Music for At-Home Worship: Sunday, June 7

May God use the Scripture, music, and stories shared here to bless you this weekend as you worship at home, and may He bring comfort, healing, and peace to all during this challenging time.

PRELUDE
Deep River

"River Jordan" by amanderson2 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Traditional African-American spiritual, arranged for solo piano by Brad Nix

Deuteronomy 3:25 

Let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan—that fine hill country and Lebanon. 

Joshua 3:14-17  

So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

The spiritual "Deep River" was written by African-American slaves, and has a rich history, explained in detail in this article, which also explores the different meaning of the words "river" and "campground" here and their significance to African-Americans during the slavery era.  This song was included on concert tours of  the Fisk Jubilee Singers (more on this important group later in this post) from their earliest performances in the 1870s onward.

Composer, arranger and singer Harry Thacker Burleigh (1866-1949) was an important figure in American music history. He sang spirituals for and developed a friendship with Czech composer Antonín Dvořák when Burleigh was a student at the National Conservatory of Music in New York City (he later served on the faculty there). Burleigh's 1917 arrangement of "Deep River" for voice and piano became so popular that it is considered to have paved the way for the inclusion of African-American spirituals on vocal concerts and recitals (both sacred and secular).

Here is a full biography of Harry Burleigh from the Library of Congress website.

Here is a recording of pioneering contralto Marion Anderson (1897-1993), the first African-American singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York,  singing Harry Burleigh's arrangement of "Deep River"

Deep river, my home is over Jordan.
Deep river, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground.

Oh, don't you want to go to that gospel feast,
that promised land where all is peace?

Oh, deep river, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground.

HYMNS FOR YOU TO SING AT HOME

Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Words by Thomas A. Dorsey, "Matiland" hymn tune, adapted by Thomas A. Dorsey

Isaiah 41:13 

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, "Do not fear; I will help you."

Thomas A. Dorsey (1899-1993) is considered to be "the father of gospel music" and was a groundbreaking composer, singer, church music director, and music publisher.  He wrote over 400 songs, established the first black gospel music publishing company (The Dorsey House of Music) and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Blues Hall of Fame: he was also the first African-American inducted into both Nashville Songwriters' Hall of Fame as well as the Gospel Music Association's Living Hall of Fame.

Here's a short (less than two minutes in length) video biography of Thomas A. Dorsey. 

The story behind Dorsey's most famous song. "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" (sometimes published as "Precious Lord, Take My Hand") is one of heartbreak and tragedy but also of faith and hope. You can read the story of Dorsey's composition of this powerful song here.

You can also hear Dorsey describing how he wrote "Precious Lord" as an introduction to this recording of the song with Marion Williams.

Dorsey worked closely with gospel singer Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972) in Chicago beginning in 1939, and her rendition of "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" is considered to be the definitive interpretation. Jackson is often referred to as "the queen of gospel music" because of her compelling talent and enormous contributions in this field. 

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I'm tired, I'm weak, I'm worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near
When my light is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When the darkness appears and the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand
Guide my feet, hold my hand
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

Stand by Me

Public domain

Words and Music by Charles Albert Tindley

Mark 4:35-41 

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Rev. Charles Albert Tindley (1851-1933) has been called "the father of African-American hymnody" and has also been referred to as "a prince of preachers."  A musician as well as an ordained minister in Philadelphia, he preached through both word and song, creating over 60 gospel classics included in many hymnals today.  Thomas A Dorsey (composer of "Precious Lord")  often referred to Tindley as an enormous influence on his work and the founder of the African-American gospel style.

Along with "Stand By Me" (composed in 1905), Tindley also wrote "We'll Understand it Better By and By," "(Take Your Burden to the Lord and) Leave It There" and "I'll Overcome Someday" (considered to be the basis for the Civil Rights anthem, "We Will Overcome").

Here's the history behind "Stand By Me" and here's a link to a special audio presentation exploring Tindley's life, ministry, and music presented by National Public Radio and the Smithsonian Institute.

Here is a short video highlighting Tindley's life and contributions.



And here is "Stand By Me" as recorded by the Staples Singers in 1955.

When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When the world is tossing me
Like a ship upon the sea,
Thou Who rulest wind and water,
Stand by me (stand by me).

In the midst of tribulation,
Stand by me (stand by me);
In the midst of tribulation,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When the hosts of hell assail,
And my strength begins to fail,
Thou Who never lost a battle,
Stand by me (stand by me).

In the midst of faults and failures,
Stand by me (stand by me);
In the midst of faults and failures,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When I do the best I can,
And my friends misunderstand,
Thou Who knowest all about me,
Stand by me (stand by me).

In the midst of persecution,
Stand by me (stand by me);
In the midst of persecution,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When my foes in battle array
Undertake to stop my way,
Thou Who savèd Paul and Silas,
Stand by me (stand by me).

When I’m growing old and feeble,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When I’m growing old and feeble,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When my life becomes a burden,
And I’m nearing chilly Jordan,
O Thou “Lily of the Valley,”
Stand by me (stand by me).

Lord, I Want to Be a Christian In My Heart

Public domain. Courtesy of Hymnary.org

Traditional African-American Spiritual

John 13:34 

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. 

Luke 17:5 

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

"Lord, I Want to be a Christian" was first published in 1907, and was part of a large repertoire of spirituals regularly performed by the Fisk Jubilee Singers, who brought these powerful songs by African-American slaves to wider audiences through their concert tours. You can read the story of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, founded in 1871 and still in existence today, on the Fisk University website.  Here's more information on the history behind  "Lord, I Want to Be a Christian" 

Here's a recording of this spiritual by contemporary gospel artist Yolanda Adams.

Lord, I want to be a Christian
in my heart, in my heart.
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart.

Lord, I want to be more loving
in my heart, in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart.

Lord, I want to be more holy
in my heart, in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart.

Lord, I want to be like Jesus
in my heart, in my heart.
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart.

POSTLUDE

My Tribute (To God Be The Glory)
Words and music by Andraé Crouch, arranged for solo piano by Marilyn Thompson.

John 17:1-5 

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 

Psalm 29:1-2 

Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
     ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
     worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

Singer and composer Andraé Crouch (1942-2015) was one of the most significant  figures in gospel music and contemporary Christian music in the late 20th and early 21st century.  Crouch learned to play the piano at a young age and composed his first gospel song at age 14. In 1965 he formed the singing group "Andraé Crouch and the Disciples," and their recordings garnered multiple Grammy nominations and awards. Crouch later embarked on a solo career, and his music influenced countless performers and songwriters across multiple genres. He was inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame in 1998.

Crouch recounted the story of how he came to write "My Tribute" here, and here's a video of him performing his song in front of a live audience.

How can I say thanks
For the things You have done for me?
Things so undeserved,
Yet You gave to prove Your love for me;
The voices of a million angels
Could not express my gratitude.
All that I am and ever hope to be,
I owe it all to Thee.

To God be the glory,
To God be the glory,
To God be the glory
For the things He has done.
With His blood He has saved me,
With His power He has raised me;
To God be the glory
For the things He has done.
Just let me live my life,
Let it pleasing, Lord to Thee,
And if I gain any praise,
Let it go to Calvary.

With His blood He has saved me,
With His power He has raised me;
To God be the glory
For the things He has done.