Here are five medleys of 53 hymns spanning centuries of sacred music, arranged and performed on synthesizers. From the ethereal plainsong Veni Creator to the triumphant Ellacombe, and featuring arrangements from organum to disco, The Digital Hymnal has something for everyone. Listen to the free MP3 streams below, or purchase the CD or MP3s.
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1 Gilded skies (7:20) — Songs of thankfulness for another lovely sunrise with health and family
Verbum Supernum Prodiens - Laudes Domini - Es flog ein kleins Waldvögelein - St. George's - Dix - Wir Pflügen - Royal Oak - Nun danket alle Gott - Ratisbon - Hymn to Joy
2 God Among Us (15:09) — The life of Christ told in hymnody
Veni, Emmanuel - Psalm 42 - God rest ye merry - Personent hodie - Adeste, fidelis - Greensleeves - Gloria - Salzburg - Aus der Tiefe ruhe ich - Aus tiefer Not - Valet will ihr dich geben - Herzlich tut mich verlangen - Pange lingua - Easter Hymn - Unser Herrscher - Ellacombe - Llanfair - In Babilone - Victimae paschali laudes
3 Rock of Ages (9:02) — Sacred hymns meet the School of Rock
Allein Gott in der Höh - Simple Gifts - Cwm Rhondda - Regent Square - Nicaea - Toplady - Sicilian Mariners - St. Anne - Lancashire
4 Breath of Life (7:46) — Third in Trinity come a-waltzing with me
Lob den Herren - Kremser - St. Denio - St. Dunstan's - Hyfrydol - Veni Creator Spiritus - O heiliger Geist - Grösser Gott
5 See His Banners Go (7:42) — Onward and upward. Or at least laterally!
National Hymn - Diademata - Austria - Lauda anima - Russia - Morning Light - Melita - St. Gertrude
This CD is dedicated to Sonya Kennedy, Mary Anne Bruner, Charles Spining, and the choir of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Flagstaff, Arizona: fine musicians all.
All tunes are in the public domain. Selected harmonizations PD. Additional harmonizations and variations, arrangements, and Flash player photographs below, are © 2009 by me.
1: GILDED SKIES
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Verbum Supernum Prodiens (0:00)
Tune: Plainsong, 13th century (Nevers MS) Text: Latin, 6th century
Now that the daylight fills the sky, we lift our hearts to God on high,
That he in all we do or say would keep us free from harm this day.
The words above were translated from the Latin by John Neale (1818-1866). Some sources attribute the text to Ambrose of Milan (ca. 340-397).
Laudes Domini (1:07)
Tune: Joseph Barnby (1838-1896) Text: Katholisches Gesangbuch (ca. 1744)
When morning gilds the skies, my heart, awaking, cries: "May Jesus Christ be praised!"
When evening shadows fall, this rings my curfew call: "May Jesus Christ be praised!"
This beautiful hymn has always been one of my favorites to play as a processional. The music is by Sir Joseph Barnby (pictured at left).
Es flog ein kleins Waldvögelein (1:59)
Tune: German folk song Text: Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885)
O day of radiant gladness, O day of joy and light
O balm of care and sadness, most beautiful, most bright
This day the high and lowly sing through ages joined in tune,
Sing "Holy, holy, holy," to the great God Triune.
St. George's (2:30)
Tune: George Job Elvey (1816-1893) Text: Henry Alford (1810-1871)
Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
For another tune by Sir George Job Elvey (left), see Diademata (Track 5, #2).
Dix (3:01)
Tune: Conrad Kocher (1786-1872) Text: Anna Laetitia Barbauld (1743-1825)
Praise to God, immortal praise, for the love that crowns our days.
Bounteous source of every joy, let thy praise our tongues employ.
Wir Pflügen (3:25)
Tune: Johann Abraham Peter Schulz (1747-1800) Text: Matthias Claudius (1740-1815)
We plow the fields and scatter the good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand.
All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above,
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, for all his love.
The text is by the German poet Asmus (Matthias Claudius, at left) and well serves the sturdy tune of this Thanksgiving hymn. You can also find his poetry in Schubert's "Der Tod und das Mädchen" (Death and the Maiden).
Royal Oak (4:20)
Tune: English folk tune, 17th century Text: Cecil Francis Alexander (1818-1895)
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.
The charming text is by the prolific Cecil Alexander (left), and was made famous worldwide by James Herriot's veterinary tales. See also Under Herrscher (Track 2, #14) for one of Alexander's Easter texts.
Nun danket alle Gott (5:06)
Tune: Johann Crüger (1598-1662). Text: Martin Rinckart (1586-1649)
Now thank we all our God with heart, and hands, and voices,
who wondrous things hath done, in whom his world rejoices.
