The Solid Rock

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Composer: Ellen Koehler

Arrangement Samples - Click pdf link(s) below to view

Lead Sheet

PDF icon solid_rock_the-lead-sample.pdf

Sheet Music Category:

Available Arrangements:

  • Hymn
  • Lead Sheet

The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Chorus:
On Christ the solid Rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

Verse 2
When darkness veils His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.

Verse 3
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

Verse 4
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Setting: Ellen Koehler. Copyright ©2010 Ellen Koehler.
All Rights Reserved.
Words and tune public domain: Text: Edward Mote, c. 1834;
Tune: William B. Bradbury, 1863.

Commentary -

This well-known hymn has been included in hymnals and frequently sung by congregations since the first published appearance of the poem text in 1836. The lyrics declare the whole, cosmic story of God, and so the hymn is a powerful sung profession of our faith. But look also at the covenant language embedded in The Solid Rock. While it is appropriate at any season in the church year and in many places in the worship service, it can be especially meaningful as a Communion hymn. This setting was composed for use at Table in summer 2010 (for Proper 14C, the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost that year).

Key: D, with modulations to E and F.

The Solid Rock is available as a lead sheet. (It is available as vocal line with piano accompaniment by request.)
 

Sample arrangements are not for reproduction.
Copyright ©2016 Ellen Koehler.  All Rights Reserved.