History Behind The Music

If your a History nut like me, then I think you'll like this.

We have owned this CD titled 'Hymns Ancient and Modern {Passion} and I never realized but, with each song in the cover book, it gives the History of the song, whom wrote it, etc. Most of them, we all know really well, but if I come across one that seems like it might not be that well known, I will link the lyrics. :) let me know if you guys find this of any interest?? :))
Its really interesting.

O Worship The King~ Original lyrics by Robert Grant, 1833 ( Reworking of earlier lyrics written by William Kethe, 1561)
Born in England, Robert Grant moved at age 6 to India where his father headed the East India Company. He returned to England to study at Cambridge and was knighted in 1834, about the time of the hymns writing. As Grant studied Psalm 104, he penned one of the greatest of all Christian Hymns. He returned to India as Governor of Bombay and died there in 1838.

Doxology~ Lyrics by Thomas Ken, 1674
The lyrics to the Doxology are the last verse of the hymn "Awake, My Soul, And With The Sun."
Thomas ken wrote three hymns for the devotional use of the boys at Winchester College, where he was chaplain. The hymns were among the first in England, written at a time when the established church believed only Scripture should be sung as hymns. Some considered it sinful and blasphemous to write new lyrics for church music, akin to adding to the Scritures. Ironically, the last stanza of each hymn is the same and has come into widespread use as the Doxology, perhaps the most frequantly used piece of music in public worship.

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee~ Lyrics by Henry Jackson van Dyke, 1907
Henry can Dyke composed this hymn in 1907, while speaking at Williams College in Massachusetts, inspired by the nearby Berkshire Mountains. When later asked about the hymn, he replied, "These verses are simple expressions of common Christian feelings and desires in this present time - hymns of today that may be sung together by people who know the thought of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy religion, or any revolution on earth overthrow the Kingdom of heaven."

Praise To The Lord, The Almighty~ Lyrics by Joachim Neander, 1680
This song was translated for German to English by Catherine Winkworth, 1863
Though the descendant of generations of preachers, Joachim was a rebellious young man who, at 20, joined a group of students who gathered to ridicule and scoff the worshipers at St. Martins Church in Bremen, Germany. But, the sermon that day arrested and convicted him, leading to his conversion, and he later became the assistant preacher at the very same church. Joachim penned this hymn at age 30- the year he died- while battling tuberculosis.

Father Let Me Dedicate(btw, I absolutely LOVE this song.) ~ Lyrics by Lawrence Tuttiett, 1864
Tuttiett wrote this hymn while vicar of lea Marston, Warwickshire, England. He wrote many poems, devotional and theological books, but is better known for his hymns, the most well known being this one. John Julian in his work, Dictionary of Hymnology, states "Mr. Tuttiett's hymns are characterized by smoothness of rhythm, direction of aim, simplicity of language, and deep earnestness. Those for special services and seasons are of great merit."

How Great Thou Art~ Original lyrics by Carl Boberg, 1886
English translation and 4th verse by Stuart K. Hine, 1953 Original music, Swedish Folk Melody, O store Gud.
In 1886, Swedish pastor, Carl Boberg, then 26, composed the nine original stanzas as a poem, O store Gud, or "O Mighty God" In time, the poem was translated into German and Russian and was noticed by a British missionary who was serving in Ukraine. That missionary, Reverend Stuart K. Hine, was visiting a home in the Carpathian Mountains near the Polish border when he found a Christian by the name of Dimitri and his wife. Almost by chance, a Bible had fallen into their hands, but no one in the village, save Dimitri's wife, had learned how to read, and she only with the greatest of effort. As she slowly spelled out the wonderful words of John 3:16 to the wondering villagers, tears began to flow, and one by one they dropped to their knees, crying aloud to God. Twelve of these villagers had been truly converted, and it was these believing disciples that Mr. Hine met when he called at the cottage in the mountains that day. He arrived just in time to hear them crying out in amazement again at the revelation of God's love at Calvary.
Under the inspiration of the blessed scene, he wrote, "And when I think that God, His son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in; that on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin....Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee, How great tho art! How great tho art!"

Raise Up The Crow(All Hail The Power Of Jesus Name)~ Original lyrics by Edward Perronet, 1779
(Last verse added by John Rippon in 1787)
This song was first published (verse one only) anonymously in 1779, and again in 1780 with eight verses under the title, "On the resurrection, the Lord is King". A dozen years later it was attributed to Perronet. Though Perronet traveled with the Wesley's for a season, he eventually parted ways to pastor a small church in Canterbury where he died in 1792. His last recorded words are : "Glory to God in the height of His divinity! Glory to God in the depth of His humanity! Glory to God in His all-sufficiency! Into His hands I commend my spirit".

