A selection of traditional and modern hymns. Our final Summer Requests programme includes a 16th century prayer set to music by John Rutter, Be still, my soul sung by the English boys' choir Libera, and we highlight an important celebration for the Lutheran Church - the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
Information on Reformation 500
Statue of Martin Luther in front of the Frauenkirche, Dresden Photo: Creative Commons
SONG: OPEN THOU MINE EYES
Artist: Cambridge Singers
Words/Music: Andrewes/Rutter
Recording: Collegium 801100
Open thou mine eyes and I shall see,
incline my heart and I shall desire,
order my steps and I shall walk
In the ways of thy commandments.
Open thou mine eyes and I shall see,
incline my heart and I shall desire,
order my steps and I shall walk
In the ways of thy commandments.
O Lord God, be thou to me a God
and beside thee let there be none else,
no other, naught else with thee.
Vouchsafe to me to worship thee and serve thee
according to thy commandments
in truth of spirit,
in reverence of body,
in blessing of lips,
in private and in public.
Open thou mine eyes and I shall see,
incline my heart and I shall desire,
order my steps and I shall walk
in the ways of thy commandments.
SONG: GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS
Artist: Wells Cathedral Choir, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Chisholm/Runyon
Recording: Hyperion 112105
"Great is thy faithfulness," O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
As thou hast been thou for ever wilt be.
Refrain:
"Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!"
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
All I have needed thy hand hath provided,
"Great is thy faithfulness," Lord unto me!
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Refrain:
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain:
SONG: BE STILL, MY SOUL
Artist: Libera, Robert Prizeman (dir)
Words/Music: Von Schlegel/Sibelius arr Prizeman
Recording: EMI 370523
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
SONG: ETERNAL FATHER, STRONG TO SAVE
Artist: Choir of the Royal Naval College Chapel, Greenwich
Words/Music: Whiting/Dykes
Recording: Abbey 280826
Eternal father, strong to save,
Whose arm doth bind the restless wave,
Who bids the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to thee,
For those in peril on the sea.
O Saviour, whose almighty word
The wind and waves submissive heard,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
And calm amid its rage did sleep:
O hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.
O Trinity of love and power,
Our brethren shield in danger's hour
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go:
And evermore shall rise to thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
SONG: THE SERVANT SONG
Artist: OCP Session Choir
Words/Music: Richard Gillard
Recording: Journeysongs
Will you let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I might have the grace
To let you be my servant too.
We are pilgrims on the journey
We are brothers on the road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ light for you
In the night time of your fear
I will hold my hand out to you
Speak the the peace you long to hear.
SONG: MIT FRIED UND FREUD
Artist: Vox Lumina, Lionel Meunier (dir)
Words/Music: Martin Luther
Recording: Ricecar RIC 311
Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin
in Gotts Wille;
getrost ist mir mein Herz und Sinn,
sanft und stille,
wie Gott mir verheißen hat:
der Tod ist mein Schlaf worden.
Das macht Christus, wahr’ Gottes Sohn,
der treu Heiland,
den du mich, Herr, hast sehen lan
und g’macht bekannt,
dass er sei das Leben mein
und Heil in Not und Sterben.
Den hast du allen vorgestellt
mit groß Gnaden,
zu seinem Reich die ganze Welt
heißen laden
durch dein teuer heilsam Wort,
an allem Ort erschollen.
Er ist das Heil und selig Licht
für die Heiden,
zu ’rleuchten, die dich kennen nicht,
und zu weiden.
Er ist deins Volks Israel
Preis, Ehre, Freud und Wonne.
Translation:
With peace and joy I go on my way
in God’s will.
My heart and mind are comforted,
peaceful and calm.
As God promised me
death has become my sleep.
This is the work of Christ, God’s true son,
the faithful saviour,
whom you, Lord, have allowed me to see
and made known
that He is our life
and salvation in trouble and in dying.
You have set him before everybody
with great mercy,
that to his kingdom the whole world
may be called and invited
through your precious healing Word
that has resounded everywhere.
He is salvation and a blessed light
for the gentiles,
to enlighten those who do not know you,
and to give them pasture.
For your people Israel He is
their reward, honour, joy and delight.
SONG: WACHET AUF (SLEEPERS, WAKE)
Artist: Ton Koopman (organ)
Words/Music: Nicolai arr Bach
Recording: Teldec 4509-94459
SONG: SING JOYFULLY
Artist: Choir of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Catherine Palmer (dir), Ronald Jordan (organ)
Words/Music: Psalm 89/Grayston Ives
Recording: Marquis
[Lyrics not available]
