A selection of traditional and modern hymns. Some familiar favourites in today's programme, including the 'Old Hundredth' (All people that on earth do dwell), Be thou my vision performed by the Belfast Cathedral Youth Choir, and an arrangement of 'Eventide' (Abide with me) for brass band that'll make you want to take up the trumpet!
Angel Musicians (left panel) - Hans Memling Photo: Wikimedia Commons
SONG: ALL PEOPLE THAT ON EARTH DO DWELL
Artist: Norwich Cathedral Choir
Words/Music: Kethe/attrib Bourgeois
Recording: Priory PRCD 705
All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell.
Come ye before him and rejoice.
Know that the Lord is God indeed;
without our aid he did us make;
we are his folk; he doth us feed,
and for his sheep he doth us take.
O enter then his gates with praise;
approach with joy his courts unto;
praise, laud, and bless his name always,
for it is seemly so to do.
For why? The Lord our God is good;
his mercy is forever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure.
SONG: PRAISE THE LORD, YE HEAVENS ADORE HIM
Artist: Jubilate Singers
Words/Music: Anon, Osler/Redhead
Recording: RNZ CD 809
Praise the Lord! ye heav'ns, adore Him;
Praise Him, angels, in the height.
Sun and moon, rejoice before Him;
Praise Him, all ye stars of light.
Praise the Lord! for He hath spoken;
Worlds His mighty voice obeyed.
Law which never shall be broken
For their guidance hath He made.
Praise the Lord for He is glorious;
Never shall His promise fail.
God hath made His saints victorious;
Sin and death shall not prevail.
Praise the God of our salvation!
Hosts on high, His power proclaim,
Heav'n and earth and all creation
Laud and magnify His name.
Worship, honour, glory, blessing,
Lord, we offer unto Thee.
Young and old, Thy praise expressing,
In glad homage bend the knee.
All the saints in heav'n adore Thee;
We would bow before Thy throne.
As Thine angels serve before Thee,
So on earth Thy will be done.
SONG: JESU BLEIBIT MEINE FREUDE
Artist: Albrecht Mayer (oboe), Trinity Baroque, The English Concert
Words/Music: Schop harmonized Bach
Recording: Decca 478 1517
Jesus bleibet meine Freude,
meines Herzens Trost und Saft,
Jesus wehret allem Leide,
er ist meines Lebens Kraft,
meiner Augen Lust und Sonne,
meiner Seele Schatz und Wonne;
darum laß' ich Jesum nicht
aus dem Herzen und Gesicht.
SONG: BE THOU MY VISION
Artist: Belfast Cathedral Youth Choir
Words/Music: Anon trans Mary Byrne, versified Elinor Hull/Trad
Recording: Griffin 224018
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art;
thou my best thought in the day or the night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word;
I ever with thee, and thou with me, Lord;
thou my great Father: and I thy true son;
thou in me dwelling, and I with thee.
Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
be thou my armour, and be thou my might,
thou my soul's shelter, and thou my high tower:
raise thou me heavenward, O power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
thou mine inheritance, through all my days:
thou, and thou only, the first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.
High King of Heaven, when the battle is done,
grant heaven’s joys to me, O bright heaven's sun!
Christ of my own heart whatever befall,
still be my vision, O ruler of all.
SONG: HOLY GOD, WE PRAISE YOUR NAME
Artist: The Kolbe Singers
Words/Music: Walworth/Anon
Recording: The Kolbe Singers
Holy God, we praise your name;
Lord of all, we bow before you.
All on earth your scepter claim;
all in heaven above adore you.
Infinite your vast domain,
everlasting is your reign.
Hark! The glad celestial hymn
angel choirs above are raising;
cherubim and seraphim,
in unceasing chorus praising,
fill the heavens with sweet accord:
“Holy, holy, holy Lord!”
Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit: three we name you,
while in essence only one;
undivided God we claim you,
and adoring, bend the knee
while we own the mystery.
Spare Thy people, Lord, we pray,
by a thousand snares surrounded:
keep us without sin today,
never let us be confounded.
Lo, I put my trust in Thee;
never, Lord, abandon me.
SONG: HOLY! HOLY! HOLY!
Artist: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
Words/Music: Heber/Dykes
Recording: Argo 414609
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
who wert and art and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye made blind by sin thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name, in earth and sky and sea;
holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
SONG: ABIDE WITH ME
Artist: NZ Community Trust Woolston Brass/David Gallagher
Words/Music: Lyte/Monk
Recording: Woolston Brass CDWB3896340
[Instrumental version]
SONG: CHRIST IS OUR CORNERSTONE
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral
Words/Music: Anon trans Chandler/SS Wesley
Recording: Hyperion 112102
Christ is our corner-stone,
On Him alone we build;
With His true saints above
The courts of heaven are filled,
On His great love our hopes we place
Of present grace and joys above.
O then with hymns of praise
These hallowed courts shall ring;
Our voices we will raise
The Three in One to sing;
And thus proclaim in joyful song,
Both loud and long that glorious Name.
Here, gracious God, do Thou
For evermore draw nigh;
Accept each faithful vow,
And mark each suppliant sigh;
In copious shower on all who pray,
Each holy day, Thy blessings pour.
Here may we gain from heaven
The grace which we implore;
And may that grace, once given,
Be with us evermore,
Until that day when all the blest
To endless rest are called away.
