Scripture Verse

I heard the voice of the harpers harping with their harps. Revelation 14:2

Introduction

Words: Fro­nie B. Tur­ner, in Gates Ajar, by John Kurz­en­kna­be (Har­ris­burg, Penn­syl­van­ia: J. H. Kurz­en­kna­be & Sons, 1885), num­ber 3.

Music: Gates Ajar John H. Kurz­en­kna­be (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Tur­ner (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
John H. Kurzenknabe
(1840–1927)

Lyrics

What music ce­les­ti­al, what me­lo­dy clear
Is this which is greet­ing with rap­ture my ear?

Refrain

The gates are ajar in the man­sions on high
And an­gels are chant­ing their songs in the sky.

Is Hea­ven so near me, the hope of my soul,
That ov­er my spir­it its mu­sic may roll?

Refrain

Oh, bliss with­out mea­sure, im­mor­tal and sweet!
I would that such ca­dence my voice could re­peat!

Refrain