Welcome!
(If you've been here before, skip right on down to the music for this weekend! If you're new, here's a little introduction!)
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Here you will find music for at-home musical worship. You can listen to a piano prelude that will help you to enter into a spirit of worship. And then . . . it's time to sing!
Simple piano accompaniments for each hymn are posted that will help you to sing with joy. Each hymn has been transposed downward: no need to fear the high notes!
To listen to the music (and sing along!): click on the "play" arrow in the SoundCloud window found below the printed music, and above the lyrics.
You'll also find Bible verses that thematically relate to (or directly inspired) the lyrics as well as historical background about each hymn. Some songs may be new to you, so the printed music might be helpful: you'll also find links to recordings of the hymns with singing so that you can get a feel for the melody. At the end of each week's post, you'll hear a piano postlude intended to send you forth with a refreshed and renewed spirit!
The lyrics and Scripture are beautiful to meditate upon all on their own. Most historical hymns were written first as poems, and it can be meaningful to read or speak the lyrics. I've also provided the lyrics for the hymn-based prelude and postlude selections so that you can read them while you listen to the solo piano arrangements.
PRELUDE
(to help you prepare to worship)
Creator of the Stars at Night
Piano solo by Ryan H. Jones. Based on "Conditor Alme Siderum" tune (Sarum Plainsong)
Psalm 136:3-9
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Psalm 147:4
He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
he gives to all of them their names.
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English translation by John Mason Neale (1818-1866) of 7th century Latin hymn "Conditor Alme Siderum"
Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people’s everlasting light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear Thy servants when they call.
Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe,
Hast found the medicine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruined race.
Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the bride,
As drew the world to evening-tide;
Proceeding from a virgin shrine,
The spotless victim all divine.
At whose dread name, majestic now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
And things celestial Thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.
O Thou whose coming is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead,
Preserve us, while we dwell below,
From every insult of the foe.
To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Laud, honor, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally.
HYMNS FOR YOU TO SING AT HOME
(join in with gusto!)
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Words by Frances "Fanny" Crosby, Music by Chester G. Allen
Psalm 34:1-3
I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
Psalm 146:2
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
If this hymn is new to you, here's a wonderful recording from Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. You may also enjoy this rousing version by the Scottish Festival Singers.
Praise him! praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O earth his wonderful love proclaim!
Hail him! hail him! highest archangels in glory,
Strength and honor give to his holy name!
Like a shepherd Jesus will guard his children --
In his arms he carries them all day long:
Refrain:
Praise him! praise him! tell of his excellent greatness!
Praise him! praise him! ever in joyful song!
Praise him! praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins he suffered and bled and died;
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail him! hail him! Jesus the Crucified.
Sound his praises -- Jesus who bore our sorrows --
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong: [Refrain]
Praise him! praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heav'nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth for ever and ever,
Crown him! crown him! Prophet and Priest and King!
Christ is coming, over the world victorious --
Pow'r and glory unto the Lord belong: [Refrain]
Words by Elvina M. Hall. Music by John T. Grape
I hear the Savior say,
"Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all."
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow'r and Thine alone,
Can change the leper's (leopard's) spots
And melt the heart of stone. [Refrain]
For nothing good have I
Where-by Thy grace to claim;
I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv'ry's Lamb. [Refrain]
And when, before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
"Jesus died my soul to save,"
My lips shall still repeat. [Refrain]
POSTLUDE
Joyful Hymn of Praise
Piano solo by Faye López
Revelation 5:13
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
Psalm 63:3-8
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
Thy people’s everlasting light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear Thy servants when they call.
Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe,
Hast found the medicine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruined race.
Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the bride,
As drew the world to evening-tide;
Proceeding from a virgin shrine,
The spotless victim all divine.
At whose dread name, majestic now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
And things celestial Thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.
O Thou whose coming is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead,
Preserve us, while we dwell below,
From every insult of the foe.
To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Laud, honor, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally.
HYMNS FOR YOU TO SING AT HOME
(join in with gusto!)
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Words by Frances "Fanny" Crosby, Music by Chester G. Allen
Psalm 34:1-3
I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
Psalm 146:2
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Hebrews 13:15
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
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"Praise Him! Praise Him!" is another of the nearly 9,000 hymns written by prolific American poet Frances "Fanny" Crosby (1820-1915) whose hymns were published under some 200 pseudonyms as publishers wanted their hymn collections to appear to contain works by a variety of writers. You can read more about Fanny Crosby's compelling life story here. "Praise Him! Praise Him!" (originally titled "Praise! Give Thanks") first appeared in an 1869 Sunday School hymn collection titled Bright Jewels. 1869 was also the year in which Fanny wrote her famous missionary hymn, "Rescue the Perishing." The tune for "Praise Him!" was written by Chester G. Allen (1838-1878) who taught music in Cleveland, Ohio public schools and also edited and compiled music for churches and schools.
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"Praise Him! Praise Him!" is another of the nearly 9,000 hymns written by prolific American poet Frances "Fanny" Crosby (1820-1915) whose hymns were published under some 200 pseudonyms as publishers wanted their hymn collections to appear to contain works by a variety of writers. You can read more about Fanny Crosby's compelling life story here. "Praise Him! Praise Him!" (originally titled "Praise! Give Thanks") first appeared in an 1869 Sunday School hymn collection titled Bright Jewels. 1869 was also the year in which Fanny wrote her famous missionary hymn, "Rescue the Perishing." The tune for "Praise Him!" was written by Chester G. Allen (1838-1878) who taught music in Cleveland, Ohio public schools and also edited and compiled music for churches and schools.
