Category: Hymn
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‘If Thou But Trust In God To Guide Thee.’”
“Lenten Prelude” C. Callahan Susan Addington, Flute Fugue in Bm, WTC I J. S. Bach (1685-1750) At age 20, a bright German young man, Georg Neumark (1621-1681), packed his few belongings and left his home in the Thuringian forests. By hard work and frugality, he had saved enough for…
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For the Beauty of the Earth
Folliott Sandford Pierpoint (1835-1917) was born at Spa Villa, Bath, England, and educated at Cambridge, earning his degree in Classics with honors. He taught Classics at Somersetshire College, and eventually retired from academics to become a writer, spending most of his life in Bath and the south-west of England. Pierpoint died at the age of…
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Robert Lowry “Shall We Gather at the River”
“Shall We Gather at the River” — both lyrics and music — was written by Robert Lowry (1826–1899). The text refers to Revelation chapter 22 in which a crystal clear river with water of Life is described, issuing from the throne of heaven, all presented by an angel of God. Lowry was born in Philadelphia.…
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William Williams “Guide Me Oh Thou Great Jehovah”
“Guide Me, Oh Thou Great Jehovah” William Williams (1717-1791) is generally considered to be Wales’ most famous hymn writer. As a writer of both poetry and prose, Williams is today considered one of Wale’s greatest literary figures. He was equally distinguished as one of the key leaders of the 18th century Welsh Methodist revival. Williams…
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Henry Francis Lyte – Abide with Me
“La fille aux cheveux de lin” (The girl with the flaxen hair) C. Debussy (1682-1918) “Abide With Me” Improvisation Henry Francis Lyte (1793–1847), vicar in the fishing village of Lower Brixham, Devonshire, England, ministered faithfully to his sea-faring people for twenty-three years. Though of modest means, he and his wife Anne lived in an elegant…
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“It Is Well With My Soul”
“It Is Well With My Soul” William Carol [PIANO] Improvisation The text to “It Is Well With My Soul” was written by Horatio Spafford (1828-1888) after traumatic events in Spafford’s life. First there was the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 which ruined him financially…
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When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
“The Name Above Every Name” W. Zeitler [ORGAN] “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” Improvisation After Isaac Watts (1674-1748) finished college and returned home to Southampton, he wrote many of his now-immortalized hymns for the Above Bar Congregational Church. Then, at age 22, he left home for London to become a tutor. Meanwhile,…
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Yes, Jesus Loves Me
Reflections on “Jesus Loves Me” W. Zeitler [piano] “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” Improvisation The verses to ‘Jesus Loves Me’ were written by Anna Bartlett Warner (1827 –1915). Anna’s father was Henry Warner, a wealthy New York City lawyer. When he lost most of his fortune in the 1837 depression,…
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“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
Woodland Dance W. Zeitler [PIANO] “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” Improvisation [ORGAN] Robert Robinson (1735-1790) had a rough beginning. His father died when he was aged five, but his maternal grandfather, Robert Wilkin, a wealthy gentleman of Mildenhall, who had never reconciled himself to his daughter’s lowly marriage, disinherited his grandson…
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Isaac Watts & “Jesus Shall Reign”
Prelude in C BWV 547 J.S. Bach [ORGAN] Meditation on “Jesus Shall Reign” [ORGAN] Improvisation [ORGAN] Being Ascension Sunday, I thought a Big Bach organ piece was in order. He builds this particular piece on a slight variation of ascending scale, namely Do Re Mi | Mi Fa So | So La Ti |…