66 O Come O Come Emmanuel

This Sunday marks the start of the period known as Advent in liturgical traditions.  It lasts for the four Sundays preceding Christmas and is a season of anticipation and waiting for the birth of Jesus--the first coming of the Messiah to earth.  It also marks the beginning of the Church Year.  This year, this weekend also coincides with the fourth day of the eight day Jewish holiday of Chanukah. Both holidays stress the importance of light and the giving and receiving of gifts.

 The festival of Chanukah commemorates a period in Jewish history over 2,500 years ago when the Jewish holy temple was taken over by Syrian-Greek forces whose king, Antiochus, ordered the people to renounce Judaism or face death.. A small bunch of rebels known as the Maccabees, led by Jewish priest Matisyahu and later on his son Judah, fought back and eventually recaptured the temple, only to discover when they did that there was only enough oil left inside to keep its holy light – which must never be extinguished – lit for one more day. Except by some miracle it remained burning for eight days till new oil could be made.

Christ's coming was first prophesied in the 6th century BC when the Jews were in captivity in Babylon.  For many centuries afterwards, the Jews looked longingly for the birth of the Messiah.  They foreshadowed the prayer in this hymn text "and ransom captive Israel."

The hymn this week, "O Come O Come Emmanuel",  is an interesting combination of text and musical style.  Originally, the song, eight stanzas long was meant to be sung one verse per day beginning on December 17.  The stanzas may be used as antiphons with "The Song of Mary." Antiphons are short statements sung at the beginning of the Psalm or of the Magnificat (Mary's song of praise when she learned that she was had been chosen as Jesus's mother), at Vespers (services held at night).  The text was originally developed without the chorus ("Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel"), and each verse concentrates on a different biblical name for Christ.  The word Emmanuel means "God With Us" Other names of Christ in this song include, Lord of Might,  Wisdom, Rod of Jesse,. Day-spring,Key of David,  and Desire of Nations.

The text, originally in Latin, dates to sometime between the 9th and 12th centuries. In any event, there is no doubt that this hymn had its origins in the medieval Roman church.  This song is included in virtually all hymnals and contain various numbers of stanzas.  Stanzas 1 and 4 were translated by John Mason Neale ("Good King Wenceslas" "Of the Father's Love Begotten" among others). The tune that we use now is called Veni, veni, Emmanuel, and is a plainsong in Mode 1, Processionale from the 15th century. The version we use now, hautingly beautiful in its minor key,  was adapted by Thomas Helmore in the 19th century.

Here are the words as they appear in the Lutheran Hymnal:
Oh, Come, Oh, Come Emmanuel
Translated: John Neal, 1818-66

1. Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.   
Chorus: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

2. Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.

Chorus

3. Oh, come, oh, come, our Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times gave holy law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Chorus

4. Oh, come O Rod of Jesse's stem,
From ev'ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow'r to save;
Bring them in vict'ry through the grave.
Chorus

5. Oh, come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Chorus

6. Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Chorus

7. Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Chorus

8. Repeat verse 1

365 Come Thou Almighty King

 This hymn is a favorite opening hymn and it's four verses are a perfect treatise to the Holy Trimity. Because of that, all four verses are almost always sung. The fourth verse is an affirmation of the mysterious doctrine of the Holy Trinity. As a matter of fact, this hymn appeared to celebrate Trinity Sunday in the year in 1757. The author of the text is unknown but it first came out in London. Even though this hymn text was first published in a pamphlet from the Wesleys, most musicologist doubt that either of the Wesleys authored this.

About15 years earlier, the British national hymn "God Save Our Gracious King," first came into existence.  Both of these hymn texts were sung to the same hymn tune for a period of time. Today, however, that tune, "America" is used exclusively in this country for our national hymn, "My Country, 'Tis of Thee." The tune, "Italian Hymn" has been wedded permanently together with this text in all major hymnals.

It has been suggested that the newer text was written as an act of rebellion and as a substitute for the royal words and this is the reason the author chose to remain anonymous. Another theory suggested that this text was written as a sequel to the earlier text; the first was written as a tribute to an earthly ruler, the other a prayer to a heavenly King.

Although we are not sure about the truth of this story, there is an interesting tale of the hymn's use during the time of the Revolutionary War. According to the story, British soldiers invaded an American church service one Sunday morning and demanded that the congregation sing, "God Save Our Gracious King." The people in the church responded with the requested tune but with he words, "Come Thou Almighty King."

