Different arrangement of the same tune for SATB with piano.

Whether known as Fairest Lord Jesus, or Beautiful Savior, this old Silesian hymn tune often known as CRUSADER'S HYMN, is one of the best known hymns in almost any language.

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Fairest Lord Jesus,
Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son:
Thee will I cherish,
Thee will I honor,
Thou my soul's glory, joy, and crown.

Fair are the meadows,
Fairer still the woodlands,
Robed in flower of blooming spring:
Jesus is fairer,
Jesus is purer,
Who makes our sorrowing spirits sing.

Fair is the sunshine,
Fairer still the moonlight,
And all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer,
Than all the angels heaven can boast.

Beautiful Savior,
King of creation,
Son of God and Son of man!
Truly I'd love Thee,
Truly I'd serve Thee,
Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.

All fairest beauty,
Heavenly and earthly,
Wondrously, Jesus in found in thee!
None can be nearer,
Fairer or dearer,
Than Thou, my Savior, art to me.

Beautiful Savior,
Lord of the nations,
Son of God and Son of man!
Glory and honor,
Praise, adoration,
Now and forevermore be thine!

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This arrangement seeks to take advantage of as many different combinations of the six instruments in the ensemble as possible, at times having the three trombones playing, the three turmpets, three trumpets and a trombone, three trombones and a trumpet, two of each, etc. The harmonic material has been varied from stanza to stanza as well.

This piece really shows the range of dark and bright tones available in straight bore brass instruments, and is suitable for both contemporary and traditional worship services.

MP3 sound sample: entire piece (synthesizer/midi).



FAIREST LORD JESUS, a Silesian hymn tune arranged by Tom Kirkland for brass sextet consisting of three trumpets, two tenor trombones, and bass trombone, comes in a pdf file of 557K, with an eight-page score, six two-page parts, and a license page, twenty-one pages in all. Performance time should be about 3:40.