Wonderful Words of Life in Tonic Solfa
Wonderful Words of Life in Tonic Solfa to WORDS OF LIFE: the solfa with the words, staff notation, the three verses and the refrain, and a piano.
The solfa with the words
| mSing-mthemmo-fverma- | mgain-rtorme,-- | s,Won-rder-rfulmwords-rof | dlife--s,_-- |
| mLet-mmemmorefofmtheir | mbeau--rtyrsee,-- | s,Won-rder-rfulmwords-rof | dlife.----- |
| mWords-mofmlifefands_ | lbeau---sty-- | mTeach-mmemfaithfands_ | ldu---sty;-- |
| sBeau-fti-ffulfwords,-- | fwon-mder-mfulmwords,-- | mWon-rder-dfulrwords-t,of | dlife-m_s_-- |
| sBeau-fti-ffulfwords,-- | fwon-mder-mfulmwords,-- | mWon-rder-dfulrwords-t,of | dlife.----- |
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- Key
- F major
- Doh
- F
- Time
- 6/8
- Starts on
- m (A)
- Range
- s, to l (C to D, a ninth)
- Tune
- WORDS OF LIFE
- Words
- Philip P. Bliss
- Music
- Philip P. Bliss
Tune WORDS OF LIFE 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 F · 6/8
Staff notation
The melody on the treble staff in F major, with the first verse under the notes.
The staff is drawn here when you scroll to it.
The words
Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life.
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty;
Refrain
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.
Christ, the blessed One, gives to all
Wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call,
Wonderful words of life.
All so freely given,
Wooing us to heaven;
Sweetly echo the Gospel call,
Wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all,
Wonderful words of life.
Jesus, only Saviour,
Sanctify forever;
How to sing it from the solfa
- Find doh first. Play or hum F 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 (A).
- 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 l t. 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; the song was published in 1874.
- Words (1874): Philip P. Bliss (1838–1876)
- Music (1874): Philip P. Bliss (1838–1876)
Tune WORDS OF LIFE by Philip P. Bliss (1838–1876); words by Philip P. Bliss (1838–1876).
Questions about Wonderful Words of Life
What is the doh of Wonderful Words of Life?
In this version, in F major, doh is F. 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 Wonderful Words of Life start on?
It starts on m (A in F major). Find doh first, then sing up or down to m.
Is Wonderful Words of Life in the public domain?
Yes. Philip P. Bliss died in 1876, Philip P. Bliss died in 1876; the words were first published in 1874 and the music in 1874. 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.