"O God Beyond All Praising" from Christmas at Susquehanna

Under the direction of Professor Emeritus, Cyril Stretansky, alumni singers joined University ensembles for a selection during the Christmas at Susquehanna program filmed in December 2016. The performance can also be found on the DVD "extras".

[@maryanndorsett4455]

I love their rendition of this fantastic piece. Used it for my daughters funeral..

[@lindawindhorst672]

Oh precious Lord help me, Your servant. I am lost in despair.

[@owensweetland342]

I sang this beautiful song with the BEST choir I've ever been in.

[@bernadettestar]

This particular choir at christmas can you give me the second verse because it's not the same as the original.

[@KevinBBrown-bz8bj]

The organ opening and prelude and throughout the piece added a layered dimension of depth and power to an already heroic piece. I disagree with those comments criticizing it. I found it musically brilliant. Well done.

[@dalegrider716]

I agree totally, Kevin!

[@royalstar650]

Here, here!

[@dianaargersinger5045]

9:30 Music is hauntingly beautiful. I've heard the music to the hymn "Three Days". Superb rendition.

[@yvonneseptfonds2730]

mere words could not express how I feel at this moment

[@stephenscull901]

Wonderful to see and hear Prof. Stretansky conducting. I sang under him in the Susquehanna Valley Chorale in early 1980’s.

[@debunkys]

Man this is something else no matter how many times you listen to it. Who cares about the so called 3 tenors of Pavarotti and Company

[@geonmzahsan6640]

Uplifting & brilliant. Organ added depth

[@paneethaameresekere1615]

Thank you and God bless you all, from Sri Lanka

[@paneethaameresekere1615]

Thank you and God bless, from Sri Lanka.

[@richardcallahan8698]

If my child whom i'd risen to perform perform me as such, I would tear up and proclaim that I gave every actualization to my childs

[@nanikdasani4547]

1 O God beyond all praising, we worship you today and sing the love amazing that songs cannot repay, for we can only wonder at every gift you send, at blessings without number and mercies without end: we lift our hearts before you and wait upon your word, we honor and adore you, our great and mighty Lord. 2 The flower of earthly splendor in time must sure die, its fragile bloom surrender to you our God most high, but hidden from all nature the eternal seed is sown, though small in mortal stature, to heaven's garden grown: for Christ, your gift from heaven, from death has set us free, and we through him are given the final victory. 3 Then, hear O gracious Savior, this song of praise we sing. May we, who know your favour, our humble service bring, and whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill, we'll triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still: to marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways, and make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise.

[@barbarainwood2836]

Ii😅 O

[@bernadettestar]

There's a couple on KZbin with lyrics and I'm learning this song, it's beautiful.

[@bernadettestar]

No just rendition has a second verse and I can't not understand every word.

[@elizabethsohler6516]

Thank you.This is also the melody for "I vow to thee my country" played at Queen Elizabeth's funeral. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKfSppZuhtiSg6s

[@elizabethsohler6516]

@@bernadettestar There is no rule about how many verses a hymn can have.

[@angelaracheal5820]

Goosebumps ,Excellent ...I can't express how I feel listening to this 😮

[@garycartwright9338]

I appreciate that I can hear the lyrics to this majestic song.

[@bernadettestar]

Oh really, could you give me the second verse because it's not the same as the other version.

[@williamfrank7565]

wonderful...and I note that as the conductor points upward at the very end...the already high soprano voices... do indeed.... go even higher....WOW

[@ngermain100]

So amazingly beautiful! God bless all of you for your incredible musical talents. Planning to use this song as my daughter and her new husband exit the Church this August 2024 ❤❤❤

[@geonmzahsan6640]

Brilliant

[@paneethaameresekere1615]

Thank you from Sri Lanka

[@Gene4310]

The layering of organ, voices, and instruments gave depth and interest.

[@sarchuun]

Just wonderful beyond imagination ❤❤❤

[@jackprice6426]

The orchestration was composed by an alumnus for our Sesquicentennial Concert in Carnegie Hall. As an alumnus I believe this is the face,the sound and voice and the soul of Susquehanna.

