I had a desire for this hymn, this evening: To God Be the Glory. I don’t know who’s performing it here, but it sounds like an old-fashioned church congregation singing to the accompaniment of a piano… played by a lady in a hat.
Tag: Christian hymns
By Request, ‘Christ Shall Have Dominion’
Susan asked for this one: Christ Shall Have Dominion. If It sounds like Onward, Christian Soldiers, it’s because both lyrics use the same melody by Arthur S. Sullivan of Gilbert & Sullivan fame, published in 1871. It doesn’t have to be fancy–three friends, a guitar, and a couple of hymnals will do the trick.
The first time I posted this hymn, somebody complained. I replied, “Well, then, who would you rather have dominion, other than Jesus Christ?” I never got an answer.
By Request, ‘The Holly and the Ivy’
Phoebe asked for this one, The Holly and the Ivy; and let’s go first-class, with the Norwich Cathedral Choir.
I didn’t recognize the hymn at first. Like so many other really old hymns, The Holly and the Ivy comes attached to several very different melodies. Which means, folks, you can with a clear conscience ask for it again, and it’ll sound totally different!
By Request, ‘Before the Throne of God Above’
J.S. Klingemann requested this hymn, Before the Throne of God Above, performed as a Celtic piano solo with God’s own seashore for a background. I’ve never heard this hymn before. It’s haunting, it’s lovely; it stirs my soul. Thank you, J.S., for requesting it.
‘Christ for the World We Sing’
We’re waiting for readers to submit hymn requests, but so far today, this is the hymn that’s with me–Christ for the World We Sing, here performed by the Sanctuary Choir at the First United Methodist Church in Houston. Note the father with his little girls: God’s stuff. And it always works.
And don’t forget, everybody, I’m also taking requests for Christmas music.
‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring’
Is this not one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written? Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, composed by J.S. Bach, performed here by Celtic Woman–we usually find this hymn associated with Christmas, but it’ll do just fine year-round. If this hymn doesn’t stir your soul, I don’t know what will.
‘We Gather Together’
We used to sing this, and other hymns, in school–in our neighborhood public school. We Gather Together was always sung to celebrate Thanksgiving. It made for a better world. Humbly seeking God and giving thanks to Him always makes a better world. It’s when we seek after man that things start to fall apart.
But God is nigh, always nigh, He does not forget His promises, He hears us when we pray–and that is ample reason to give thanks.
Beautiful! ‘Come, Ye Thankful People, Come’
Either I’m getting kind of soppy in my old age, or there is something special about this hymn: Come, Ye Thankful People, Come, traditionally associated with Thanksgiving but really applicable to all the year. It’s the lyrics, it’s the message, it’s the feeling. It’s the suddenly, unexpected awareness of God’s love. It’s the music, it’s the gorgeous background scenery. It’s thankfulness to the Lord Our God, who daily loadeth us with benefits. Love and be loved. It’s from God.
‘Abide With Me’
My wife let it slip last night that she loves this hymn, so, for her and all the rest of you out there, here it is: Abide With Me, sung by the Antrim Mennonite Choir. This hymn will keep you company all day, if you let it.
‘O When Shall I See Jesus?’
The question is not “Will we see Jesus,” but “When?” This is what we must believe. This is our fuel, our hope. This keeps us going: O When Shall I See Jesus, sung by the kids at Fountainview Academy, British Columbia.
If you ever thought a high-walled narrow gorge with water at the bottom might make for really good acoustics–well, it looks like you were right.