On Sunday I was thinking of having a go at writing a new tune for 'Jesus, Master, whose I am', because it's just about my favourite hymn, and at our church they keep on singing it to Dix, which for me, anyway, seems to take most of the feeling out of it. And I think that we should sing with our hearts as well as our minds.
Don't think you should revamp this one, but for a short period of time "There is a Fountain" was on our church playlist. Most of us couldn't quite get past the first line "There is a fountain filled with blood...." without having a snigger. We were being a little ungodly I know, but the other pianist at our church called it the "blood and artery hymn" while I thought it sounded like the title of a bad horror film. It didn't catch on...
"Low in the grave he lay" is one I always think is a bit boofy in the march around the living room way that Gordon describes. Not sure where you would start to revise that one though...
I disagree with you on "O Jesus I have promised", Karen. When sung with the tune Wolvercote, it is the most beautiful, tuneful hymn that uses a large register (unlike lots of new songs and tunes that swing endlessly around 5 or 6 notes of a scale, except for a few extra notes in the chorus or bridge). It incorporates major and minor keys, and suits its words perfectly. I love that hymn. Spruce it up, add drums, change the time sig if you want to, but don't mess with the tune. I DO agree with you about "there is a fountain filled with blood" though. Can't get past the visual image!
Amazing Grace - most places play it like a dirge or a bad USA crooner. Best rendition I know is to the tune of "House of the Rising Sun" that the church I grew up in did once.
I've sung "O Jesus I have Promised" to 2 different tunes, neither of which were Wolvercote.
There is a modern tune which fits quite nicely with "There is a Fountain." It's a lovely tune but the words of the original song are a bit strange:"all Heaven waits with bated breath." I think Graham Kendrick might have written it. Anyway, if you couple the verses for "There is a Fountain" together this tune works well. Try it.
I haven't heard O Jesus I Have Promised sung to Wolvercote either. YouTube tells me that the tune I know (sung in the Uniting Church during the 80s) is called Hatherop Castle (elsewhere on YouTube I saw it called "the modern version"). Wolvercote sounded heaps better. I actually could cope with the tune of "There Is A Fountain"...just couldn't help myself giggling at the words....
*Gordon - you don't have to sing spruced up versions.*
I don't know if that's so, Simone. These days they seem to use people at Christian conferences as crash test dummies for new songs, and if you stand there not singing you get written off as glum or grumpy. Which may be true, but I prefer to keep glumness and grumpiness under wraps at such events.
But OK, how about Lord thy word abideth.
Here is the standard version with words, as brought to you by Oremus:
http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/l/l464.html
Here's a youtube version demonstrating why a new song wouldn't hurt.
I was thinking about this and chatting with my boys about how much I love the words for the hymn based on Psalm 46 - God is our strength and refuge' - and how very very very much I hate the hymn tune, and generally find it hard to sing along. (and yes I know it's used in some great war movie - but that doesn't make me want to sing it at funerals you know!)
Rejoice the Lord is King. :) And I wouldn't mind a mild bit of lyric sprucing up as well...
ReplyDeleteI'd actually prefer you didn't spruce up ANY of the ones I know, thanks. And I know lots. No offence to you though.
ReplyDeleteOK you can do anything that boofs about like 'Soldiers of Christ arise'. Don't like any of those march around the living room ones.
Gordon - you don't have to sing spruced up versions. Which sets of words would you like others to be singing?
ReplyDeleteOur church had Obscure Tunes to Hymns Sunday last week. It's a little known day on the church calendar, just before Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday.
ReplyDeleteOn Sunday I was thinking of having a go at writing a new tune for 'Jesus, Master, whose I am', because it's just about my favourite hymn, and at our church they keep on singing it to Dix, which for me, anyway, seems to take most of the feeling out of it. And I think that we should sing with our hearts as well as our minds.
ReplyDeleteI'd like some psalms set to some nice tunes.
ReplyDeleteSearch me O God (and know my heart today.) The hymn could be revived with a few new words too.
ReplyDeleteDon't think you should revamp this one, but for a short period of time "There is a Fountain" was on our church playlist. Most of us couldn't quite get past the first line "There is a fountain filled with blood...." without having a snigger. We were being a little ungodly I know, but the other pianist at our church called it the "blood and artery hymn" while I thought it sounded like the title of a bad horror film. It didn't catch on...
ReplyDelete"Low in the grave he lay" is one I always think is a bit boofy in the march around the living room way that Gordon describes. Not sure where you would start to revise that one though...
My Hope is built
ReplyDeleteOh Jesus I have Promised
Praise my soul
Rock of Ages
Second the vote for Oh Jesus I have Promised...
ReplyDeleteI disagree with you on "O Jesus I have promised", Karen. When sung with the tune Wolvercote, it is the most beautiful, tuneful hymn that uses a large register (unlike lots of new songs and tunes that swing endlessly around 5 or 6 notes of a scale, except for a few extra notes in the chorus or bridge). It incorporates major and minor keys, and suits its words perfectly. I love that hymn. Spruce it up, add drums, change the time sig if you want to, but don't mess with the tune.
ReplyDeleteI DO agree with you about "there is a fountain filled with blood" though. Can't get past the visual image!
Amazing Grace - most places play it like a dirge or a bad USA crooner. Best rendition I know is to the tune of "House of the Rising Sun" that the church I grew up in did once.
ReplyDeleteI've sung "O Jesus I have Promised" to 2 different tunes, neither of which were Wolvercote.
ReplyDeleteThere is a modern tune which fits quite nicely with "There is a Fountain." It's a lovely tune but the words of the original song are a bit strange:"all Heaven waits with bated breath." I think Graham Kendrick might have written it. Anyway, if you couple the verses for "There is a Fountain" together this tune works well. Try it.
I haven't heard O Jesus I Have Promised sung to Wolvercote either. YouTube tells me that the tune I know (sung in the Uniting Church during the 80s) is called Hatherop Castle (elsewhere on YouTube I saw it called "the modern version"). Wolvercote sounded heaps better.
ReplyDeleteI actually could cope with the tune of "There Is A Fountain"...just couldn't help myself giggling at the words....
*Gordon - you don't have to sing spruced up versions.*
ReplyDeleteI don't know if that's so, Simone. These days they seem to use people at Christian conferences as crash test dummies for new songs, and if you stand there not singing you get written off as glum or grumpy. Which may be true, but I prefer to keep glumness and grumpiness under wraps at such events.
But OK, how about Lord thy word abideth.
Here is the standard version with words, as brought to you by Oremus:
http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/l/l464.html
Here's a youtube version demonstrating why a new song wouldn't hurt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMpVND1M-u8
I have a terrible memory for songs. I can't even remember the names of some of my favourites. I am sure a few could do few a new tune.
ReplyDeleteThat tune for Never Alone is wearing a bit thin ;)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about this and chatting with my boys about how much I love the words for the hymn based on Psalm 46 - God is our strength and refuge' - and how very very very much I hate the hymn tune, and generally find it hard to sing along. (and yes I know it's used in some great war movie - but that doesn't make me want to sing it at funerals you know!)
ReplyDeleteRock of Ages... ooh! ooh! It works BRILLIANTLY to Nothing Else Matters by Metallica...
ReplyDelete