Text: Isaac Watts (1674-1748) Music: William Croft (1678-1727) Tune name: ST. ANNE THE TEXT Written in 1714 by Isaac Watts, this hymn is a paraphrase of Psalm 90. Originally published with nine verses, most hymnals (including ours) include only six. In Great Britain, this hymn is regarded by many as a second National Anthem. Ian Bradley, in The Book of Hymns, writes It is said that when Dr. Benjamin Jowett, that most eminent Victorian who was master of Balliol College, asked a group of fellow Oxford dons to note down their list of favourite hymns, all of them independently put down just this one, which each felt fulfilled all…
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O Food of men wayfaring
Text: Maintzich Gesangbuch, 1661 Music: [1] Louis Bourgeois (c. 1510-1559); [2] 15th C. German melody, adapt. by Heinrich Isaac (c. 1450-1517) Tune name: [1] O ESCA VIATORUM; [2] O WELT, ICH MUSS DICH LASSEN THE TEXT The first known publication of the text for this anonymous hymn is in a Catholic hymnal published in Würzburg in 1647 (although the later 1661 hymnal, the Maintzich Gesangbuch, is credited as the source for the translator). In 1906 it was translated for the first edition of The English Hymnal by John Athelstan Laurie Riley (1854-1945). In addition to translating a number hymns from Latin and Greek, Riley is also the author of the “Ye watchers and…
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Jesus, Lover of my soul
Hymn #415Text: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)Music: Joseph Parry (1841-1903)Tune name: ABERYSTWYTH THE TEXT Originally titled ”On Temptation” — since sin and temptation are the foes from which the believer is seeking refuge — this hymn was first published in 1740, about two years after Charles Wesley’s conversion experience. The first word of Wesley’s original text, “Jesus,” was originally (and still in some hymnals) rendered “Jesu,” which is a Latinized spelling of the Greek vocative, reflecting the fact that Jesus is being addressed in the opening sentence. The words of the opening lines were sometimes regarded as too intimate for public worship, so, in the nineteenth century, some hymnal editors altered the…
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Jesus Christ is ris’n today
Text: 14th century Bohemian Latin hymn Music: John Walsh (c.1750-1825), rev. by John Arnold (1720-1792) Tune name: EASTER HYMN THE TEXT The original Latin hymn, “Surrexit Christus hodie,” references Matthew 28:6, Acts 2:32, 1 Peter 3:18, and Revelation 1:17-18. It was translated into English by the Irish cleric John Baptist Walsh for his Lyra Davidica, or a Collection of Divine Songs and Hymns, partly newly composed, partly translated from the High German and Latin Hymns, first published in 1708. The fourth verse, with its trinitarian conclusion, was added by Charles Wesley in 1749. THE TEXT: EASTER HYMN as we know it is based on a much more elaborate and ornamental tune that…
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Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness
Hymn #210Text: Johann Franck (1618-1677)Music: Johann Crüger (1598-1662)Tune name: SCHMÜCKE DICH THE TEXT This is one of many German hymns translated into English by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878). The complete text (with nine stanzas) first appeared in a 1653 Gesangbuch published by Johann Crüger, who wrote the tune. Franck practiced law for many years and held many civil posts including mayor of Guben. He wrote about 110 hymns, and was one of the most noted poets of his day. In his classic text, A Dictionary of Hymnology (2nd. ed. 1907), John Julian summarized the text of this hymn as an exhortation to the soul to arise and draw near to partake…
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Alleluia, sing to Jesus
Hymn #347Text: William C. Dix (1837-1898)Music: Rowland Hugh Prichard (1811-1887)Tune name: HYFRYDOL THE TEXT English hymn and carol writer William C. Dix wrote this text for use during Holy Communion at Ascension services. It was first published in Altar Songs, Verses on the Eucharist (1867). THE TUNE HYFRYDOL is Welsh for “tuneful” or “pleasant.” This confident and stirring melody was written by a nineteen-year-old amateur musician, Rowland Hugh Prichard. He wrote it in 1830, and first published it in 1844 in Cyfaill y Cantorion (The Singer’s Friend), a children’s hymnal that included forty or so other tunes he had composed. Prichard’s day job was as a textile worker; he was still…
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Come, thou long-expected Jesus
Hymn #1Text: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)Music: Christian F. Witt (c.1660-1716)Tune name: STUTTGART THE TEXT This Advent hymn was first published in Charles Wesley’s Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (1744). As every good Advent hymn should do, it refers to both comings of our Lord, with numerous biblical allusions. The first and second stanzas reflect the longing of ancient Israel for a Redeemer. The third stanza connects Christ’s rule of all things with his rule in us, an idea picked up in the last stanza with the reference of the presence of the Holy Spirit in us, coupled with an anticipation of our ascent to the presence of God. THE TUNE…
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For all the saints
Text: William Walsham How (1823-1897)Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)Tune name: SINE NOMINE THE TEXT The Epistle to the Hebrews was written to believers who were tempted to abandon their faith. The text reflects realism and hope. In the tenth chapter, the recipients of the letter are reminded that they had “endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.” In verse 34, we read that these Christians “had compassion on those in prison, and “joyfully accepted” the plundering of their property. Despite this evidence of their faithfulness in the past, they still had need of better confidence…