All Creatures Of Our God And King~ Lyrics by Francis of Assisi, ca. 1225
Founder of the Franciscan Order, Assisi spurned the noble lifestyle his upbringing afforded him, choosing a simple and humble life of devotion to Christ. In Sep. 1225, Francis composes this hymn in a poetic masterpiece called "Canticle of the Sun." At the time, he was almost completely blind, worn frail by years of laborious toil. Thirteen months later Francis died. Desiring to show he had nothing in common with the world, he removed habit and lay on the bare ground, covered only with a borrowed cloth, rejoicing that he was able to keep the faith with "Lady Poverty" to the end.
Though written in 1225, an English version of "All Creatures" did not appear until 1919, when Rev. William H. Draper used it for a worship festival in Leeds, England. The text of Assisi's hymn echoes the heartbeat of Psalm 148

The Solid Rock~Lyrics by Edward Mote, 1832
At the time of this hymn's writing, Edward Mote was a carpenter by trade. But in 1852, at age 55, he became the pastor of the Baptist Church in Horsham, Sussex, where he ministered 21yrs.
He writes: "One morning it came to me to write an hymn on the Gracious Experience of a Christian. As I went up Holborn I had the chorus, 'On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sad.' In the day I had four first verses complete, and wrote them off. On the Sabbath following I met brother King as I came out of Lisle Street Meeting , who informed me that his wife was very ill, and asked me to call and see her. He said that it was his usual custom to sing a hymn, read a portion, and engage in prayer, before he went to meeting. He looked for his hymnbook but could find it nowhere. I said, I have some verses in my pocket; if he liked, we would sing them. We did, and his wife enjoyed them so much, that after service he asked me, as a favor, to leave a copy of them for his wife. I went home, and by the firside composed the last two verses, wrote the whole off, and took them to sister King. As these verses so met the dying woman's case, my attention to them was the more arrested and I had a thousand printed for distribution." Edward Mote. Letter to the Gospel Herald

Phos Hilaron~Corporate Confession~ Anonymous 4th century~ Translated John Kebel, 1834
As early as the 4th century, the Phos Hilaron (Hail Gladdening Light) was already considered ancient, being a mainstay of evening prayers in a tradition known as the lighting of the lamps. At that time in Jerusalem, a candle was kept perpetually burning in the empty tomb of Christ, its glow a symbol of the living light of Jesus. As Christians gathered to worship, the candle was brought forth from the tomb, it's bright, solitary flame calling the church to celebrate the Rised Lord. Phos Hilaron literally means "hilarious light", especially meaningful given that this hymn was probably sung in the catacomba by the earliest Church.
http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/p/passion6936/phoshilaronhailgladdeninglight950027.html

Fairest Lord Jesus~Lyrics anonymous, attributed to German Jesuits in the 17th Cen.
This hymn first appeared in a Jesuit Hymnbook titled, "Munster Gesangbuch" in 1677, but the text was in existence at least fifteen years earlier. Though found in a manuscript dating back to 1662, the origin of the words remains a mystery.

Take My Life~Lyrics by Frances R. Havergal, 1874
Frances Havergal, at age 36, received a book called, "All for Jesus", which stresses the importance of making Christ Lord over every dimension of one's life. ON Advent Sunday, Dec. 2, 1873, she saw the blessedness of consecration and made a full surrender of her all to Christ. Not long after she was visiting ten people in a house, of which she writes: "I went for a little visit of five days(to Areley House.) There were ten persons in the house, some unconverted and long prayed for, some converted, but not rejoicing Christians. He gave me the prayer, 'Lord, give me all in this house!' And He did just that. Before I left the house every one had got a blessing. The last night of my visit after I had retired, the governess asked me to go to the two daughters. They were crying; then and there both of them trusted and rejoiced; it was nearly midnight. I was too happy to sleep, and passed most of the night in praise and renewal of my own consecration; and these little couplets formed themselves, and chimed in my heart one after another till they finished wit h'Ever, Only ALL for Thee!'" Havergal Manuscripts.

Well, thats it! I hope you all found some interest in it? lol

God Bless,
Mandie