Johann Crüger was one of the most important hymn writers of the 17th century, and this is one of his well-known and outstanding tunes.
Ratisbon (5:38)
Tune: 16th century. Text: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Christ, whose glory fills the skies, Christ the true, the only Light,
Dayspring from on high be near; Daystar, in my heart appear.
The indefatigable Methodist Charles Wesley wrote the lyrics to many of our best-known hymns, and you'll find several of his texts on this album.
Hymn to Joy (6:09)
Tune: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Text: Henry van Dyke (1852-1933)
Joyful, joyful we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love,
Hearts unfold like flowers before three, praising thee, their sun above.
This, of course, is the Joy theme from the final movement of Beethoven's Symphony #9.
2: GOD AMONG US
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Veni, Emmanuel (0:00)
Tune: Plainsong, 15th century Text: Anonymous, 9th century
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lowly exile here until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel is come to thee, O Israel.
Psalm 42 (1:05)
Tune: Claude Goudimel (1514-1572) Text: Johann Olearius (1611-1684)
Comfort, comfort ye my people, speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness, mourning beneath their sorrows' load.
Johann Olearius (left) wrote several hundred hymns and put together a huge hymnal, the Geistliche Singe-Kunst, in 1671.
God Rest You Merry (1:56)
Tune: Traditional 19th century carol Text: Traditional carol
God rest you merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay;
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day.
Personent Hodie (2:14)
Tune: Piae Cantiones (1582) Text: Piae Cantiones (1582)
On this day Earth shall ring with the song children sing to the Lord, Christ our King,
Born on earth to save us, Him the Father gave us.
Ideo, Gloria in excelsis Deo!
You'll hear two verses of this hymn in this track, and the second features the arrangement by Gustav Holst (left).
Adeste, Fidelis (3:05)
Tune: John Francis Wade (1711-1786) Text: John Francis Wade
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels.
Greensleeves (4:03)
Tune: Traditional Text: William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898)
What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?
Gloria (4:56)
Tune: Traditional French carol Text: Traditional French carol
Angels we have heard on high, singing sweetly through the night,
And the mountains in reply echoing their brave delight:
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Salzburg (6:06)
Tune: Jakob Hintze (1622-1702) Text: Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885)
Songs of thankfulness and praise, Jesus, Lord to thee we raise,
Manifested by the star to the sages from afar.
For another of Bishop Wordsworth's texts, see In Babilone (this track, second to last).
Aus der Tiefe ruhe ich (6:42)
Tune: Martin Herbst (1654-1681) Text: George Hunt Smyttan (1822-1870)
Forty days and forty nights thou wast fasting in the wild,
Forty days and forty nights, tempted and yet undefiled.
Aus Tiefer Not (7:02)
Tune: Martin Luther (1483-1546) Text: Martin Luther
From deepest woe I cry unto thee; Lord hear me I implore thee!
Bend down they gracious ear to me; I lay my sins before thee.
What collection of hymns would be complete without an entry by the great Martin Luther?
Valet will ich dir Geben (8:01)
Tune: Melchior Teschner (1584-1635) Text: Theodulph of Orleans (ca. 760-821)
All glory, laud, and honor, to thee Redeemer King,
To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
This tune appears here with its Palm Sunday text. You can hear Bach's massive setting of this chorale on my CD The Trinity According to Bach.
Herzlich tut mich verlangen (9:03)
Tune: Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612) Text: Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676)
O sacred head, sore wounded, defiled and put to scorn;
O kingly head, surrounded with mocking crown of thorn.
Where Valet will ich dir geben opens the Palm Sunday service, this hymn closes it. The harmonization here is the beautiful setting by J. S. Bach.
Pange Lingua (10:00)
Tune: Plainsong, 10th century Text: Venantius Honorius Fortunatus (ca. 540-600)
Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle; of the mighty conflict sing:
Tell the triumph of the victim, to his cross thy tribute bring.
Jesus Christ, the world's Redeemer from the cross now reigns as King.
One of the truly venerable chants of our musical heritage, the Passion hymn Pange Lingua is a masterpiece of meditation and foreboding. Left: Saint Venantius.
Easter Hymn (10:56)
Tune: Lyra Davidica (1708) Text: Lyra Davidica, from 14th cent. Latin
Jesus Christ is risen today: Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day: Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross: Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss: Alleluia!
Does any other hymn seem quite right for the Easter Day processional?
Unser Herrscher (11:27)
Tune: Joachim Neander (1650-1680) Text: Cecil Francis Alexander (1818-1895)
He is risen, He is risen! Tell it out with joyful voice:
He has burst His three days' prison; let the whole wide Earth rejoice.
