When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross sheet music is a beautiful old hymn.   Use this sheet music for church, worship meetings, and especially communion services.


*Listen to a recording of the piano version, in the key of F*


This recording of me, playing piano, is by no means flawless, but it's just me and my iPhone here, not a recording studio!  It's very hard to record a piano nicely; this will have to do...

Hymn sheet music

This song is so beautiful, that it deserves a setting that changes from verse-to-verse, to avoid the doldrums of sameness, and to emphasize the meaning of the lyrics.

Verse 2 is different

Christian hymn piano music

Verse 3 is different again

This verse is just like the 4-part harmony found in the hymnal.  I like the slow and meditative contrast  to the previous verses very much for singing verse 3, which focuses on Christ on the Cross.

Piano hymn music

Page 4 includes all the lyrics

--and moves back into a more fluid sound.

Piano arrangement of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Please scroll down the page for the sheet music PDF links.


*Once again, listen to the piano recording*


As singers, it's not fun to trudge through four verses that remain exactly the same.  An accomplished pianist can read and play a plain 4-part choral arrangement, making changes with backup chords from verse to verse.  But having a version written out can really help!

Four-part harmony, in keys of C, F, & G:

Hymn sheet music

Please scroll down the page for the sheet music PDF links.

This arrangement for 4 voices is the same one that is found in most hymnals.  The harmony is lovely.

In the key of G:

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross sheet music

Please scroll down the page for the sheet music PDF links.

Lead sheets

Lead sheet hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Please scroll down the page for the sheet music PDF links.

When you play this song in the key of C, it is easy to see how small the range of the melody is - just 5 notes!

Hymn in the key of F

Please scroll down the page for the sheet music PDF links.

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross music

Please scroll down the page for the sheet music PDF links.

For many musicians, the key of G is easier to play in.  But the range of singable notes may be easier for the singers in the key of F - or the key of C.

What about a piano arrangement?

Scroll down to get the hymn PDF links!

PERMISSIONS:

The creator of SingTheBibleStory.com gives permission to churches and other groups to use this music in recordings, in worship services, and for private use and class situations, EXCEPT FOR MONETARY GAIN.  Write me at "Contact" for a usage license if you are wanting to use this music in a money-raising venture. 


Here are the lyrics in a block of text, INCLUDING PERMISSION from the creator of  SingTheBibleStory.com to copy, paste, and use in your church or meeting on an overhead projector, computer, bulletin, or the like:

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.


Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ my God!

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.


See from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?


Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.


Used with permission of  © SingTheBibleStory.com
All Rights Reserved


The link for the piano arrangement:



Download the piano arrangement of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross



The links for the 4-part harmonies:



Download When I Survey the Wondrous Cross in the key of C



Download the 4-part-harmony arrangement in the key of F



Download the hymn arrangement in G



The links for the lead sheets:



Download the hymn lead sheet in the key of C



Download the hymn in the key of F, lead sheet



Download When I Survey the Wondrous Cross lead in the key of G



Thank you for visiting!


Night sky with stars

Interested in beginner & easy piano music for your piano, voice, & guitar students? Check out my other website, Music-for-Music-Teachers.com!

Recent Articles

  1. The Handel Hallelujah Chorus: Free Vocal Sheet Music PDF!

    Handel Hallelujah chorus
    The Handel Hallelujah chorus from "The Messiah" is glorious to sing! Print out the vocal parts & start singing together.

    Read More

  2. Song for Thanksgiving Day: a Hymn for Family or Worship Time

    We Gather Together song
    Song for Thanksgiving Day "We Gather Together." Download free sheet music for this traditional hymn arranged for piano, guitar tabs, and vocal harmony!

    Read More

  3. Silent Night Christmas Song Lyrics: a New & Beautiful Arrangement

    Silent Night sheet music
    Silent Night Christmas song lyrics & sheet music for singers & piano, a pretty and satisfying arrangement.

    Read More

  4. Protection From Evil: a Psalm of Confidence in Deliverance by God

    when-evil-people-come-to-devour-me-am-page-1.jpg
    Protection from evil is the hope & confidence in this hymn, that even if he is attacked, the psalmist's heart will not be afraid! See the sheet music.

    Read More

  5. Christmas Memory Verse Song: Where Would Messiah Be Born?

    thou-bethlehem-ephrethah-piano-page-1.gif
    Christmas memory verse song: Micah 5:2 foretold where the Messiah would be born. Free sheet music & guitar tabs help us memorize this verse!

    Read More

  6. In His Shelter: Psalm 27, "He Will Hide Me In His Shelter" song

    He Will Hide Me piano music
    In His Shelter "He Will Hide Me" is a song based on the comforting words of Psalm 27 verses 3 & 5. Piano sheet music & guitar tabs.

    Read More

  7. Save Me, O God: a Psalm 69 Song - The Waters Are Come Into My Soul

    Psalm 69 song
    Save Me, O God, quotes two verses from Psalm 69, a cry for help from God, as the soul is overwhelmed. Piano sheet music, lead sheets, guitar tabs.

    Read More

  8. The Lord's Prayer In Song: Our Father Who Art In Heaven

    The Lord's Prayer in song
    The Lord's Prayer in song, with an easy-to-learn melody and chords. Arrangements for guitar and piano.

    Read More

  9. Gabriel's Message Lyrics & Sheet Music: a New Arrangement for Piano

    gabriels-message-piano-with-fingering-page-1.jpg
    Gabriel's Message lyrics tell the story of Gabriel's visit to Mary the mother of Jesus. Download the sheet music free, to play this very beautiful song!

    Read More

  10. ABC Song Lyrics - The Message of Salvation by "A,B,C"

    a-b-c-a-means-all-page-1.jpg
    ABC song lyrics teach children how they can be saved. A, all have sinned. B, believe. C, call on the name of the Lord. Sing the words, learn them well!

    Read More

Esther, For Such a Time As This, the Easy Piano Edition

This digital download version in the key of Em, with chord symbols, is greatly simplified.

Your piano students will be able to handle this one!

Also available at Amazon as a paperback.

The Adventures of Tonsta is a book about a young lad traveling over mountains and fjords from village to village, encountering trolls and helping folk in distress. A good read-aloud.

The Adventures of Tonsta

A perfect read aloud storybook for little boys or girls. 

The Adventures of Tonsta highlight the travels of a very young Christian lad with a good heart, who goes about helping folk in trouble.  

With a red cap on his head and a sack of tools slung over his shoulder, Tonsta seems to meet people in distress wherever he goes.

Lots of trolls in this book.

Available at Amazon!

The story in song of Queen Esther in the Bible

Esther: For Such a Time as This

Download this beautiful songbook telling the riveting story of the attempted genocide of the Jews in ancient Persia, and the brave young queen who risked her life to change the king's mind and save her people.

Also available as a paperback at Amazon!

Hi, I'm Dana!  (Say that like "Anna".)  I'm the owner of Music-for-Music-Teachers.com, and this  newer site,  SingTheBibleStory.com.

Like some of you, I've been playing the piano since early childhood, and have added a few other instruments along the way, plus an interest in arranging and composing music.

I also happen to love the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Christian worldview that portrays The Great War in the heavens, in which we here on earth are destined to be a part.  

You can find out more about  the reason for this website at the Home  page.