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% 
% This file is a part of the Open Hymnal Project to create a freely 
% distributable, downloadable database of Christian hymns, spiritual 
% songs, and prelude/postlude music.  This music is to be distributed 
% as complete scores (words and music), using all accompaniment parts, 
% in formats that are easily accessible on most computer OS's and which
% can be freely modified by anyone.  The current format of choice is the 
% "ABC Plus" format, favored by folk music distributors on the internet.
% All scores will also be converted into pdf, MIDI, and mp3 formats.
% Some advanced features of ABC Plus are used, and for accurate 
% translation to a printed score, please consider using "abcm2ps" 
% version 4.10 or later.  I am doing my best to create a final product
% that is "Hymnal-quality", and could feasibly be used as the basis for
% a printed church hymnal.
%
% The maintainer of the Open Hymnal Project is Brian J. Dumont (editor 
% at openhymnal dot org).  I have gone through serious efforts 
% to make sure that no copyright mistakes make it into this database.
% If I am in error, please inform me as soon as possible.
%
% This entire effort has used only free software, and I am indebted to 
% the efforts of many other individuals, including the authors of
% the various ABC and ABC Plus software.  Undoubtedly, I am also indebted 
% to all of the great Christians who wrote these hymns.
%
% This database comes with no guarantees whatsoever.
%
% I would love to get email from anyone who uses the Open Hymnal, and
% I will take requests for hymns to add.  My decision of whether to 
% add a hymn will be based on these criteria (in the following order):
% 1) It must be in the public domain or freely distributable
% 2) It must be a Christian piece
% 3) Whether I have access to a printed copy of the music (surprisingly,
%    a MIDI file is usually a terrible source)
% 4) Whether I like the hymn :)
%
% If you would like to contribute to the Open Hymnal Project, please 
% send an email to me, I would love the help!  PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU 
% FIND ANY MISTAKES, no matter how small.  I want to ensure that every 
% slur, stem, hyphenation, and punctuation mark is correct; and I'm sure 
% that there must be mistakes right now.
%
% Open Hymnal Project, 2026 Edition
%
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% PAGE LAYOUT
%
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%%pageheight	27.9000cm
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%%staffsep	1.60000cm
%%lineskipfac 1.0
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%OHSCRIP Ps 63:2-8, Ps 141:2, Ps 42:8
%OHTOPICS {Calmness}, {Christian Life}, {Church on Earth (Church Militant) [2]}, {Evening}, {God, Care of}, {God, Providence of}, {Gratitude}, {Peace}, {Prayer}, {Security}, {Trust}
%OHCATEGORY EVENING
%OHMETRICAL 8 8 7 8 8 7 
%OHCOMPLEXITY 2
%OHCOMPOSER Berggreen, Andreas Peter (1801-1880)
%OHARRANGER unknown
%OHAUTHOR Kingo, Thomas Hansen (1634-1703)
%OHTRANSLATOR Aaberg, Jens Christian (1877-1970)
%%postscript /st { moveto -8 0 rmoveto 0 8 rlineto 4 0 rlineto stroke } def
%%postscript /nd { moveto -8 0 rmoveto 0 8 rlineto -4 0 rlineto stroke } def
%%deco sintro 6 st 6 0 0 
%%deco eintro 6 nd 6 0 0 
%%setfont-1 Symbol 13
%%setfont-2 Times-Roman 13

X: 1
T: Softly Now the Day Is Ending
C: Words: Thomas Hansen Kingo, 1677.  Translated by Jens Christian Aaberg, before 1927.
C: Music: 'Even Song' or 'Himlen aabnes Mørket Svinder' Andreas Peter Berggreen, 1852.
C: Setting: "Hymnal for Church and Home" (Danish Evangelical Lutheran Synods), 1927.
C: copyright: public domain.  This score is a part of the Open Hymnal Project, 2026 Revision.
S: Music and Lyrics source: "Hymnal for Church and Home", Danish Evangelical Lutheran Synods, 1927 Hymn 45
M: 2/4 % time signature
L: 1/4 % default length
%%staves (S1V1 S1V2) | (S2V1 S2V2) 
V: S1V1 clef=treble 
%%MIDI beat 120 115 110 1
V: S1V2 
%%MIDI beat 110 110 110 1
V: S2V1 clef=bass 
%%MIDI beat 110 110 110 1
V: S2V2 
%%MIDI beat 110 110 110 1
K: C % key signature
%
%%MIDI program 1 1 % Piano 1
%%MIDI program 2 1 % Piano 1
%%MIDI program 3 1 % Piano 1
%%MIDI program 4 1 % Piano 1
%
% 1
[V: S1V1] [Q:1/4=100] G G | c c | d F | E E | C C | E E | A A | G G | 
w: 1.~Sof- tly now the day is en- ding,  Night o'er hill and vale de- scen- ding; 
w: 2.~May Thy church Thy peace in- he- rit; Guide our lea- ders by Thy Spi- rit; 
w: 3.~Keep me, Je- sus, while I slum- ber, From my pe- rils with- out num- ber; 
[V: S1V2]  E E| E E | F D | C C | A, A, | C C | C C | C C | 
[V: S2V1]  G, G, | G, G, | B, B, | C A, | E, F, | G, G, | F, F, | E, E, | 
[V: S2V2]  C, C,| C, C, | G, G, | A, A,, | A,, F,, | C, C, | F,, A,, | C, C, | 
% 9
[V: S1V1] G A/B/ | c B/A/ | G A | G x | =F F/G/ | A A | c c/d/ | e B | 
w: I will * kneel be- * fore Thee, Lord. Un- to * Thee my thanks I * ren- der 
w: Give our * coun- try * strength and peace. To the * sin- ner, sad and * drea- ry, 
w: Shield me, * Mas- ter, * in Thy might, That, re- * leased from sin and * sor- row, 
[V: S1V2] D D | E D/C/ | B, C | B, z | D D | E F | G A | E E | 
[V: S2V1] G, G, | G, ^F, | G, ^F, | G, x | A, A, | A, C | C E | B, B, | 
[V: S2V2] B,, B,, | A,, D, | E, D, | G,, z | D, D, | C, F, | E, A, | G, G, | 
% 17
[V: S1V1] A A | G G | F F | E E | !sintro! D D | G C/D/ | C B, | !fermata!C x !eintro!|]
w: That Thou didst, in mer- cy ten- der Life and peace to * me ac- cord. 
w: To each Chris- tian, faint or wea- ry, Give Thou so- lace * and sur- cease. 
w: I may sing this song to- mor- row: Je- sus was my * Sun this night. 
[V: S1V2] E D | D C | C B, | B, C | C B, | C A, | G, G, | !ferm!G, z |]
[V: S2V1] C C | B, B, | A, A,  | ^G, A, | A, =G, | G, A,/F,/ | E, D, | !ferm!E, x |]
[V: S2V2] F, F, | F, E,  | E, D, | D, C, | F, F, | E, F,, | G,, G,, | !invertedfermata!C, z |]
% 24