Death is conquered, we are free; Christ has won the victory.
Ellacombe (11:50)
Tune: Katholisches Gesangbuch (1683) Text: John of Damascus (ca. 680-750)
The day of resurrection! Earth tell it out abroad.
The Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky,
our Christ hath brought us over with hymns of victory.
Saint John of Damascus, pictured at left, is well known for the richly told, but certainly apocryphal, story of the amputation and miraculous restoration of his right hand.
Llanfair (12:54)
Tune: Robert Williams (1781-1821) Text: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
See the Conqueror mounts in triumph; see the King in royal state;
Riding on the clouds, his chariot, to His heavenly palace gate!
This is a classic Ascension Day hymn (and something of a ripoff of Easter Hymn). It is a Welsh tune that takes its name from the town of Llanfair PG -- except that the town has the astounding full name of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, which according to Wikipedia, the font of all wisdom, was contrived to give the town the longest railway station name in England. The "LL" is quite hard to pronounce for English speakers; it appears to be something like "hhl" (exhale with your tongue against the roof of your mouth to get the rough effect).
In Babilone (13:25)
Tune: 18th century Text: Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885)
See the Conqueror mounts in triumph; see the King in royal state;
Riding on the clouds, his chariot, to His heavenly palace gate!
I'm not the biggest fan of AABA hymns, since they get a bit repetitive after four verses, but this is a pretty good one. For variety, I wrote a little descant for the flute to provide some variety in the repeat.
Victimae Paschali Laudes (14:29)
Tune: Wipo of Burgundy (ca. 995-1048) Text: Wipo of Burgundy
Christians, to the Paschal Victim: Offer your thankful praises!
Wipo is also known as Wigbert, which I guess is an improvement. This Easter sequence is attributed to him, but there are doubts about its real authorship.
3: ROCK OF AGES
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Allein Gott in der Höh (0:00)
Tune: Nikolaus Decius (ca. 1490-1541) Text: Nikolaus Decius
All glory be to God on high, and peace on Earth from heaven,
And God's good will unfailingly be to all people given.
Hear a brief setting of this chorale on my CD The Trinity According to Bach. Here, it appears first in relatively straightforward fashion in the usual triple meter, followed by a repeat in 4/4 with a somewhat more modern flavor.
Simple Gifts (1:49)
Tune: Joseph Brackett (1797-1882) Text: Joseph Brackett
Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'tis the gift to come down where we ought to be.
This popular tune by Joseph Brackett (left) has been widely used, e.g., by Aaron Copland in Appalachian Spring.
Cwm Rhondda (2:39)
Tune: William Williams (1717-1791) Text: John Hughes (1873-1932)
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through the barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty; hold me with your powerful hand.
You've got to love the sacred tradition: here a Welsh rugby tune appears also in our hymnal. It evidently also has alternate words that would decidedly not belong in a hymnal - or on a family-friendly Web page. Google a bit to find them. Given this colorful background, my present disco arrangement doesn't seem too inappropriate! Pronounce the name "Koom Rontha."
Regent Square (3:33)
Tune: Henry Thomas Smart (1813-1879) Text: Alexander Viets Griswold (1766-1843)
Holy Father, great Creator, source of mercy, love, and peace,
Look upon the Mediator, clothe us with His righteousness.
Nicaea (4:18)
Tune: John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876) Text: Reginald Heber (1783-1826)
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.
John Bacchus Dykes (left) was another highly prolific hymn writer, with many tunes in common use today. Nicaea is one of the best known of these, but see also Melita (Track 5, #7).
Toplady (4:57)
Tune: Thomas Hastings (1784-1872) Text: Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-1778)
Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.
Let the water and the blood from thy wounded side that flowed
Be of sin the double cure, cleanse me from its guilt and power.
Rock of Ages is certainly Toplady's best known hymn. The words are a bit effusive for my taste, but your mileage may vary.
Sicilian Mariners (5:31)
Tune: Sicilian seafarer's song (18th century) Text: Hymns for the Young (ca. 1830)
Savior, like a shepherd lead us; much we need thy tender care;
In thy pleasant pastures feed us; for our use thy folds prepare.
This tune seems to have an uncertain origin, though the bulk of the evidence suggests it is a Sicilian shanty that has made its way into our hymnary.
St. Anne (6:16)
Tune: William Croft (1678-1727) Text: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
O God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast and our eternal home.
J. S. Bach wrote an astounding fugue that replicates identically the opening phrase of this hymn; you can find my realization of it on my CD The Trinity According to Bach. The work has even come to be known informally as the "St. Anne" fugue. The resemblance, however, is accidental; Bach would not have known the English organist Croft or this tune.
