The Beautiful River

The beautiful river, the life giving river

Author: J. H. Kurzenknabe
Tune: [The beautiful river, the life giving river]
Published in 8 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 The beautiful river, the life-giving river,
Will flow on eternal when worlds cease to move;
Its murmurings echo the praise of the Giver,
Who sends it to flow from the fountain of love.

Refrain:
O beautiful river,
In silvery bed!
Beside thy pure waters
The ransomed are led.

2 The gladdening plains and the valleys are telling
Of glory surrounding the evergreen shore;
Of wonderful music, in richness excelling,
Breathed back by the saints that have safely crossed o’er. [Refrain]

3 Oh, taste of this beautiful river now flowing
From out of the soul-saving fountain for thee!
Its name is salvation, on sinners bestowing
An undeserved pardon, eternal and free. [Refrain]

Source: Fair as the Morning. Hymns and Tunes for Praise in the Sunday-School #62

Author: J. H. Kurzenknabe

Kurzenknabe, John Henry. (Muenchhof, Kurhessen, Germany, June 18, 1840--April 13, 1927, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania). German Reformed layman. His parents died of cholera when he was five, and he was placed in a boarding school. When 14, he came to the United States with his violin and his share ($500) of his parents' estate. During the 48-day voyage, he attended an elderly sick woman, a Mrs. Ziegler from Wilkes-Barre, Penn., whose family helped him settled in the States. He attended Wyoming Seminary nearby, where he studied music and perfected his English. Even before graduation, he taught violin and began teaching singing classes in the area. In 1856, William B. Bradbury came to Wilkes-Barre for a six-week musical institute. He was so impress… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: The beautiful river, the life giving river
Title: The Beautiful River
Author: J. H. Kurzenknabe
Language: English
Refrain First Line: O beautiful river, thy waters will ever flow
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 8 of 8)
TextAudioPage Scan

Fair as the Morning. Hymns and Tunes for Praise in the Sunday-School #62

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Peerless Praise #143

Song Treasury #d137

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Songs of Redeeming Love #40

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Songs of the New Life #R40

The Corona #d112

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The Quartet #40

The Shining Strand #d43

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