This edition was prepared by Barry Johnston — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Happy Choice
Staff Notation • Sacred
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
STB · Barry Johnston
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Happy Choice by Jeremiah Ingalls — Lyrics
O love divine, how sweet thou art!
When shall I find my longing heart
All taken up by thee?
I thirst, I faint, and die, to prove
The greatness of redeeming love,
The love of Christ to me.
Stronger his love, than death or hell;
Its riches are unsearchable:
The firstborn sons of light
Desire in vain its depth to see;
They cannot reach the mystery,
The length, and breadth, and height.
God only knows the love of God.
O that it now were shed abroad
In this poor stony heart!
For love I sigh, for love I pine:
This only portion, Lord, be mine,
Be mine this better part!
O that I could for ever sit,
With Mary, at the Master's feet!
Be this my happy choice!
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About Happy Choice
Jeremiah Ingalls' Happy Choice is a sacred tune in the American tradition, here presented for treble, tenor, and bass voices. The music opens with a gentle, flowing melody that soon blossoms into a rich texture, the voices weaving together in homophonic declaration. The text expresses a profound longing for divine love, using imagery of thirst and fainting to convey the soul's yearning. It contrasts human limitations with the infinite, unsearchable nature of God's love, ultimately finding solace in the example of Mary at Jesus' feet, declaring this devotion as the 'happy choice'. The straightforward STB voicing and clear, devotional text make it accessible for many choirs.
