Lyr Req: The Voice in the Old Village Choir

Subject: Lyr Req: Voice in the Old Village Choir
From: Hollowfox
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 02:04 PM

Anybody know this song? I just got a request from a patron here at the library for it. She thinks the first line is "I hear a voice in the old village choir" Apparently the version she remembers was arranged for either choir or chorus, but it sounds enough like a Victorian heart song that I thought somebody on the 'Cat might have heard of it. Ideally, I'd love to give her a source with musical notation, but I'll take whatever I can get. Thanks in advance, your bewildered LibraryFox

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Voice in the Old Village Choir
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 02:51 PM

This is all I found........
Voice in MyHeart, The - George M. Cohan - George M. Cohen - M. Witmark & Sons. - 1922

Purchase sheet music here

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Voice in the Old Village Choir
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 03:03 PM

See also this earlier discussion: Lyr Req: Old Village Choir / Lamp Lighting Time

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Voice in the Old Village Choir
From: Hollowfox
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 05:56 PM

Thank you one and all, past and present. I passed on the information just now.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE VOICE IN THE OLD VILLAGE CHOIR
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 24 Oct 19 - 01:03 PM

THE VOICE IN THE OLD VILLAGE CHOIR is a different song from THE OLD VILLAGE CHOIR.

From the sheet music at Baylor University (which also has chords):


THE VOICE IN THE OLD VILLAGE CHOIR
Words by Gus Kahn, music by Harry Woods, ©1932.

1. Mem’ries are treasures locked in my heart
I mean to keep evermore.
Of all my treasures one stands apart,
Saved from the dear days of yore:

CHORUS: I hear a voice so sweet and low,
The voice in the old village choir.
It sings to me of long ago,
The voice in the old village choir.
In dreams I drift through the twilight haze
Home to the scenes of my childhood days
To hear again when lights are low
The voice in the old village choir.

2. I heard her singing long, long ago.
I still remember her song.
I hear her singing when lights are low,
Though she’s been silent so long.


The Internet Archive has several early recordings:
Frank Welling (Montgomery Ward 4961 A, 1932) – verse 1 and chorus, with guitar
Donald Novis (Victor 24021-A, 1932) – verse 1 and chorus, with orchestra
Savoy Hotel Orpheans (Columbia 2712-D, 1932) – chorus only with orchestra
Adrian Schubert & his Orchestra with vocalist Harold Van Emburgh (Crown 3331-A, 1932) – chorus only with orchestra
Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra with vocalist Jack Fulton (Victor 22998-A, 1932) – verse 1 and chorus with orchestra

Eddy Arnold also recorded it in 1962 on his album “Faithfully Yours” (RCA Victor 2629). You can hear his recording at YouTube. He sings only the chorus.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Voice in the Old Village Choir
From: GUEST,#
Date: 22 Mar 21 - 03:18 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l97j6xbUzdI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l97j6xbUzdI

"The Voice In The Old Village Choir" (1932) Donald Novis

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Voice in the Old Village Choir
From: GUEST,#
Date: 22 Mar 21 - 05:15 PM

My apologies, Jim. I duplicated the 'Donald Novis (Victor 24021-A, 1932) – verse 1 and chorus, with orchestra' link.