[@elizabethsohler6516]

Hear! Hear! 1987.

[@bernadettestar]

Five people in this choir look like people I have seen in movies. This is beautiful ,I play this everyday. Does anybody know if these people have been in movies? This is a beautiful arrangement and choir.

[@gandaroynov7127]

May Jesus Bless you all

[@debunkys]

Yo, what about that organ intro. Amazing performance.

[@Gene4310]

Excellent !!!

[@charlesdarwin9701]

Adoremus Dei per Christum Dominum Nostrum.Amen

[@seanseah333]

Beautiful.

[@richwise36]

“And blessings without number and mercies without end.” Amen.

[@drsauce4347]

great performance

[@84saints]

Love the descant!

[@Mj-hr7wv]

Beautiful 💗💗💗💗

[@susanmercurio5098]

Superb!

[@dianaargersinger5045]

5:00 I listen to this beauty when my spirits need lifting.

[@owensweetland342]

Hmmm...I wish they picked up the pace more. It drags.

[@tonybarde2572]

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above, Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love; The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test, That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best; The love that never falters, the love that pays the price, The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice. And there's another country, I've heard of long ago, Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know; We may not count her armies, we may not see her King; Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering; And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase, And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace.

[@caillumoconnor418]

O God beyond all praising

[@tonybarde2572]

@@caillumoconnor418 Same tune

[@robertaddington6309]

@@tonybarde2572 Yes. The tune is 'Thaxted', by Gustav Holst.

[@tonybarde2572]

@@robertaddington6309 Yep

[@malambamukolwe6489]

Someone to help with the lyrics of the second verse here? I've searched everywhere seems they are unique to this choir.

[@Jack-eo5fn]

Good question. If you go to the video of the Georgia Boys Choir singing the same piece, the lyrics to both verses are at the top of comments.

[@music5052]

We pray Creator, Spirit, bless every humble mind, And let your grace abundant flow down on humankind. With heav'nly love inspire us; Sanctify us, set us free. Our Alpha and Omega, our Source, our ending be. With thanks and adoration we sing your praise divine. Your love abounds eternal, this is your grand design. - Wayne Dietterick

[@malambamukolwe6489]

@@music5052 thank you

[@rk43409]

@@music5052 Many, many thanks! God bless you and keep you safe.

[@dgetz101]

@@music5052 Wayne, again, it was an honor and pleasure to perform your composition in honor and memory of Cy last weekend.

[@davejohnpell3274]

"And whether our tomorrows be filled with joy or ill..." In Dec. 2016 no one could have foreseen the ills that would fill our lives starting March 2020 (except those who planned the disaster....)

[@brucerichardson9725]

And since this is an institution of higher education, let's edit out the comma and refer to Professor Emeritus Cyril Stretansky.

[@jackprice6426]

ROFLMAO

[@dr.justindavis7045]

Are the lyrics available? Mostly the second verse, as I have never heard them before.

[@ghesundefru3519]

Then hear, O gracious Saviour, accept the love we bring, that we who know your favour may serve you as our king; and whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill, we'll triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still: to marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways, and make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise

[@rk43409]

The lyrics supplied in one reply and the sheet music link match one another but are not the lyrics being sung.

[@roberthalf1094]

@@cydl8365 Wrong tune, but who's complaining?

[@roberthalf1094]

Rich Kelly: Because, if the PROTESTant revolt has taught us anything, Faith, like lyrics, are relative. Truth is One, not 58,000 and counting. Alas ... !

[@haroldcampbell3337]

@@roberthalf1094 Hilarious

[@kitstr]

Pretty gnarly atonal intro from the organist.

[@susanharris3942]

And mercies without end.

[@canyoubelievethis220]

Bless the little organist's heart. Must have been one of those "wished I could dig a hole, jump in and pull the dirt in with me". The choir was pretty good. The Georgia Boys Choir has the best arrangement out there.

[@caillumoconnor418]

Hate the organ at the beginning it sounds like a Michael Jackson song