The tune that is paired with the words, "Italian Hymn" was composed especially for this tune by Felice de Giardini in 1769. The composer was born in Turin, Italy in 1716. He moved to London where he became a popular violinist in operatic circles. Later, he moved to Moscow as an operatic conductor and died there in 1796. 

416 For the Beauty of the Earth

The town of Bath, England, with its amphitheater of hills and warm springs, has been a pleasure resort and health spa since Roman times.  That was the birthplace of the author of this text, Folliot Pierpoint.  Pierpopint left Bath to attend Queens College, Cambridge University where he became a classical scholar. When he was 29, he returned to his hometown ti become a teacher at Somershire College.

One spring day, Folliot found himself walking in the countryside on the banks of the Avon River.  He was overwhelmed with the beauty around him--the ocean of green hills, the blue sky dome and the flowery landscape. So taken was he with God's creative handiwork, he wrote this poem, which was entitled "The Sacrifice of Praise" which first appeared in a collection of poems in 1864.

Not much else is known about the author.  He was a lay member of the Anglican Church and he intended this poem primarily for Communion services in the Anglican Church, but when the song jumped over the Atlantic, it quickly became associated with the American Thanksgiving.  When he left the employ of Somershire College, he became an independent writer and authored seven volumes of poems and hymn texts, much of them showing his love of nature. His main claim to fame is this beautiful hymn.

This is one of a few songs that is devoted to thanksgiving.  Each stanza thanks God for a different kind of beauty and was originally 8 verses long. Each stanza concludes with the phrase, "Lord of all to Thee we raise/this our hymn of grateful praise." The hymn text expresses in fine literary style the many blessings so commonly taken for granted.  The text begins by reminding us that God, the giver of every good and perfect gift, has given us the beauties of nature--sun, flowers, shining stars.  Then the author reminds us to also be grateful of the social joys of friends and home.  Finally we are to give thanks for the ministry of the church.

Many hymnals contain the combination of this text with it's best-known musical pairing, the hymn tune "Dix" by the composer Conrad Kocher, a German born composer.  The tune produces lovely antiphonal (echoing) of the phrases.  This arrangement is very simple and features piano accompaniment to a solo voice with beautiful pictures.

718 God of Our Fathers

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This hymn is often called the National Hymn. The author of the words is Daniel Roberts.  He was the pastor of a rural church in Brandon Vermont.  In 1876, he wrote these words to commemorate the centennial celebration for the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  It was sung for the first time for the Independence Day celebration in Brandon.

Roberts decided to submit the words to the committee planning the celebration for the US Constitution. The committee chose it as the official hymn for the occasion and sent the text to the organist at St. Thomas Episcopal in New York City to compose an original tune.  The new tune, with a dramatic trumpet flourish at the beginning, was introduced in New York City at the 400th  anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus.

This version is by the "President's Own" Band i.e. the Marine Band.  It is stately, regal and inspiring. A special arrangement was played for the first inauguration of Ronald Regan.   It is also often played/sung at State Funerals as it was for the funerals of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Regan.  In addition, it was played at the memorial service for the Columbia  astronauts in 2003.

Reverend Roberts was a humble man and he wrote six years before his death in 1907, "I remain a country parson, known only within my small world." Thanks to this great hymn, he is known all across our land in celebration and mourning. 

Here are the words from Daniel Robert's great text:

God of our fathers, whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.

Thy love divine hath led us in the past;
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast;
Be Thou our ruler, guardian, guide and stay,
Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.

From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be Thou strong arm our ever sure defense; 
Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace. 

Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way;
Lead us from night to never-ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory laud, and praise be ever Thine.

287 For All the Saints Who From Their Labor Rest

This hymn is usually used for All Saints Sunday, November 1.  Bishop William How wrote this hymn in 1864 in praise of the faithful deeds of a score of Old Testament. He cited Hebrews 12:1 ("Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.") . But he actually used Hebrews 11 for his inspiration.  That chapter discusses what faith is  and all the deed of faith done by Old Testament individuals: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses,  and more.

Bishop How could have been considered a hero of fiath himself during his time.  He was a man of the people, regularly reaching out to minister to the poor and needy in his area.  Always humble, he once listed the characteristics that a minister should have, including among others, "being wholly without thought of self." Family and friends how knew him best were certain that he fit that description.

His son wrote his biography that "It is the fate of a hymn-writer to be forgotten.  The hymn remains; the name of the writer passes away." To those who knew the Bishop, the man would have agreed. Further, How was quoted ,"but to be a blessing is the abundant satisfaction of those who find their loving service of their fellow man."

