The Pilgrim's Progress frontispiece and title page third edition 1679. Photo: Creative Commons
A selection of traditional and modern hymns. Pilgrims make an appearance in this week's hymns, which include O Happy Band of Pilgrims, Light of the Lonely Pilgrim's Heart and He Who Would Valiant Be (from John Bunyan's allegory The Pilgrim's Progress)
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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: Lyte/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, praise him, praise him,
Praise the everlasting king.
Praise him for his grace and favour
to our fathers in distress;
praise him still the same as ever,
slow to chide and swift to bless:
Praise him, praise him, praise him, praise him,
Glorious in his faithfulness.
Father-like, he tends and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows;
in his hand he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Praise him, praise him, praise him, praise him,
Widely as his mercy flows.
Angels, help us to adore him,
you behold him face to face;
sun and moon bow down before him,
dwellers all in time and space,
Praise him, praise him, praise him, praise him,
Praise with us the God of grace.
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: NZ Hymnbook Trust 941300
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: 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: KING OF GLORY, KING OF PEACE
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Herbert/Archer
Recording: Hyperion 711210
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: I WANT TWO WINGS
Artist: Kansas City Chorale, Charles Bruffy (dir)
Words/Music: Trad/Trad arr Parker
Recording: Nimbus NI 5568
O Lord, I want two wings to cover my face
when I reach my heavenly home.
I want two dancin’ shoes to put on my feet
when I reach my heavenly home.
I want a golden harp to play by myself
when I reach my heavenly home.
O Lord, I want a song to sing in my heart,
and I’ll reach my heavenly home.
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: O HAPPY BAND OF PILGRIMS
Artist: Choir of St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham
Composer: Neale, St Joseph the Hymnographer trans Neale/Knecht
Label: Priory 723
O happy band of pilgrims,
if onward ye will tread
with Jesus as your fellow
to Jesus as your head!
O happy, if ye labour
as Jesus did for men:
O happy, if ye hunger
as Jesus hungered then!
The cross that Jesus carried
he carried as your due:
the crown that Jesus weareth
he weareth it for you.
The faith by which ye see him,
the hope, in which ye yearn,
the love that through all troubles
to him alone will turn,--
What are they, but forerunners
to lead you to his sight?
What are they, save the effluence
of uncreated light?
The trials that beset you,
the sorrows ye endure,
the manifold temptations
that death alone can cure,--
What are they, but his jewels
of right celestial worth?
What are they but the ladder,
set up to heaven on earth?
O happy band of pilgrims,
look upward to the skies,
where such a light affliction
shall win so great a prize.
SONG: PILGRIM’S HYMN
Artist: Choir of St John’s, Elora
Words/Music: Browne/Paulus
Recording: Naxos 8.572540
Even before we call on Your name
To ask You, O God,
When we seek for the words to glorify You,
You hear our prayer;
Unceasing love, O unceasing love,
Surpassing all we know.
Glory to the father,
and to the Son,
And to the Holy Spirit.
Even with darkness sealing us in,
We breathe Your name,
And through all the days that follow so fast,
We trust in You;
Endless Your grace, O endless Your grace,
Beyond all mortal dream.
Both now and forever,
And unto ages and ages,
Amen.
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, Dearmer/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.
