A selection of traditional and modern hymns. It's Queen's Birthday Weekend, and today we'll hear a couple of the Queen's favourite hymns. There are also hymns to mark Pentecost Sunday, including Breathe on me, breath of God and Come down, O love divine.
Medieval western illustration of the Pentecost from the Hortus deliciarum of Herrad of Landsberg (12th century) Photo: Wikimedia Commons
SONG: PRAISE, MY SOUL, THE KING OF HEAVEN
Artist: Choir of Trinity College, University of Melbourne, Michael Leighton-Jones (dir), Jonathan Bradley (organ)
Words/Music: Lyte/Goss
Recording: ABC 476509
Praise, my soul, the king of heaven;
to his feet thy tribute bring;
ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
who like we his praise should sing:
Praise him, praise him, praise him, praise him,
Praise the everlasting king.
Praise him for his grace and favour
to our fathers in distress;
praise him still the same as ever,
slow to chide and swift to bless:
Praise him, praise him, praise him, praise him,
Glorious in his faithfulness.
Father-like, he tends and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows;
in his hand he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Praise him, praise him, praise him, praise him,
Widely as his mercy flows.
Angels, help us to adore him,
you behold him face to face;
sun and moon bow down before him,
dwellers all in time and space,
Praise him, praise him, praise him, praise him,
Praise with us the God of grace.
SONG: BREATHE ON ME, BREATH OF GOD
Artist: Orpheus Choir, Wellington
Words/music: Hatch/Lockhart
Recording: Private
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love the way you love,
and do what you would do.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until my will is one with yours,
to do and to endure.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
so shall I never die,
but live with you the perfect life
for all eternity.
SONG: COME DOWN, O LOVE DIVINE
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: da Siena/Vaughan Williams
Recording: Griffin GCCD 4010
Come down, O love divine,
seek thou this soul of mine,
And visit it with thine
own ardour glowing.
O comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
And kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.
O let it freely burn,
til earthly passions turn
To dust and ashes
in its heat consuming;
And let thy glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
And lowliness
become mine inner clothing;
True lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
And o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.
And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
Shall far outpass the power
of human telling;
For none can guess its grace,
till he become the place
Wherein the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.
SONG: THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD
Artist: Choir of Westminster Abbey
Words/Music: Rous/Irvine
Recording: Hyperion 712801
The Lord's my Shepherd; I'll not want.
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
My soul He doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E'en for His own name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill;
For Thou art with me, and Thy rod
And staff me comfort still.
My table Thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God's house Forevermore
My dwelling place shall be.
SONG: SPIRIT OF GOD, REST ON YOUR PEOPLE
Artist: The St Thomas More Group
Words/Music: Bernadette Farrell
Recording: OCP
Refrain:
Spirit of God, rest on your people
waken your song deep in our hearts
Spirit of the quiet earth,
Spirit breathing hope to birth,
sustaining us, the fire of your love.
Refrain
Spirit blowing through creation
love that cannot be contained
bring forth for us the wonders you proclaim.
Refrain
Song that echoes through our story
music of our restless souls
resound with joy in those who call your name.
Refrain
Spirit moving through our lives,
work in our memories.
healing and restoring, teaching and revealing,
strengthening and bringing to life.
Refrain
Spirit breaking through our cellphone,
Spirit tearing down our walls,
challenge and discern us, in a voice that questions and calls.
Refrain
EV’RY TIME I FEEL THE SPIRIT
Artist: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Words/Music: Trad
Recording: Bonneville 510097
Refrain:
Ev’ry time I feel the spirit
movin’ in my heart I will pray
yes ev’ry time I feel the spirit
movin’ in my heart I will pray
Up that mountain my Lord spoke
out of His mouth came fire and smoke
looked all around me, it looked so fine
till I asked the Lord if all was mine
Refrain:
Jordan river is chilly and cold
it chills the body but not the soul
there ain’t but one train upon this track
it runs to heaven and then right back
Refrain:
SONG: O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES
Artist: Huddersfield Choral Society
Words/Music: C Wesley/Jarman
Recording: Signum 2006
O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace! [last line x 4]
My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro' all the earth abroad
the honours of thy name. [last line x 4]
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
that bids our sorrows cease,
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life and health and peace. [last line x 4]
Hear Him, ye deaf, His praise, ye dumb
your loosened tongues employ,
your loosened tongues employ
ye blind, behold your Saviour come,
and leap ye lame for joy! [last line x 4]
In Christ, your head, you then shall know,
shall feel your sins forgiven,
shall feel your sins forgiven,
Anticipate your heaven below
And own that love is heaven. [last line x 4]
SONG: A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD
Artist: Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia Brass,
Words/Music: Luther/Luther arr Rutter
Recording: Collegium 880126
A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever.
