The Lord's My Shepherd

A very old hymn originally translated from Francis Rouse's 150 Psalms in Hebrews. It took the revision committee at Scotland 6 years to compare the metered Psalms with the original Hebrew, to ensure a translation that was accurate. In 1650, the Scottish Psalter was released and approved for congregational singing in Scotland, and this Psalm was later put to the Crimond melody developed by Jessie Seymour Irvine.

Personally, I still love the modern rendition of John Rutter. A version of this piece by Atlanta Master Chorale is simply beautiful. There are parts where you would wander with the music of the flute and parts where you are uplifted with the dramatic music that declares God's loving-kindness and mercy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOtsuzM6h7M

Taken from Then Sing My Soul, Robert J Morgan, 2003.

Le Violette

Le Violette ~ A Scarlatti

Rugiadose
Odorose
Violette graziose,
Voi vi state
Vergognose,
Mezzo ascose
Fra le foglie,

E sgridate
Le mie voglie,
Che son troppo ambiziose.

Translation 

Dewy
Scented
Pretty violets,
You are standing
Shy,
Half hidden
Among the leaves,

And you scold
My desires,
That are too ambitious. 

Grade 5 Vocal Exam Pieces

Now Thank We All Our God

In everything give thanks...

How do we give thanks to God when we are suffering, sick or depraved? The situation at hand tended to crowd our understand of the broader picture that God has for our whole life. Pain and sadness may be so strong at the moment, but how can it be compared to the blessings and joy that we otherwise obtained during other parts of our lives? It is our limited human understanding that kept us myopic in our views of the world around us. It is our limited capability that kept us from seeing the whole picture that God created in our lives.

If our lives flashed, for a brief moment, across our eyes, and we finally saw the good works of God, would we not see? Would we not give thanks?

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices.

The author, Martin Rinkart wrote this hymn during the times of the Thirty Years' War that raged through Germany. Imagine having to care for the sick and dying, and bury the dead, and at the same time preach the Gospel and give thanks? Had he stopped and lamented for a brief moment on the hopeless desperation, he would have lost sight of God's sovereignty.  With faith, there is trust, and the belief that all sufferings were but temporal, nothing except God's love will last forever.

Rinkart composed this hymn in thanksgiving for the survivors of Eilenberg, Germany. May we all remember God's goodness to us.

Taken from Then Sings the Soul, Robert J. Morgan, 2003

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Martin Luther - great reformer, Bible translator, political leader, fiery preacher and theologian.
Martin Luther - great musician! He restored worship to the German Church, created new music for Christians, helped revived congregational singing and wrote hymns.

"Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world." Martin Luther. None could articulate this any better than him.

This hymn reflects Luther's awareness of our intense struggle with Satan. In difficulty and in danger, Luther would often resort to this song, based on Psalm 46. This translation that appeared in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book of 1868 is most apt in expressing this faith that, God indeed is our mighty fortress, none will prevail except Him!

This rendition by Steven Green is the cleanest, clearest and strongest version to proclaim God's power.  A standing ovation, for God, is certainly in order!

Taken from Then Sing My Soul, Robert Morgan, 2003.

The God of Abraham Praise

It does look like modern man like us has no patience for long hymns!

Thomas Oliver wrote this hymn from the Jewish Yigdal, sang by Meyer Lyon an opera vocalist after his conversion from "the worst boy known in thirteen years" to a traveling evangelist and passionate Christian worker.

Thomas adopted this Jewish Doxology into a Christian hymn of 13 stanza beginning with the God of Abraham Praise. Each stanza was annotated with scriptures. Today, only 4 of them are adopted in church to be sung.

This is indeed a kingly hymn, sang in all majesty fit for a God and King.

The Christian Hymn - The God of Abraham Praise.

Taken from Then Sings My Soul, Robert J Morgan, 2003

All Creatures of Our God and King

A story was told of St Francis of Assisi. While he was hiking through Italy's Spoleto Valley, he came up on a flock of birds, when they did not fly away, he decided to preach to them. "My brother and sister birds, you should praise your creator and always love Him. He gave you feathers for clothes, wings to fly and all other things you need. It is God who made your home in thin, pure air. Without sowing or reaping, you received God's guidance and protection." The flock it is said, then flew off rejoicing.

Yes, it is so true for us too. " Without sowing or reaping, you received God's guidance and protection." What did we really do to deserve God's guidance and protection? Thinking through... really, none.

This story was based on sound theology, reflected clearly in Psalm 148. Even the birds flew off rejoicing, what are we waiting for? We, all of creatures who benefited most from God's blessings..

Taken from Then Sing My Soul, Robert J. Morgan, 2003.

Let My Soul Sing! Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

Bernard of Clairvaux became a monk since he could not enter to the military services due to his health. He founded the famous monastery in Clairvaux and then went on to lead another 170 monasteries in his lifetime.  He was called the "honey-tongued doctor", "the best monk that ever lived" as proclaimed by Martin Luther.

He was not a perfect man, but his writings certainly was. One of my favourite:
"How do we know that Christ has really overcome death? Precisely in that he, who did not deserve it, underwent it... but what kind of justice is this, you may say, that the innocent should die for the guilty? It is not justice, it is mercy."

This soulful piano version of the hymn "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee" needs no words. It is a peaceful version that we can feel that essence of the hymn while we ponder on these precious truth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Taken from Then Sing my Soul, Robert J. Morgan, 2003.

Let my Soul Sing! All Glory, Laud and Honour

“All glory, laud, and honor, to thee, redeemer, king.”Theodulf of Orléans (ca. 760–821), in “All Glory, Laud, and Honor.

Record has it that Theodulf, a brilliant man of his times, a reformer to clergy and his country's educational system, wrote this hymn in his prison cell. Pondering on the Lord's truimphal entry to Jerusalem prior to His crucifixion. The first verse to this hymn as written was:

“All glory, laud, and honor
to thee, redeemer, king

To whom the lips of children

made sweet hosannas ring.”

Theodulf did not stop there; he continued for another 78 verses for this hymn! Amazing pouring of the spirit of praise for the Lord. Among the many verses, this was lesser known, forgotten, but still held great meaning and worth a mention:

Be Thou, O Lord, the Rider

And we the little ass

That to God's holy city

Together we may pass

Thousands of years later, this English translated hymn continues to be the most favourite hymn sang on Palm Sunday.