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Beautiful Savior

About the Song

Traditional words and music, arranged by Sally DeFord

The words to this well-loved hymn can be found in many different forms. I have used the version below simply because it is my favorite.

This arrangement calls for piano, organ and flute, and you really do need to use them all–the arrangement loses most of its interest if even one of the parts is missing. The organ score is about the difficulty of a typical hymn. The piano accompaniments for the SSA and SSATB versions are identical, and the same organ and flute scores are used for both. The master score contains the SSATB vocal parts, not the SSA..

Church Music Submission: Relief Society division–Award of Merit 2005 (SSA version)

Spotify, Soundcloud (inc. free downloads)
 

Recording featuring the BYU-Idaho Women’s Choir
(Dr. Rebecca Lord conducting, with Allison Vest (piano), Edward Poston (organ), and Clarissa Tracy (flute).

YouTube

  (Video provided to YouTube by outside parties may contain ads that may be skipped after a few seconds.)

Lyrics

Fair is the sunlight; fair is the moonlight,
And all the stars in heaven above
Jesus shines brighter; Jesus shines purer,
And brings to all the world His love

Fair are the meadows; fair are the woodlands;
Robed in the flowers of blooming spring
Jesus is fairer; Jesus is purer;
He makes the sorrowing spirit sing

Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations;
Son of God and Son of man
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be thine
Amen

If you have questions, please check the FAQ
If you don't find your answer there, feel free to post your question here. 🙂

19 Comments

  1. Sonya Carvalho

    I am grateful that you share your testimony and the beautiful gift of music!

    Reply
  2. Sandra

    This is gorgeous!! Do you have one for SATB or SAB?? Looking for something a little more simple for my small choir

    Reply
  3. Curt Fast

    I have played piano since I was 6. I am now 65. I have been a Primary Pianist, Ward Organist, Ward Choir Director, Stake Choir Director. So… is there anyway that I could convince you to offer a slightly “dumbed down” accompaniments of some of the more advanced versions of your compositions? For those of us who have left music behind in our professional lives (and busy family lives) to have a Choir Director had off a Larry BeeBee or Sally DeFord accompaniment for us to learn and play can be quite challenging.

    Reply
  4. LaVon Johnson

    For years I (and my ward) have been enjoying your wonderful songs and talents! Thank you for being so generous and gracious to all the world! You have a beautiful gift!

    Reply
  5. Teneng Fidelis Awa

    Hello
    God bless you for the wonderful songs you have published. May He continue to give you the strength you need to even publish more.
    I am very interested in knowing music. I have a few songs I have composed but I don’t know how good the songs are because I still have limited knowledge in music.
    I will be very grateful if you could give me some directions on how to better my compositions and even compose more.
    Thank you.

    Reply
  6. Natalia Jaramillo

    Hola hermana. Me encantó su versión! . Me gustaría cantarlo en la próxima conferencia de estaca. Como podría obtener la partitura “versión español”. Gracias.

    Reply
  7. Shawna

    I heard this sung at a temple devotional and it was beautiful. It was the prettiest arrangement I have heard. Thank you so much for sharing your talents!

    Reply
  8. Jennifer Oldroyd

    Do you happen to know the background on this hymn? The writing of the words and music?

    Reply
  9. Emily Emmer

    Hi Sally – beautiful arrangement and I love the video showcasing this song in Polish. I play the harp and am wondering if you have the harp part for this song, or if it’s written in your master score already (if so which part). Thank you! Emily

    Reply
  10. Claudia Kunz

    Thank you for the beautiful arrangement of this song! We used it on our Christmas program this year, and it was amazing!

    Reply
  11. Tracy Lim

    I love this hymn….Thank you

    Reply
  12. Tracy

    Can anyone provide any direction for organ registration for this piece? I’m not great on the organ and don’t have a lot of experience doing registration so any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Brian

      When I play it I start with stops from the string and flute families, including celestes (usually found on the Swell). The solo part at measure 5 I either use a 8′ Cromhorne or Clarinet+ tremulant (and I usually find that on the Great) or I’ll use an 8′ Principal (Great) without the tremulant. At measure 36 I take off the solo stops on the Great, couple the Swell to the Great, and add some light 8′ and 4′ stops to the Great, and play it on the Great. As the piece builds I gradually add stops and take off the celeste stops as well. By the time I’m at the end I’m usually close to full organ.

      I realize this is reply is about 3 years later, but I hope this helps.

      Reply
  13. Marion

    A group of 6 women sang your lovely SSA arrangement accompanied by flute and piano at our Sunday service. It was well received and a blessing to sing. Thanks you so much for the music!

    Reply
  14. Kerry

    Hi – I just wanted to say that we are Lutheran Church in Minneapolis (Berea Lutheran). We have used a couple of your songs in our worship services throughout the years. However – THIS piece “Beautiful Savior” – is an absolute favorite. I don’t think there is a dry eye in the congregation when it is finished – people are truly touched by it’s beauty. Thank you so much for offering this piece to the world – you have a true gift. We are looking forward to using this special piece as part of the installation service for our new pastor in a couple weeks. Thanks again!

    Reply
  15. DeAnn

    I am hoping for a trio or quartet French Horn ensemble of Beautiful Savior. Anywhere between the key of D up to the key of G would be wonderful. I am not clever about the transposition software. I was looking to see if an SSAA version was already out there. I love your arrangements and writing. Thank you for the music,

    Reply
  16. yelca

    Hello. My name is Yelca, I am from chile. I conduct the stake choir and, in 3 week more, we will have our stake conference. I thank in Beautifull Savior like a special number of choir, but I need the music sheet in spanish (Sublime Salvador) and this web page say “service unavailable”.
    Is possible that you send me a copy of arragment of this music in spanish (instrumental part, acompaiment part, SSA, SATB and full score), please?
    (I can pay the sheet music if is necesary).
    Sorry for my bad english.
    Sincerly,
    Yelca

    Reply
    • Sue Blanchard

      I have a question regarding #3. Yelca from Chile. Were you able to give her a spanish translation? We are a branch in Borrego Springs, CA and we have both Spanish and English. Usually the missionaries translate for the talks and testimonies of the hispanic in the branch but our Branch Pres. also speaks spanish and can translate either spanish to english or english to spanish. It’s interesting. None of them have any musical background and without knowing anything about music I hesitate to ask them to translate it. Anyway, the Relief Society wanted to sing Beautiful Savior for Easter (yes it’s late,but….) and to include the hispanic women we need the translation of the words to spanish. Can you help? Or can you give me somewhere to find the translation of the words? Thank you so much for your music and wonderful spirit! Sue Blanchard
      541-525-1826, r.s.blanchard@gmail.com.

      Reply
      • Sally DeFord

        For those who are looking for this song in Spanish, try this link: https://www.lds.org/music/library/search?query=sublime+salvador&x=0&y=0&clang=spa&lang=eng

        🙂

        Reply

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