Lancashire (7:27)
Tune: Henry Thomas Smart (1813-1879) Text: Laurence Tuttiett (1825-1895)
Go forward, Christian soldier! Beneath His banner true
The Lord himself, thy Leader, shall all thy foes subdue.
This is a splendid tune. In the repeat, listen for quotes from most of the rest of the hymns on this track.
4: BREATH OF LIFE
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Lob den Herren (0:00)
Tune: Erneuerten Gesangbuch (1665) Text: Joachim Neander (1650-1680)
Praise to the Lord, the almighty, the Lord of creation.
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation.
Kremser (0:52)
Tune: Nederlandtch Gesangbuch (1626) Text: Anonymous (1625)
Praise to the Lord, the almighty, the Lord of creation.
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation.
St. Denio (1:21)
Tune: Welsh hymn Text: Walter Chalmers Smith (1824-1908)
Immortal, invisible, God only wise; in light inaccessible, hid from our eyes.
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, they great Name we praise.
St. Dunstan's (2:00)
Tune: Charles Winfred Douglas (1867-1944) Text: Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)
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.
Charles Douglas was an important contributor to the present Episcopal musical tradition as one of the contributors to both the 1918 and 1950 hymnals.
Hyfrydol (2:44)
Tune: Rowland Hugh Prichard (1811-1887) Text: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down.
Fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown.
Veni Creator Spiritus (3:38)
Tune: Plainsong (6th century) Text: Rabanus Maurus (ca. 780-850)
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire; and lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing spirit art, who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.
Certainly one of the greatest plainsongs of the Christian tradition, Veni Creator has been given many settings by composers over the years.
O Heiliger Geist (5:07)
Tune: Geistliche Kirchengesang (1623) Text: Johann Neidling (1602-1668)
O Spirit of life, O Spirit of God, in every need thou bringest aid,
Thou comest forth from God's great throne, from God the Father, and the Son,
O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God.
This is the J. S. Bach harmonization.
Grosser Gott (5:48)
Tune:Katholisches Gesangbuch (1626) Text: Te Deum (5th century)
Holy God, we praise thy Name, Lord of all, we bow down before thee,
All on Earth thy scepter claim; all in heaven above adore thee.
Infinite thy vast domain, everlasting is they reign.
5: SEE HIS BANNERS GO
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National Hymn (0:00)
Tune: George William Warren (1828-1902) Text: Daniel Crane Roberts (1841-1907)
God of our fathers, whose almighty hand leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies, our grateful songs before thy throne arise.
This superb hymn is one of my earliest musical memories. We always sat in church where I could watch the organist, and to this day I can hear George William Warren's trumpet calls ringing through the church.
Diademata (1:23)
Tune: George Job Elvey (1816-1893) Text: Matthew Bridger (1800-1894)
Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne,
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own,
Awake my soul and sing of him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.
Austria (1:58)
Tune: Franz Joseph Haydn (1723-1807) Text: John Newton (1725-1807)
Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God,
He whose word cannot be broken formed thee for his own abode.
The famous tune is from Haydn's string quartet, Op. 76, #3.
Lauda Anima (2:33)
Tune: John Goss (1800-1880) Text: Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven, to his feet thy tribute bring,
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgive, evermore his praises sing:
Alleluia, alleluia, praise the everlasting King.
Russia (3:00)
Tune: Alexis Lvov (1799-1870) Text: Henry Fothergill Chorley (1808-1872)
God the Omnipotent! King, who ordainest thunder thy clarion,
The lightning thy sword, show forth thy pity on high where thou reignest,
Give to us peace in our time, O Lord.
Morning Light (3:35)
Tune: George James Webb (1803-1887) Text: George Duffield, Jr. (1818-1888)
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high his royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory his army shall he lead,
Till every foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed.
Melita (4:19)
Tune: John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876) Text: William Whiting (1825-1878)
Almighty Father, strong to save, whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.
The famous Navy Hymn. Dykes (left) called it "Melita," in reference to Malta, where the apostle Paul arrived following the wreck of his ship.
St. Gertrude (5:35)
Tune: Arthur S. Sullivan (1842-1900) Text: Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924)
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before!
Christ the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle, see his banners go.
Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before!
Indeed this is Sir Arthur Sullivan of Gilbert and Sullivan fame, named not after the real St. Gertrude but for the wife of a friend. Whether this was intended as an honor or a joke I do not know. Some of my friends sniff a bit at the militaristic character of these words, and I take impish delight in replying: Pfft! Line 'em up, Jesus! I love to play this glorious hymn, and I couldn't think of a better way to end this compilation of classic tunes of the sacred musical tradition.