The Master's Touch

In the still air the music lies unheard

Author: Horatius Bonar
Published in 13 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1. In the still air the music lies unheard;
In the rough marble beauty hides unseen.
To make the music and the beauty needs
The Master’s touch, the Sculptor’s chisel keen.

2. Great Master, touch us with Thy skillful hands;
Let not the music that is in us die;
Great Sculptor, hew and polish us, nor let
Hidden and lost, Thy form within us lie.

3. Spare not the stroke; do with us what Thou wilt;
Let there be naught unfinished, broken, marred;
Complete Thy purpose that we may become
Thy perfect image—Thou our God and Lord.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #4179

Author: Horatius Bonar

Horatius Bonar was born at Edinburgh, in 1808. His education was obtained at the High School, and the University of his native city. He was ordained to the ministry, in 1837, and since then has been pastor at Kelso. In 1843, he joined the Free Church of Scotland. His reputation as a religious writer was first gained on the publication of the "Kelso Tracts," of which he was the author. He has also written many other prose works, some of which have had a very large circulation. Nor is he less favorably known as a religious poet and hymn-writer. The three series of "Hymns of Faith and Hope," have passed through several editions. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: In the still air the music lies unheard
Title: The Master's Touch
Author: Horatius Bonar
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #4179
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)

Instances

Instances (1 - 13 of 13)
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At Worship #65

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High School Hymnal #118

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Hymnal for Christian Science Church and Sunday School Services #146

Hymns of Devotion #d94

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Hymns of Faith and Hope (2nd series) #234

School and College Hymnal #d67

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School and College Hymnal #118

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Songs of the Soul #537

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The Concord Hymnal #75

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #4179

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The Endeavor Hymnal #176

The Presbyterian Hymnal #261

When Youth Sing #d84

Exclude 12 pre-1979 instances
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