--,dte-dcos----l,tal- | l,pow--s,er!---dThy- |
| dflood--t,gates---rof- | rbless--ding,---mon- |
| mus-rthrow-ro--mpen- | rwide!---sLord,--- |
| msend-,mthemold----rtime- | rpow--der,---mthe- |
| dPen--,dte-dcos----l,tal- | l,pow--s,er!---s,That- |
| l,sin-dners--dbe-rcon-- | mvert-sed--sand-fThy- |
| mName---rglo---rri- | dfied!----- |
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- Key
- Ab major
- Doh
- Ab
- Time
- 2/2
- Starts on
- m (C)
- Range
- s, to s (E♭ to E♭, an octave)
- Tune
- OLD-TIME POWER (GABRIEL)
- Words
- Charles H. Gabriel
Tune OLD-TIME POWER (GABRIEL) by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (1856–1932); words by Charles H. Gabriel (1856–1932). 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 Ab · 2/2
Staff notation
The melody on the treble staff in Ab major, with the first verse under the notes.
The staff is drawn here when you scroll to it.
The words
Lord, as of old, at Pentecost,
Thou didst Thy pow’r display—
With cleansing, purifying flame,
Descend on us today.
Refrain
Lord, send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power!
Thy floodgates of blessing, on us throw open wide!
Lord, send the old-time power, the Pentecostal power!
That sinners be converted and Thy Name glorified!
For mighty works for Thee, prepare
And strengthen every heart;
Come, take possession of Thine own,
And nevermore depart.
All self consume, all sin destroy!
With earnest zeal endue
Each waiting heart to work for Thee;
O Lord, our faith renew!
Speak, Lord! before Thy throne we wait,
Thy promise we believe,
And will not let Thee go until
The blessing we receive.
How to sing it from the solfa
- Find doh first. Play or hum Ab 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 (C), on the word “Lord”, as a pickup before the first full bar.
- Count the time. 2/2 means two minim 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 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
Charles H. Gabriel wrote both the words and the tune OLD-TIME POWER; the song was published in 1912.
- Words (1912): Charles H. Gabriel (1856–1932)
- Music (1912): Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (1856–1932)
Tune OLD-TIME POWER (GABRIEL) by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (1856–1932); words by Charles H. Gabriel (1856–1932).
Questions about Pentecostal Power
What is the doh of Pentecostal Power?
In this version, in Ab major, doh is Ab. 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 Pentecostal Power start on?
It starts on m (C in Ab major), a pickup on the word “Lord” before the first full bar. Find doh first, then sing up or down to m.
Is Pentecostal Power in the public domain?
Yes. Charles H. Gabriel died in 1932, Charles Hutchinson Gabriel died in 1932; the words were first published in 1912 and the music in 1912. 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.