This week's selection of traditional and modern hymns includes spirituals from the Kansas City Chorale, hymns with a pilgrim theme, and an uplifting rendition of Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.
Pūtangitangi (Paradise Shelduck) and ducklings at Opunake Beach, New Zealand. Photo: Dave Young 2008, Wikimedia Commons
SONG: PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY
Artist: Choir of the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick
Words/Music: Neander trans Winkworth/Anon
Recording: Priory 706
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation.
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation:
All ye who hear,
brothers and sisters draw near,
praise him in glad adoration.
Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth
shelters thee under his wings, yea, so gently sustaineth:
hast thou not seen
all that his people have been
granted in what he ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee:
ponder anew
what the Almighty can do,
if with his love he befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging,
who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,
biddeth them cease,
turneth their fury to peace,
whirlwinds and waters assuaging.
Praise to the Lord, who when darkness of sin is abounding,
who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
sheddeth his light,
chaseth the horrors of night,
saints with his mercy surrounding.
Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath come now with praises before him!
Let the Amen
sound from his people again:
gladly for aye we adore him.
SONG: AMAZING GRACE
Artist: St Michael Singers
Words/Music: Newton/Trad
Recording: Kingsway KMCD 599
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound.
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found.
Was blind but now I see.
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved:
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thurs far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil
A life of joy and peace.
When I've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
I've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when I first begun.
SONG: THANK YOU FOR THE NIGHT
Artist: Viva Voce, John Rosser (dir), Michael Bell (piano)
Words/Music: Jenny McLeod
Recording: NZ Hymnbook Trust 941300
Thank you for the night
that will bring us the dawn,
Alleluia, bright is our Redeemer.
Thank you for the light
that reveals where we are,
Alleluia, kindly is our Comforter.
Thank you for the wind
when we open the door,
Alleluia, cleansing breath of God from afar.
Thank you for the sea
that surrounds and enfolds,
Alleluia, God our refuge and mother.
Thank you for the sky
when we lift up our heads,
Alleluia, high and free our Saviour.
Thank you for the earth
giving sweetness to all,
Alleluia, God our life, our sustainer.
SONG: GOD THAT MADEST EARTH AND HEAVEN
Artist: Choir of Trinity College, University of Melbourne, Michael Leighton-Jones (dir)
Words/Music: Heber, Whatley/Trad arr Vaughan Williams
Recording: ABC 476509
God, that madest earth and heaven,
darkness and night,
who the day for toil has given,
for rest the night;
may thine angel-guards defend us,
slumber sweet thy mercy send us,
holy dreams and hope attend us,
this livelong night.
Guard us waking, guard us sleeping;
and, when we die,
may we in thy mighty keeping
all peaceful lie;
when the last dread call shall wake us,
do not thou our God forsake us,
but to reign in glory take us
with thee on high.
SONG: KING OF GLORY, KING OF PEACE
Artist: Choir of Trinity College, University of Melbourne, Michael Leighton-Jones (dir)
Words/Music: Herbert/Jones
Recording: ABC 476509
King of glory, King of peace,
I will love thee;
and that love may never cease,
I will move thee.
Thou hast granted my request,
thou hast heard me;
thou didst note my working breast,
thou hast spared me.
Wherefore with my utmost art
I will sing thee,
and the cream of all my heart
I will bring thee.
Though my sins against me cried,
thou didst clear me;
and alone, when they replied,
thou didst hear me.
Seven whole days, not one in seven,
I will praise thee;
in my heart, though not in heaven,
I can raise thee.
Small it is, in this poor sort
to enroll thee;
e'en eternity's too short
to extol thee.
SONG: WE WILL MARCH THRO’ THE VALLEY
Artist: Kansas City Chorale, Charles Bruffy (dir)
Words/Music: Warren/Trad arr Parker
Recording: Nimbus NI 5568
We will march thro’ the valley in peace,
We will march thro’ the valley in peace;
If Jesus himself be our leader,
We will march thro’ the valley in peace,.
We will walk here together in peace,
We will walk here together in peace;
If Jesus himself be our leader,
We will walk here together in peace.
We will sing here together in peace,
We will sing here together in peace;
If Jesus himself be our leader,
We will sing here together in peace.
SONG: HARK, I HEAR THE HARPS ETERNAL
Artist: Kansas City Chorale, Charles Bruffy (dir)
Words/Music: Warren/Trad arr Parker
Recording: Nimbus NI 5568
Hark, I hear the harps eternal
Ringing on the farther shore,
As I near those swollen waters
With their deep and solemn roar.
Refrain:
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Hallelujah, praise the lamb!
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Glory to the great I AM!
And my soul, tho’ stain’d with sorrow,
Fading as the light of day,
Passes swiftly o’er those waters,
To the city far away.
Refrain:
Souls have cross’d before me, saintly,
To that land of perfect rest;
And I hear them singing faintly
In the mansions of the blest.
Refrain:
SONG: LIGHT OF THE LONELY PILGRIM’S HEART
Artist: Choir of Christ’s College, Cambridge, David Rowland (dir), Simon Jacobs (organ)
Words/Music: Denny/Stewart
Recording: Priory PRCD 721
Light of the lonely pilgrim's heart,
Star of the coming day,
Arise, and with Thy morning beams
Chase all our griefs away.
Bid the whole earth, responsive now
To the bright world above,
Break forth in rapturous strains of joy
In memory of Thy love.
Thine was the cross, with all its fruits
Of grace and peace Divine:
Be Thine the crown of glory now,
The palm of victory Thine.
See how they fair creation groans,
The sky, the earth, the sea,
In unison with all our heart,
And calls aloud for thee.
Come, blessed Lord, let every shore
And answering island sing
The praises of thy royal name,
And own thee as their king.
SONG: HE WHO WOULD VALIANT BE
Artist: Choir of Christ’s College, Cambridge, David Rowland (dir), Simon Jacobs (organ)
Words/Music: Bunyan/Trad arr Vaughan Williams
Recording: Priory PRCD 721
He who would valiant be
'Gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy
Follow the Master.
There's no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim.
Who so beset him round
With dismal stories,
Do but themselves confound--
His strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might,
Though he with giants fight;
He will make good his right
To be a pilgrim.
Since, Lord, thou dost defend
Us with thy Spirit
We know we at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then, fancies, flee away!
I'll fear not what men say,
I'll labour night and day
To be a pilgrim.
SONG: A CLARE BENEDICTION
Artist: Polyphony/Stephen Layton
Composer: Rutter/Rutter
Label: Hyperion CDA 67259
May the Lord show His mercy upon you;
may the light of His presence be your guide:
May He guard you and uphold you;
may His spirit be ever by your side.
When you sleep, may His angels watch over you;
when you wake, may He fill you with His grace.
May you love Him and serve Him all your days,
Then in heaven may you see His face.
