E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come by Paul Manz (MorningStar Music Publishers)

[@jamesward95]

In 1998, I became the choral director for a Christian School in Tennessee. I had never planned and executed the choral work for an academic choir, but this tune was one we sang in college under the direction of John Hamm. I picked it for our students to sing, so I pored over it to learn each phrase and tediously teach it to 10th-12th graders. Today, I am reading in my devotional about Christ performing a good work in us until the day of Jesus Christ, and this phrase "Even so, Lord, quickly come" resonated in my spirit. Of all the widely disparate views and doctrines within the Christian church today, this is universally believed and long for. Jesus' return. I am 74 now, and facing radiation for prostate cancer. Jesus coming back looks better all the time!

[@amorosky]

Sang this tonight at Lessons and Carols at St. Ann's in Old Lyme, CT...it's a really beautiful piece of music.

[@marxmiti7467]

I have never sang it, and look forward to that time. Such melodious voices😊❤

[@AO-jd9cp]

I sang this in Seminary with our Chorale 12 years ago. It's amazing how its truths become much more precious, it's harmony remains so well ingrained in my head, and the message of its song becomes so much more desirable as we look at the world. As John ended the Bible saying, "even so, come, Lord Jesus!" He is indeed coming soon. Soli Deo Gloria!

[@beep1122]

I had the pleasure of being in the National Lutheran Choir for this recording. And another small bit of context, the church where the NLC rehearses has the original hand-written score framed and hanging on the wall of the choir room. It's a special piece!

[@mlburwell]

I happen to belong to a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, (Gloria Dei Lutheran), with which Paul Manz and his gracious wife were affiliated late in life. They were present one Advent season when this chorale was performed by the church's choir. It was such a touching moment. This church is also one where their son John served as as associate pastor for a number of years.

[@lrufusmusica]

These words offered hope and reassurance particularly to first century Christians undergoing fierce persecution. These words are equally as hopeful and reassuring to believers today who face the unspeakable horrors of an unfriendly, ungodly generation. "Lord , come quickly!!" (Revelation 22)

[@KurtRichterCISSP]

May it also comfort those victimized and persecuted by the worst of our Christian bothers and sisters ❤️

[@khorner1109]

We sang this in my Whitehaven (Memphis) High School choir, 50 years ago. Still runs through my mind frequently. If angels sing like this I can’t wait for heaven!

[@judydutko8321]

I'm in tears. When I lived in California... my mom was Organist and Choir Director of Calvary Presbyterian Church. I was in he Choir and we used to sin this fabulous anthem.

[@KurtRichterCISSP]

My mother taught me to sing and this was one of her favorites as well. They're always with us and always will be ❤️

[@HighWideandHandsome]

Out of all of Paul Manz's compositions, this is the one I'd keep.

[@georgefelty6357]

This anthem will go down as the all-time 20th century anthem and so exquisitely done!

[@justinrinquest2069]

The Alto at 1:26 wow goosebumps

[@kate2014LR]

So much of the time alto parts are boring to sing--but not this one. Dr. Manz wrote us a lovely alto line.

[@normmalenke9238]

Fantastic worship piece, my very favorite one. It was sung by a family choir at both my father and mother's funerals. It will also be sung at my funeral, when it happens. My mother was church secretary at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis MN when Paul Manz was on the staff there. Mr. Manz played the organ for my parents' wedding in 1948.

[@kaywilliams5000]

My brother sang this in the Westmont choir in the early 60's. Paul Manz wrote it after losing his son because of taking aspirin for an illness which I can't remember and it caused his death. I have always loved this song!

[@mandevillaredmandevillared4224]

The son did not die, he had a rare type of double pneumonia at the age of 3, and eventually recovered, grew up, and became a pastor

[@aims4usa]

This is absolutely one of my favorite hymns. So appropriate during Advent.

[@MNBluestater]

I don’t understand why it has become a traditional Advent chorale. Must be me. It was composed by Dr. Manz as a plea for God to save his very ill son, who was not expected to survive the night.

[@laurieneuenschwander4285]

@@MNBluestater Advent is a time of preparation and expectation for the coming celebration of our Lord's nativity, and for the final coming of Christ in power and glory. Thus the words also fit our hope "Lord Jesus, quickly come".

[@piperjon8949]

We sang this in my college choir, back in the mid 80s. What a treat to be able to hear it again, and see the same pages we sang. I can still even hit some of those tenor notes... This was among my favorites of all the music we did. Thank you for a soft, sweet nostalgic moment!

[@tinkaluisa8540]

Sooo gorgeous.

[@lemuelbach]

So great! I used to sing this in high school and still remember my part!

[@indinaveer]

As I can’t predictably sight read choral music I had trouble learning the bass part of this piece. So, I went to you tube. The more I listened the more I was struck by its beauty. Now probably my most favorite ever sung. I only wish I could really hit the last bass note.

[@CherryLaneDiaries]

My favorite Christmas hymn, by far.

