Hymns with a thankfulness theme in this week's programme, as well as some harvest hymns to reflect those cooler days and autumn colours that are all around us at the moment.
Photo: CC0 1.0 Universal
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: Henry Francis Lyte/John 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!
Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting king.
Praise Him for His grace and favour
To his people in distress.
Praise Him still the same for ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Alleluia!
Glorious in His faithfulness.
Angels, help us to adore Him
Ye behold Him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before Him,
Dwellers all in time and space.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.
SONG: WE PLOUGH THE FIELDS AND SCATTER
Artist: Scottish Festival Singers
Words/Music: Matthias Claudius trans Jane Campbell/attrib Schultz
Recording: Whole World Media Group
We plough the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God's almighty hand,
He sends the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes and the sunshine,
and soft refreshing rain.
Refrain:
All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above
then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord
for all His love.
He only is the maker
of all things near and far.
He paints the wayside flower,
He lights the evening star.
The wind and waves obey Him,
by Him the birds are fed;
much more to us, His children,
He gives our daily bread.
Refrain:
We thank Thee, then, O Father,
for all things bright and good,
the seed-time and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food.
No gifts have we to offer
for all Thy love imparts,
but that which Thou desirest,
our humble, thankful hearts.
Refrain:
SONG: FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Folliott Pierpoint/David Evans
Recording: Hyperion 711210
For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
over and around us lies:
Refrain:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise.
For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light:
Refrain:
For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild:
Refrain:
For each perfect gift of thine
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n:
Refrain:
SONG: COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME
Artist: Choir of Girton College, Cambridge/Martin Ennis (dir), William Ings (organ)
Words/Music: Alford/Elvey
Recording: Priory PRCD 717
Come, ye thankful people, come,
raise the song of harvest home;
All be safely gathered in,
ere the winter storms begin.
God our maker doth provide
for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come,
raise the song of harvest home.
All the world is God’s own field,
fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown
unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear,
then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we
wholesome grain and pure may be.
Then, thou Church triumphant come,
raise the song of harvest home;
all be safely gathered in,
free from sorrow, free from sin,
there, forever purified
in God’s garner to abide;
come, ten thousand angels, come,
raise the glorious harvest home.
SONG: PSALM 111, I WILL GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD WITH MY WHOLE HEART
Artist: Choir of Westminster Abbey, Martin Neary (dir), Andrew Lumsden (organ)
Words/Music: Psalm 111/Neary
I will give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart
secretly among the faithful, and in the congregation.
The works of the Lord are great
sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
His work is worthy to be praised, and had in honour
and his righteousness endureth for ever.
The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvellous works
that they ought to be had in remembrance.
He hath given meat unto them that fear him
he shall ever be mindful of his covenant.
He hath shewed his people the power of his works
that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
The works of his hands are verity and judgement
all his commandments are true.
They stand fast for ever and ever
and are done in truth and equity.
He sent redemption unto his people
he hath commanded his covenant for ever; holy and reverend is his Name.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
a good understanding have all they that do thereafter; the praise of it endureth for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
SONG: E TE ARIKI
Artist: New Zealand Secondary Students’ Choir 1999-2000, Roger Stevenson (dir)
Words/Music: Anon/Wi-Patena Te Pairi
Recording:
E te Ariki,
Whakarongo mai rā ki a mātou,
E te Ariki,
Titiro mai rā ki a mātou,
Tēnei mātou Ō tamariki,
E whakapono Ana mātou,
Ki a koe
Auē! Auē!
Te matua te tamaiti.
Wairua tapu e.
Te matua te tamaiti.
Wairua tapu e.
[Oh Lord, listen to us. Oh lord, look at us. This is us, your children. We believe in you.
The father, and the son and Holy Spirit.]
SONG: HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING?
Artist: Con Anima (St Patrick’s College, Wellington), Roger Powdrell (dir), Nick Field (oboe), Lance Mundy (piano)
Words/Music: Robert Lowry
Recording: Private 1469
My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth’s lamentation
I hear the sweet though far off hymn
That hails a new creation:
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul –
How can I keep from singing?
What though my joys and comforts die?
The Lord my Saviour liveth;
What though the darkness gather round!
Songs in the night He giveth:
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that refuge clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of Heav’n and earth,
How can I keep from singing?
I lift mine eyes; the cloud grows thin;
I see the blue above it;
And day by day this pathway smoothes
Since first I learned to love it:
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing:
All things are mine since I am His –
How can I keep from singing?
SONG: KUMBAYA
Artist: Con Anima, St Patrick’s College, Wellington, Roger Powdrell (dir), Ilham Kurnia (piano)
Words/Music: TRAD
Recording: Private 1469
Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya
Someone's praying, Lord, kumbaya
Someone's praying, Lord, kumbaya
Someone's praying, Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya
Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya
Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya
Someone's singing Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya
Someone's shouting Lord, kumbaya
Someone's shouting Lord, kumbaya
Someone's shouting Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya
Oh Lord, kumbaya.
SONG: GLORIA III
Artist: St Thomas Music Group, Margaret Rizza (dir)
Words/Music: Margaret Rizza
Recording: Alliance Music 190892
Gloria, Gloria,
In excelsis Deo!
Gloria, Gloria,
Alleluia, alleluia!
