Spirituals, psalms and some hymns with a royal connection in this week's programme. And it's time to send in your requests for our Summer Hymn Request programmes in January.
Email your choices to Hymns@rnz.co.nz
Photo: RNZ/Carol Stiles
SONG: PRAISE, MY SOUL, THE KING OF HEAVEN
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Lyte/Goss
Recording: Hyperion 112102
Praise, my soul, the king of heaven!
to his feet thy tribute bring,
ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
evermore his praises sing:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
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:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
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.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Widely as his mercy flows.
Angels in the height adore him,
ye behold him face to face;
Saints triumphant, bow before him,
gathered in from ev’ry race.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.
SONG: THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD
Artist: Choir of Westminster Abbey
Words/Music: Psalm 23/attributed Seymour
Recording: Hyperion 712801
The Lord's my shepherd; I'll not want.
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
My soul He doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E'en for His own name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill;
For Thou art with me, and Thy rod
And staff me comfort still.
My table Thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God's house forevermore
My dwelling place shall be.
SONG: PRAISE GOD, FOR HE IS KIND
Artist: Scottish Philharmonic Singers, Ian McCrorie (dir), John Langdon (organ)
Words/Music: Psalm 136/Croft
Recording: Abbey 282830
Praise God, for he is kind:
His mercy lasts for aye.
Give thanks with heart and mind
To God of gods alway:
Refrain:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
The Lord of lords praise ye,
Whose mercies still endure.
Great wonders only he
Doth work by his great pow’r
Refrain:
Which God omnipotent,
By might and wisdom high,
The heav’n and firmament
Did frame, as we may see:
Refrain:
Who hath remembered
Us in our low estate;
And us delivered
From foes which did us hate:
Refrain:
SONG: O, MARY DON’T YOU WEEP
Artist: Moses Hogan Chorale
Words/Music: Trad
Recording: Hal Leonard HL 08743982
Refrain:
O Mary, don't you weep, don't you mourn,
O Mary, don't you weep don't you mourn;
Pharoah's army got drownded,
O Mary, don't you weep.
Some of these mornings bright and fair,
Take my sings and cleave the air.
Pharoah's army got drownded
O Mary, don't you weep.
Refrain:
When I get to Heaven goin' to sing and shout,
Nobody there for to turn me out.
Pharoah's army got drownded
O Mary, don't you weep.
Refrain:
When I get to Heaven goin' to put on my shoes,
Run about glory and tell all the news.
Pharoah's army got drownded
O Mary, don't you weep.
Refrain:
SONG: I’M GONNA SING ‘TIL THE SPIRIT MOVES IN MY HEART
Artist: Moses Hogan Chorale
Words/Music: Trad
Recording: Hal Leonard HL 08743982
I'm gonna sing 'til the spirit moves in my heart (x 3)
I'm gonna sing 'til Jesus come.
I’m gonna sing to my Jesus (x 3)
I'm gonna sing 'til Jesus come.
I’m gonna sing to my Jesus (x 3)
I'm gonna sing 'til Jesus come.
It was grace that brought me
It was grace that taught me
It was grace that kept me
And it's grace that will lead me home.
I'm gonna pray 'til the spirit moves in my heart (x 3)
I’m gonna pray ‘til Jesus come.
Can't you feel the spirit movin'.
I’m gonna shout to my Jesus (x 3)
I'm gonna shout 'til Jesus come.
I'm gonna sing 'til my Jesus come.
SONG: JESU, LOVER OF MY SOUL
Artist: Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge, Sarah MacDonald (dir)
Words/Music: C Wesley/Dykes
Recording: Priory PRCD 714
Jesus, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last.
Other refuge have I none,
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
Cover my defenceless head
with the shadow of thy wing.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
More than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name,
Source of all true righteousness;
Thou art evermore the same,
Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound;
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art,
freely let me take of thee;
Spring thou up within my heart;
rise to all eternity.
SONG: ABERYSTWYTH
Artist: NZ Community Trust Woolston Brass Band/David Gallaher (dir)
Music: J Parry
Recording: Private 930
SONG: IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE
Artist: Huddersfield Choral Society
Words/Music: Smith/Trad adapted Roberts
Recording: EMI 746202
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might:
thy justice, like mountains high soaring above;
thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all, life thou givest, to both great and small.
In all life thou livest, the true life of all.
We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree,
then wither and perish; but naught changeth thee.
Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light,
Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render: O help us to see
‘Tis only the splendour of light hideth thee.
