Audioplayer
Gordon 24ORCH
My Jesus I love thee
For orchestral ensemble
Arranged for an orchestra of Two (2) each Flutes, Oboes, Clarinets, Bassoons, Horns, plus Trumpets (2), Trombone, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion (2), and Strings (recommended 3.3.2.2.1; no divisi.)
Price:
$105.00
An arrangement of A.J. Gordon's tune, set to "My Jesus I love thee", 1872.
Unstated attribution, a composite of multiple sources - ed. William Antliff, 1862
For my friend John Churchwell
Long (and erroneously) attributed to a schoolboy, “My Jesus I love thee, I know thou art mine” was published in England with the verses we sing today by William Antliff in 1862, a composite of unattributed source material. One source is known, however: "O Jesus, my Savior, I know thou art mine" by Caleb Jarvis Taylor (1804) of Kentucky, which contributes a significant portion of the language merged by Antliff with other material to produce the hymn we sing today. Rather than the work of a child, Antliff (1818-1834) intended it to be especially for a child - he published it twice more in a denominational youth magazine (with two part music for treble voices) and in a Sunday school hymn book. It was a final imprint two years after its first appearance in The London Hymn Book that its greater possibilities as a hymn for any child of faith were realized, no matter their age.
The tune is by Adoniram Judson Gordon (1836-1895), composed in 1872 during his lifelong tenure as pastor of Boston's Clarendon Street Baptist Church. He is better known as the founder of Gordon College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. The tune GORDON was from the beginning the most successful setting for this hymn.
Extensive discussion regarding the provenance of the hymn can be found at on our GORDON page (opens a new tab)
Version 5.4.4
- Score in 11x17
- Parts US LTR
1
My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
2.
I love Thee, because Thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
3
I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death-dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
4. descant
In mansions of glory and endless delight
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
This cost $10 at Staples (2023)
Choir booklet prep
If you have access to a printer that can print both sides of an 11x17 sheet, you can create a four-page booklet of the choir part. Fold the front (pages 4 and 1) over the inside spread (pages 2 and 3). A file for this as well as single 8½ x 11 sheets are included.
2 Flutes
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets
2 Bassoons
2 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in B-flat
Trombone
Bass Trombone
Tuba ad lib
Timpani
Percussionists (2)
- 1 Crash Cymbal, Suspended Cymbal
- 2 Bass Drum, Wind Chime
Violin 1
Violin 2
Viola
Violoncello
Contrabass
Choir
Piano (rehearsal)
