Compared to Hymnals

The biggest difference between our version and what is found in most hymnals is that we include verse 3; many hymnals only include verses 1, 2, and 4.

For the music, you may notice some very small differences in the voice leading from what appears in your hymnal, but the fundamental harmony is the same. Anyone in your congregation could sing what they’ve learned from memory and it should sound just fine.

	No.	Words	Music
Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs	542	Identical	Bass drops to FA at “This is my earnest plea”; Alto and tenor voicing swapped at “This is my earnest plea”; Other small changes to voice leading (see Variant Group B2 below)
Songs for Worship and Praise	575	Lacks vs 3	Nearly identical, only small changes to voice leading (see Variant Group A below)
Songs of Faith and Praise	700	Lacks vs 3	Bass drops to FA at “This is my earnest plea”; Other small changes to voice leading (see Variant Group B below)
Praise for the Lord	435	Lacks vs 3	Nearly identical, only small changes to voice leading (see Variant Group A below)
Hymns for Worship (Revised)	142	Lacks vs 3	Bass drops to FA at “This is my earnest plea”; Alto and tenor voicing swapped at “This is my earnest plea”; Other small changes to voice leading (see Variant Group B2 below)
Songs of the Church	725	Lacks vs 3	Bass drops to FA at “This is my earnest plea”; Other small changes to voice leading (see Variant Group B below)
Sacred Selections	45	Lacks vs 3	Nearly identical, only small changes to voice leading (see Variant Group A below)
Christian Hymns No. 2	17	Lacks vs 3	Bass drops to FA at “This is my earnest plea”; Other small changes to voice leading (see Variant Group B below)
Great Songs of the Church No. 2	148	Lacks vs 3	Nearly identical, only small changes to voice leading (see Variant Group A below)

Music Variants in the Hymnals

For those who are truly curious, there are a variety of small musical differences in the hymnals which only affect the voice leading, not the chords used. The variants can be put into three groups:

• Variant Group A - Nearly identical to the original music. Has bass sing DO an octave higher in mm. 2, 5, and 6; introduces TI in the alto at m. 11, beat 1.
• Variant Group B - Notably has bass drop to FA at “This is my earnest plea.” Makes other small changes to voice leading.
• Variant Group B2 - Extends Variant Group B. Notably swaps alto and tenor voicing at “This is my earnest plea.” Makes other small changes to voice leading.

Instead of adopting any of these variants, we use William Doane’s original music.

Variant Group A

Nearly identical to the original music. Notably has bass sing a high DO instead of a low DO in places.

The full set of changes to the voice leading includes:

• Bass sings high DO instead of low DO in mm. 2, 5, 6.
• Alto sings TI instead of SOL at m. 11, beat 1 (adding a parallel fifth from m. 10 to m. 11).

Hymnals in this group include:

• Great Songs of the Church No. 2
• Sacred Selections
• Praise for the Lord
• Songs for Worship and Praise

Variant Group B

Notably drops the bass to FA at “This is my earnest plea.”

The full set of changes to the voice leading includes:

• Bass sings FA instead of DO throughout m. 9.
• Alto sings TI instead of SOL throughout m. 11 (adding a parallel fifth from m. 10 to m. 11).
• Tenor sings FA MI RE MI instead of FA MI FA MI in mm. 7-8 (matching ending).
• Bass DO doubled at end of first half but not doubled at end.

Hymnals in this group include:

• Christian Hymns No. 2
• Songs of the Church

Variant Group B2

Notably drops the bass to FA and swaps the alto and tenor voicing at “This is my earnest plea.”

The full set of changes to the voice leading includes:

• Bass sings FA instead of DO from m. 9 until chord change in m. 10.
• Swaps alto and tenor voicing in mm. 9-10, lowering both parts to make them easier to sing but making the overall sound more subdued than the original.
• Alto sings TI instead of SOL from m. 11 until chord change in m. 12.
• Tenor sings FA MI RE MI instead of FA MI FA MI in mm. 7-8 (matching ending).
• Bass DO doubled at end of first half but not doubled at end.

Hymnals in this group include:

• Hymns for Worship (Revised)
• Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

Sources

• William H. Doane, Songs of Devotion for Christian Associations (1870)
  https://archive.org/details/songsofdevotionf00doan/page/151/mode/1up
• Ira D. Sankey, James McGranahan, George C. Stebbins, Sacred Songs No. 1 (1896)
  https://hymnary.org/hymn/SS11896/page/144

References

• J.R. Watson, “More love to Thee, O Christ,” The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology:
  https://hymnology.hymnsam.co.uk/m/more-love-to-thee,-o-christ