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
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.
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.
“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.
This is technically not a carol, at least not a traditional one. However, Lux Aurumque is a very apt piece for Christmas to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Taken from the poem below, it creates a mood of calm and draws a scene of peace.
Light and Gold - Edward Esch
Light,
warm and heavy
as pure gold,
and the angels sing softly
to the newborn babe.
Imagine this beautiful picture of heavenly bliss was recreated by Eric Whitacre's Lux Aurumque? Sang in Latin for SATB, with harmonies so tight that it feels "warm and heavy, as pure gold". At a stately pace of adagio, 60-66; the piece progress slowly, warmly and calmly. It is as though the choir is surrounded by a ring of gold that glows and shines through to all our hearts!
The original version of Eric Whitacre's virtual choir is so beautifully done that it was almost a miracle from all over the world.
And so one year has passed since we picked up the topic about Christmas! Time passed, and variations to the traditional carols increases over time as well.
This version of The 12 Days of Christmas by Geoffrey Keating combined another one of the most popular Christmas tunes - the theme from Gloria- together to create a very energized version of this traditional piece. Written for 6 voices, it promised to be one of the most exciting and playful version yet!
Unfortunately, there are no good recording on the internet from a choir on this piece that does this piece enough justice. The following link to a midi recording is probably one of the clearest. Listen to the various parts and hear them intertwine...
Departing from the commercial songs for Christmas, this 16C piece written in Latin using the traditional approach of a uniform series of four-line stanzas, each preceded by a two-line refrain. This song was considered a sacred piece due to the content of Virgin Mary and the Christmastide content.
This piece is a very addictive piece where the tune is so easily picked up and it stay round and round in your head for hours. The right way to sing this otherwise boring short piece is to inject energy and vigour into the refrain. Such a rendition would pick up not only the speed but the mood as well.
This version below is another rendition that uses a quiet, angelic approach with this British Children's Choir.
Latin
Refrain:
Gaudete! gaudete!
Christus est natus ex Maria virgine,
gaudete!
Tempus adest gratiae, hoe quod optabamus;
carmina laetitiae devote reddamus.
Deus homo factus est, natura mirante;
mundus renovatus est a Christo regnante.
Ezecaelis orta clausa per transistur;
unde lux est orta, salus invenitur.
Ergo nostra contio psallat iam in lustro;
Benedicat Domino; salus regi nostro.
Translation
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Christ is born of the Virgin Mary,
Rejoice!
At this time of grace and longed-for blessing,
Love faithfully offers a song of praise.
God is made human in this wonderful birth:
The world is cleansed through the rule of Christ.
The gate of heaven now opens which to us was closed,
Sending forth transforming light through which holiness is found.
Therefore we meet in pure songs of joy;
We bless the Lord, King of our Salvation.
