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About Numbered Notation

Numbered Notation (also called Jianpu, 简谱) writes each melody note as a number from 1 to 7 instead of a note on a staff. The number shows the note's position in the song's scale -- not its exact pitch -- so the same tune looks identical no matter what key it's sung in.

Within one octave, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 correspond to the familiar do re mi fa sol la ti. A dot above a number raises it an octave higher; a dot below lowers it an octave lower -- no dot means the middle, as-written octave.

A plain number lasts one beat. A dash (-) right after a number holds that same note for one more beat. A line underneath a number shortens it instead -- one line is half a beat, two lines a quarter of a beat. A 0 is a rest: silence for one beat.

The label at the top of the sheet, like "1=C" or "1=Ab", shows which pitch scale degree 1 ("do") is tuned to. A song in a minor key is labeled "6=X" instead -- scale degree 6 ("la") is the true tonic. Chord names printed above the notes (like "C" or "G7") always use their familiar letter names, never numbers.

For example, under a "1=C" heading, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sound as C D E F G A B. Under a "1=G" heading, those very same numbers sound as G A B C D E F# instead -- same shape, different key.

Jesus, I live to Thee

Experience of Christ As Life

English504
1
Jesus, I live to Thee,
The Loveliest and Best;
My life in Thee, Thy life in me,
In Thy blest love I rest.
2
Jesus, I die to Thee,
Whenever death shall come;
To die in Thee is life to me,
With Thee I’m ever one!
3
Whether to live or die,
I know not which is best;
To live in Thee is bliss to me,
To die is endless rest.
4
Living or dying, Lord,
I ask but to be Thine;
My life in Thee, Thy life in me,
Makes Thee forever mine.

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Ana Lara

Storrs, Connecticut, United States

Jan 25, 2022

The music was written by Robert Jackson. Born May, 1842 in Lancaster, England and died July 12, 1914 in Oldham, Lancashier, England. Robert attended the Royal Academy of Music at Saint Mark’s Church at Grosvenor Square in London. He also played in the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

In 1868, he took over his father’s duties at Saint Peter’s in Oldham and played organ there for 46 years. Together they served for almost a century. He also served in the Oldham Musical Society from 1891 to 1906.

Robert also wrote other hymn-tunes: “Come and Rejoice with Me, ” “Jesus Fountain of My Days, ” “Thou Magnet of My Soul, ” “Jesus I Live to Thee, ” “I come to Thee Dear Lord, ” and “Oh Lord I Have Seen Your Worth. ”

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Meredith Hutchison

Delmont, PA, United States

Jan 16, 2019

Praying this hymn this night for Sr. Mary Pellicane who just celebrated her 97th birthday and who is ill this night.

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Julie Williams

Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Dec 28, 2016

My favorite hymn of all time. I sing it everyday. It is just so comforting to me.

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Mary B

Auckland, New Zealand

Jul 15, 2015

In the recent passing of my brother I found this hymn very comforting. Every verse is sweet;

My life in Thee, Thy life in me,

In Thy blest love I rest.

How good it is to muse over hymns Godly people have written from their experiences of Him.

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Stephen Coker

Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan

Mar 6, 2015

Enjoyed this song very much today.... We life and die in Him, the issue of His life is to live with Him eternally, being one with Him. Romans 14:8: For whether we live, we live to the Lord, and whether we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore whether we live or we die, we are the Lord's. Hallelujah!

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Steve Miller

Detroit, MI, United States

Sep 13, 2014

A farmer’s son, Harbaugh worked as a carpenter, teacher and writer as a young man. In 1840, he enrolled at Marshall College in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. After almost three years there, he went to Mercersburg Theological Seminary. He received a preaching license from the synod at Winchester, Virginia, and in 1844 became pastor of the German Reformed Church in Lewisburg. Around 1851, he moved to the First Reformed Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and in 1860 to Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Around 1863, he became a professor of didactic and practical theology at Mercersburg Seminary. His works include:

Hymns and Chants for Sunday Schools, 1861
Harbaugh’s Harfe, 1870
-cyberhymnal
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The original last line of stanza 2 is:
In my eternal home.
----------------------
The original last line of the hymn is:
Makes heaven forever mine.

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Nathan S

Raleigh, NC, United States

Feb 10, 2010

NO LONGER I, but Christ.

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