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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.

One day when heaven was filled with His praises

Gospel The Savior

English987
1
One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin—
Dwelt among men, my example is He!
 
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever:
One day He’s coming—O glorious day!
2
One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain,
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected;
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He.
3
One day they left Him alone in the garden,
One day He rested, from suffering free;
Angels came down o’er His tomb to keep vigil;
Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He.
4
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore.
5
One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,
One day the skies with His glory will shine;
Wonderful day, my beloved ones bringing;
Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!

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Ann Cameron

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Dec 9, 2015

Recently, when this beautiful old hymn was announced in church - Keperra Baptist - a thrill ran through me, a thrill of expectation of being able to sing with all my might these words that have meant so much to me since childhood. Alas! The tune was a travesty! One you couldn't even take home in a basket. I'm sure not even the song leader could sing it without instruments after the service.

Why, oh why are these old hymn tunes changed? For better I can accept, but for worse? Give us the first few words and we "oldies" can sing it for you without music - don't need guitars and drums!

Worse still is when the words are altered. Last Sunday we sang "To God be the glory, great things he has done" and the words were changed from "The vilest offender who truly believes," to I suppose a much more politically acceptable phrase - "And every offender who truly believes." Is Jesus no longer able to save the vilest or have we somehow improved our condition?

Would we change the work of Shakespeare or Wordsworth or even Banjo Patterson for that matter? Then why do we insult the writers of hymns by altering their words as though we now know better? Musical knowledge is more widely available today as never before, but we stoop to nursery rhyme style tunes with accompanying limericks.

Thank God for the songs on which I was raised, they are a blessing to recall and sing in those moments of discouragement, despair and difficulties, but also to eloquently praise and glorify my King, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Harry Anchan

Calgary, AB, Canada

Dec 9, 2015

One of my all-time favorites.

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Peg Chandler

Kentucky, United States

Nov 11, 2015

I had a piece of this hymn's chorus running through my head, but couldn't remember the verse. How nice the internet helped me find this delightful old hymn. Sang it at church many times as a girl. How I miss the hymns...alas! Times change and so has church music. I guess I'm a relic of the past, but the old hymns taught the Bible as well as the pastor did.

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Johnny Dela Cruz

Caloocan, Metro Manila, Philippines

Sep 5, 2015

Amen! Wonderful hymn!

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Bonnie Dilger

Ssan Rafael, California, United States

Jun 23, 2015

A favorite of mine. In this song is the New Testament in one beautiful song.

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Terry C Williams

West Linn, OR, United States

May 10, 2015

This is one of my favorite hymns. The words are so wonderful to sing. From birth to the coming again of Jesus as the trumpet shall sound! It carries you through Incarnation, the Grace of God, Justification, and the Second Coming!

I do not like the modern version by ''Casting Crowns'' They should not be allowed to change the Chapman/Marsh original song! I wonder if copyright violations were made?

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Jim Hicks

Barnhart, MO, United States

Jul 20, 2014

I heard my Mother sing this song when just a lad. It brings me to tears every time I hear it. I was saved at the age of 17. Now at 82 the song is as touching as ever. It's so good to see so many people from all over the world that enjoy it also.

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Steve Miller

Detroit, MI

Apr 19, 2014

John Wilbur Chapman was born in Richmond, Indiana, and was ordained to the Presbyterian Church ministry. After 20 years he felt called to be an evangelist and travelled around the world for 10 years. He became the 1st director of the Winona Lake Bible Conference in Indiana. Besides authoring or editing 30 books and many tracts, he also wrote several hymns and compiled a number of hymn books. - Songs of the Spirit by Martin

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Lynda Spencer

Chester-le-Street, Co Durham, United Kingdom

Apr 4, 2014

This hymn has never failed to stir me, often to move me to tears, since I first sang it as a child more than 50 years ago! But I also love and am moved by many, many of the modern worship songs! God is still inspiring His people to put Biblical truth to music for a new generation of worshippers and I am grateful for the many dedicated young musicians who are using their talents for His glory in the area of church music, my own sons and daughter-in-law included in that number. There is room for the old and the new, so long as the underlying desire is to bring praise to the Lord and win others for His Kingdom.

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Paul Williams

Stockton, California, United States

Feb 11, 2014

This is my mother's favorite hymn. The lyrics are rich with theology and are heart warming. My favorite song is "And Can It Be That I should gain", another hymn that is rich in theology and describes the awe felt by all believers. Best Christmas carol is 'Hark the Harold Angels Sing'. It is a pity that these wonderful hymns are being abandoned for mindless praise chorus.

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