My own mother, born in 1913, would have agreed with the Bishop.  Her advice to me from the time I was very young was, "the best thing to do with your life is to serve the Lord and serve others."  I hope I am making her proud through my organ playing and my counseling.

The composer of the hymn was the great British composer, Ralph Vaugh Williams. Vaughan Williams was born on the 12th October, 1872 in the Cotswold village of Down Ampney. He was educated at Charterhouse School, then Trinity College, Cambridge. Later he was a pupil of Stanford and Parry at the Royal College of Music, after which he studied with Max Bruch in Berlin and Maurice Ravel in Paris.

At the turn of the century he was among the very first to travel into the countryside to collect folk-songs and carols from singers, notating them for future generations to enjoy. As musical editor of The English Hymnal he composed several hymns that are now world-wide favorites (For all the Saints, Come down O love Divine). Later he also helped to edit The Oxford Book of Carols, with similar success. Before the war he had met and then sustained a long and deep friendship with the composer Gustav Holst. Vaughan Williams volunteered to serve in the Field Ambulance Service in Flanders for the 1914-1918 war, during which he was deeply affected by the carnage and the loss of close friends such as the composer George Butterworth.

For many years Vaughan Williams conducted and led the Leith Hill Music Festival, conducting Bach's St Matthew Passion on a regular basis. He also became professor of composition at the Royal College of Music in London. In his lifetime, Vaughan Williams eschewed all honors with the exception of the Order of Merit which was conferred upon him in 1938.

He died on the 26th August 1958; his ashes are interred in Westminster Abbey, near Purcell. In a long and productive life, music flowed from his creative pen in profusion. Hardly a musical genre was untouched or failed to be enriched by his work, which included nine symphonies, five operas, film music, ballet and stage music, several song cycles, church music and works for chorus and orchestra.

410 Praise My Soul Thou King of Heaven

Henry Francis Lyte, the author of this, his second setting of psalm 103, was born in Scotland in 1793.  Originally Lyte wanted to become a medical doctor but changed his mind later and went to theological college.  In 1815 he took Holy Order in the Church of England. He wrote more than 83 hymns and paraphrases of psalms.

This particular hymn text first appeared set together with this tune in 1834.  The tune, Lauda Anima was composed for this particular text and was published together in 1869.  It quickly became a favorite and was used as the processional hymn for the wedding of Queen Elizabeth II in 1947.

The composer of this tune was John Goss whose musical career started as a chorister in the Chapel Royal.  In 1856, he was appointed as the composer for the Chapel Royal

671 Amazing Grace

This week we will be profiling perhaps one of the best known and most beloved hymn: Amazing
Grace.  The author of the words is John Newton whose story was told in a great movie several years ago.  The tune name is Amazing Grace and is from the Virginia Harmony hymnbook of 1831.

In a small cemetery of a small churchyard in Olney England, there is a tombstone with this inscription, "John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and Libertine, a servant of slavers in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the Faith he had long labored to destroy."  This testimonial was written by John Newton, himself during what has been described as an unusual and colorful life.

John Newton's mother, a godly woman, died when John was just seven years old. he related that she taught hi Bible passages and hymns despite her frail health. When John's father remarried, he was sent away to boarding school.  At the age of 11, he left school and began his life as a seaman.  His early years were described as a round of rebellion and debauchery.  He eventually became the captain of own ship that captured, transported and sold slaves to the plantations of the West Indies and America.  It was a difficult, often cruel lifestyle.

On the night of March 9, 1748 when Newton was 23, the ship encountered a particularly brutal storm that arose too quickly to prepare adequately for.  The next day he cried out to the Lord for deliverance.  He later wrote, "That tenth of Match is a day much remembered by me; I have never suffered it to pass unnoticed since the year 1748--the Lord came from on high and delivered me out of deep waters."

The next several years saw slow halting spiritual growth but he ended his career as one of the most powerful evangelical preachers in British history. He was eventually ordained in the Anglican church, and despite the fact it wasn't done in the Anglican communion, he often held services in the surrounding area.  During these sessions, he told the story of his conversion experience and early life. In the end, he became one of fhe most powerful preachers in British history, a powerful foe of slavery and the author of hundreds of hymns. It is also interesting to note that his life after his conversion had been an opponent and in the year he died, 1807, the British Parliament finally abolished slavery.

Originally the hymn was entitled "Faith's Review and Expectation." There were 6 verses and the text was based on 1Chronicle 17:16-17