hymns of God

[hunybee]

Rock of Ages


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM7gt...lay&playnext=5

1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
   Let me hide myself in Thee;
   Let the water and the blood,
   From Thy wounded side which flowed,
   Be of sin the double cure,
   Save from wrath and make me pure.
2. Not the labor of my hands
   Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
   Could my zeal no respite know,
   Could my tears forever flow,
   All for sin could not atone;
   Thou must save, and Thou alone.
3. Nothing in my hand I bring,
   Simply to Thy cross I cling;
   Naked, come to Thee for dress;
   Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
   Foul, I to the fountain fly;
   Wash me, Savior, or I die.
4. While I draw this fleeting breath,
   When my eyes shall close in death,
   When I rise to worlds unknown,
   And behold Thee on Thy throne,
   Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
   Let me hide myself in Thee.

[Snowbandit]

Seated one day at the organ,
I was weary and ill at ease,
And my fingers wandered idly
Over the noisy keys;

I know not what I was playing,
Or what I was dreaming then,
But I struck one chord of music,
Like the sound of a great Amen,
Like the sound of a great Amen.

It flooded the crimson twilight,
Like the close of an angel’s psalm,
And it lay on my fevered spirit,
With a touch of infinite calm,

It quieted pain and sorrow,
Like love overcoming strife,
It seemed the harmonious echo
From our discordant life,

It linked all the perplexed meanings
Into one perfect peace,
And trembled away into silence,
As if it were loth to cease;

I have sought but I seek it vainly,
That one lost chord divine,
Which came from the soul of the organ,
And entered into mine.

It may be that death’s bright angel
Will speak in that chord again;
It may be that only in Heav’n
I shall hear that great Amen.

It may be that death’s bright angel
Will speak in that chord again;
It may be that only in Heav’n
I shall hear that great Amen.


Words: Adelaide A. Procter (1825-1864).
Music: Arthur S. Sullivan, 1876


Sullivan (who wrote the still very popular "Onward Christian Soldiers") had been trying to set Procter’s words to music for several years, but did not succeed until faced with the death of his brother Fred, to whom he was very close. His brother died a slow death, lingering three weeks, and the grief brought forth this wonderful music from Arthur’s pen. Though unsuited to congregational singing, it was tremendously popular around the beginning of the 20th Century.

http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/l/o/s/lostchor.htm

Much more background information here including copies of the original score and audio recordings from 1888 and an excellent one from 1913.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Chord

[philjam]

Hildegard Von Bingen - 14th century nun. She is on UTube.

[Snowbandit]

THE HOLY CITY

Last night I lay asleeping,
There came a dream so fair;
I stood in old Jerusalem
Beside the temple there.
I heard the children singing,
And ever as they sang,
Me thought the voice of angels
From heav'n in answer rang;
Me thought the voice of angels
From heav'n in answer rang.


Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Lift up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!


And then methought my dream was chang'd,
The streets no longer rang,
Hush'd were the glad hosannas
The little children sang.
The sun grew dark with mystery,
The morn was cold and chill,
As the shadow of a cross arose
Upon a lonely hill,
As the shadow of a cross arose
Upon a lonely hill.


Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Hark! how the angels sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!


And once again the scene was chang'd,
New earth there seemed to be;
I saw the Holy City
Beside the tideless sea;
The light of God was on its streets,
The gates were open wide,
And all who would might enter,
And no one was denied.
No need of moon or stars by night,
Or sun to shine by day;
It was the new Jerusalem
That would not pass away,
It was the new Jerusalem
That would not pass away.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Sing for the night is o'er,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna forevermore!

A quiet Christmas day here as none of the kids came around this year. I decided to start working up some organ music for the coming Easter season. One of my all time favorite pieces is "The Holy City" whose music was written by Michael Maybrick in 1887. Sadly, in my search for the score I came across an interesting article about Maybrick that leads me to suspect it may not be entirely appropriate for use in a Christian worship service.

Michael Maybrick did not write the words to this hymn, those were written by one Frederick Weatherly. Maybrick wrote only the music. Still, the suspicion surrounding Maybrick's involvement in the London Whitechappel murders (of Jack the Ripper fame) allegations of homosexual activity, Masonic connections and other nefarious dealings must lead one to seriously reconsider the use of his music.

For anyone with an interest in this sort of thing I would only ask you to read the article before commenting. Thanks.

http://www.blessedquietness.com/jour...u/holycity.htm

[JGIG]

https://youtu.be/D-mKnY2HMXg

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

Forbid it Lord that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ my God
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to His blood

See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul
Demands my soul
Love demands my soul
My life my all

[PsalmSinger]

Looking forward to communicating with the great folks on this forum.

[PsalmSinger]

Love to sing the old hymns. They always bring a blessing to me. A couple of my favorite hymns come to mind.

"Oh I want to see Him"

"Victory in Jesus"

[Bezukhov]

NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THIS THREAD.

Consider this your only warning: if you consider to troll threads which are started to lift up people of faith, you will find another board. Pronto. Summerthyme