[@jamesmaxson2306]

YES! The bass part is the best

[@happyspaceinvader508]

I’m a bass, singing this piece this coming December. And can sing a full octave below the bottom note at the end.

[@judydutko8321]

This is beyond beautiful...

[@steelydws]

wow this song rocks the house!

[@jennaragsdale5593]

I got the pleasure of performing this all over my community in my chamber choir and this is easily my favorite piece in our set of equally amazing pieces

[@TheApostleofRock]

THANK YOU for putting the score up. This is one of my very favorite pieces ever and I like to sing a long with each of the parts. Except soprano of course haha.

[@kevinschellhase4388]

Goodness gracious, what an amazing song! This performance really makes it. I love the breathless tempo and those two giant fermatas at the end.

[@beckymetu7410]

Amen and Amen!

[@GoldenFreddyGF]

I am singing this piece in my chamber choir and out of Hallelujah amen, earth song, and this, this is by far my favorite

[@suzanacabral2948]

Simplesmente maravilhoso!!! 🥰😍🙏

[@benradeke2842]

Amazing arrangement, got to sing it for madrigals at my highschool, really beautiful piece, especially the ending

[@st.elizabethchoirsf5988]

So sublime ♥️.

[@lianecornils8733]

Make my memories my present i think its what God intended.

[@morningstarmusicpubs]

This is the National Lutheran Choir on the recording.

[@christopherbalchin9065]

Thank you. They are terrific.

[@Highinsight7]

@@christopherbalchin9065 They're STUNNING... ALWAYS!

[@laurenwest6240]

singing this rn

[@TrailerTrashBuddah]

I get to sing this in an octet in my choir

[@carolmenges861]

Stunning! I just listened to some other renditions online, and this is the most beautiful.

[@thequiltedheart]

Which group is singing in this excellent recording? One of the finest performances of this classic piece I have heard in 65 years of singing. Thank you for posting. :)

[@morningstarmusicpubs]

It was recorded by The National Lutheran Choir, David Cherwien, Artistic Director and conductor, Minneapolis, MN. Aaron David Miller, organ. Recording Engineer: David Trembley, Soundmaster Productions.

[@carlpitney2364]

Thank you for putting this up. Constructive suggestion for next time: Can you turn the pages perhaps a beat early so that we know where the vocal phrase is going? I find I am always reading ahead at least a beat. I know that might just be me. Peace in Christ.

[@marshalivingston3120]

A must in every choir that has sopranos with a decent A-flat...

[@jeancharlton9079]

And a B flat -2, actually!

[@kate2014LR]

@@jeancharlton9079 And basses who can sing that low D flat. And that's the challenge--even if you wanted to lower the key for the sopranos, the bass line ends so low, there's no where to go! Not every church choir can manage it, but oh, the lucky choir that can!

[@WallyfromPgh]

Wonder why they charge through every breath mark?

[@waltertheus3467]

We've sung this in our church choir since before I joined in 1978. We sang it this past Sunday. During our preparation rehearsals we laughed about all of the different breath marks from over the years. This time we sang mostly 4 measure phrases and staggered breathing when necessary. Incidentally, we have a fine young baritone of 24 who sang this every year in his college choir. He knew every note and word.

[@jeffreymiller4814]

Walter Koehler, I wonder too! After nearly 50 years of living with this piece (teaching it to choirs, conducting it and singing it), I’ve learned that it NEEDS those breaths to shape the piece. Many choral conductors delude themselves into thinking that breaths always break up musical lines and are therefore unmusical. Of course too many breaths are. But the opposite is true. Without strategic breaths, gorgeous pieces become one long, run-on sentence. Mr. Manz knew best. Those breaths are not editorial. They’re his markings.

[@christopherbalchin9065]

Is this in the key of Bb Minor? I'm trying to figure it out. It ends on a Db major chord and seems to interweave major and minor beautifully. And this recording is great.

[@kailyn1011]

d flat

[@austinmccombs5606]

Yes, the tonal center is Bb minor. The piece explores (tonicizes) other keys, but it begins in and ends in Bb minor.

[@austinmccombs5606]

@@kailyn1011 A key signature of 5 flats may indicate Db major, but in this case, it is indicating the related minor mode, Bb minor. Listen to the piece or look at the notes and see that Db is not what the melody centers on, nor does the prevailing harmonic structure suggest this is remotely centered in a major key.

[@nicholaswanstall4407]

@@austinmccombs5606 Although I agree that it is mainly in Bb minor it does in fact end in Db major

[@austinmccombs5606]

@@nicholaswanstall4407 serves stupid me right for not listening to the end of the piece and going off memory from singing it 6 years ago.

[@เรียนภาษาอังกฤษวันนี้]

Even though we want Him to come Quickly, it definately isn't beautiful if it is SUNG so QUICK.

[@kate2014LR]

I like this tempo. I have heard it sung so slowly it drags, badly.

[@Haateru]

Who is performing this piece, in this recording?

[@bonniesunderland2339]

6

[@gregorydiercks8958]

So many breath demarcations ignored! They're not just for breathing - they're for shaping the phrases. I really don't like this version at all.