Category: Hymn

“Morning has Broken” is the best known work of Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965), children’s author and poet. Eleanor was born in London, the daughter of a popular novelist at the time, Benjamin Farjeon. Known as ‘Nellie’ to her immediate family, she was a sickly child who suffered from poor eyesight and was educated at home. Her…

Meditation on “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”  W. Zeitler “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People” Improvisation A few of the hymns in our hymnal have texts of truly ancient origin, and “Let All Mortal Flesh” is one of them. It is an ancient chant of Eucharistic [Communion] devotion based on words from Habakkuk 2:20, “Let…

A Pentecost Prelude (based on ‘Veni Creator Spiritus’)     C. Callahan Susan Addington — Flute [Offertory by Bells] Improvisation ‘Veni Creator Spritus’ (‘Come, Creator Spirit’) is a hymn text believed to have been written by Rabanus Maurus in the 9th century. When the original Latin text is used, it is normally sung in Gregorian Chant.…

Sonata in D (K.96)      D. Scarlatti (1685-1757) O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee Improvisation Washington Gladden (1836-1918) — so named because his great-grandfather served as George Washington’s bodyguard during the Revolutionary War — was a Congregational pastor. He served in New York, Massachusetts, and Ohio during the post-Civil War industrial era when racial…

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was born into a poor family. He showed musical aptitude, and his father provided music lessons. Brahms himself later told stories about himself as a teenager earning money for his family by playing piano in bars and houses of ill-repute (there being no recorded music at the time, so if music was…

(Red book #106) “Prepare the Way” Frans Mikael Franzen (1772-1847) was a Swedish poet born in Finland. At thirteen he entered the university of Abo, where he attended the lectures of H. G. Porthan (1739-1804), a pioneer in the study of Finnish history and legend. Franzen graduated age 17, and three years later he embarked on a tour of…

Variations on “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”      J. Barmherzig (1710-1763) [HARPSICHORD] “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” Improvisation After their marriage, Charles Wesley (1707-1788) and his wife Sally set up housekeeping in Bristol, England, heading up the Methodist activities there. Later they moved to London so Charles could work more closely with his brother…

“All Glory, Laud and Honor” arr. J.S.Bach (1685-1750) [ORGAN] PFC Jacob Allen USMC, Tuba “Immortal, Invisible, God only Wise” Improvisation The original Latin words to “All Glory, Laud and Honor” were written by Theodulph of Orleans (760-821). Theodulph was born into the Ital­i­an no­bil­i­ty, but de­cid­ed on a life of re­li­gious ser­vice. His first po­si­tion…

Toccata in F     D. Buxtehude (1638-1707) “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” Improvisation Isaac Watts (1674–1748) was an English logician, Christian theologian, and the author of some 750 hymn texts, including “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”. Watts was brought up in the home of a committed religious Nonconformist; his father, also Isaac Watts,…

Symphonic Meditation on “There’s a Wideness to God’s Mercy” W. Zeitler “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” Improvisation Frederick William Faber (1814-1863) was an English cleric, author and poet. Faber excelled in school, was awarded scholarships for his general scholarship as well as prizes for his poetry. Raised a Calvinist, as a young man he…