Shall We Gather at the River
Robert Lowry's gathering hymn of 1864 in his own four parts, for 2 to 4 singers: the first verse and the chorus, cheerful and steady. The alto sings mostly in thirds under the tune; in the chorus the tenor and bass sing "Yes, we'll gather" high, close under the soprano and alto, then everyone settles back for "That flows by the throne of God".
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The parts
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The first verse
Words: Robert Lowry (1864)Tune: Robert Lowry (1864)
Shall we gather at the riverWhere bright angel feet have trod;With its crystal tide foreverFlowing by the throne of God?
About Shall We Gather at the River
Shall We Gather at the River is Robert Lowry's hymn of 1864, words and music both his. Its earliest known printing, in 1865, called it Beautiful River, and its tune was later named Hanson Place, after the Brooklyn Baptist church where he was pastor when he wrote it. It was one of the film director John Ford's favourite hymns, heard in many of his westerns, Stagecoach and The Searchers among them. Our arrangement is read from Lowry's own four parts in his Bright Jewels for the Sunday School of 1869, in E-flat as printed. This is the first verse and the chorus for 2 to 4 singers, cheerful and steady.
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