If this hymn is new to you, here's a wonderful recording from Ernie Haase and Signature Sound. You may also enjoy this rousing version by the Scottish Festival Singers.
Praise him! praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O earth his wonderful love proclaim!
Hail him! hail him! highest archangels in glory,
Strength and honor give to his holy name!
Like a shepherd Jesus will guard his children --
In his arms he carries them all day long:
Refrain:
Praise him! praise him! tell of his excellent greatness!
Praise him! praise him! ever in joyful song!
Praise him! praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins he suffered and bled and died;
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail him! hail him! Jesus the Crucified.
Sound his praises -- Jesus who bore our sorrows --
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong: [Refrain]
Praise him! praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heav'nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth for ever and ever,
Crown him! crown him! Prophet and Priest and King!
Christ is coming, over the world victorious --
Pow'r and glory unto the Lord belong: [Refrain]
O Word of God Incarnate
Words by William W. How, Music from the Meiningen Gesangbuch, (1693), harmonized by Felix Mendelssohn
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
Psalm 199:160
The sum of your word is truth,
and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
Words by William W. How, Music from the Meiningen Gesangbuch, (1693), harmonized by Felix Mendelssohn
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
Psalm 199:160
The sum of your word is truth,
and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
but the word of our God will stand forever.
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
2 Timothy 3:15-17
and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
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Known variously as "the poor man's bishop," and "the children's bishop," Anglican William Walsham How (1823-1897) preferred to minister in poor areas, particularly in East London, where he lived and worked among his congregants, using public transportation (unusual for a bishop during this time period). Some of How's sermons were published, and he also wrote 60 hymns, including "For All The Saints" and "We Give Thee But Thine Own." William How was good friends with Sir Arthur Sullivan (of Gilbert and Sullivan operetta fame) and was joint editor with Sullivan of an Anglican hymnal.
How described his view of hymn writing in an 1896 article in Werner's Magazine:
How's hymn "O Word of God Incarnate" conveys earnest reverence for God's holy Word and concludes with a prayer that the church would "bear before the nations (Thy) true light, as of old." The melody "Munich," which first appeared in a 17th century German hymnal, was adapted by famed Romantic-era composer Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847) and was as the basis for his quartet "Cast Thy Burden Upon The Lord" in his magnificent oratorio Elijah.
If this hymn is new to you, here is a vintage recording from the Trinity Choir of St. Paul's Chapel featuring choir and organ, and a more recent recording by the Altar of Praise Chorale.
You might also enjoy this lively discussion of "O Word of God Incarnate" with Dr. Ligon Duncan, Dr. Derek Thomas, and Dr. Bill Wymond.
O Word of God incarnate,
O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth unchanged, unchanging,
O Light of our dark sky,
we praise thee for the radiance
that from the hallowed page,
a lantern to our footsteps,
shines on from age to age.
The church from her dear Master
received the gift divine,
and still that light she lifteth
o'er all the earth to shine.
It is the golden casket,
where gems of truth are stored;
it is the heav'n drawn picture
Of Christ, the living Word.
It floateth like a banner
before God's host unfurled;
it shineth like a beacon
above the darkling world.
It is the chart and compass
that o'er life's surging sea,
'mid mists and rocks and quicksands,
still guides, O Christ, to thee.
O make thy church, dear Savior,
a lamp of purest gold,
to bear before the nations
thy true light, as of old.
O teach thy wand'ring pilgrims
by this their path to trace,
'til, clouds and darkness ended,
they see thee face to face.
_______________________________
Known variously as "the poor man's bishop," and "the children's bishop," Anglican William Walsham How (1823-1897) preferred to minister in poor areas, particularly in East London, where he lived and worked among his congregants, using public transportation (unusual for a bishop during this time period). Some of How's sermons were published, and he also wrote 60 hymns, including "For All The Saints" and "We Give Thee But Thine Own." William How was good friends with Sir Arthur Sullivan (of Gilbert and Sullivan operetta fame) and was joint editor with Sullivan of an Anglican hymnal.
How described his view of hymn writing in an 1896 article in Werner's Magazine:
A hymn is essentially a form of devotion. It is a channel through which the soul’s best and highest emotions and aspirations should flow. A good hymn is something like a good prayer—simple, real, earnest, and reverent.
If this hymn is new to you, here is a vintage recording from the Trinity Choir of St. Paul's Chapel featuring choir and organ, and a more recent recording by the Altar of Praise Chorale.
You might also enjoy this lively discussion of "O Word of God Incarnate" with Dr. Ligon Duncan, Dr. Derek Thomas, and Dr. Bill Wymond.
 |
| Public Domain. Courtesy of PDHymns.com |
O Word of God incarnate,
O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth unchanged, unchanging,
O Light of our dark sky,
we praise thee for the radiance
that from the hallowed page,
a lantern to our footsteps,
shines on from age to age.
The church from her dear Master
received the gift divine,
and still that light she lifteth
o'er all the earth to shine.
It is the golden casket,
where gems of truth are stored;
it is the heav'n drawn picture
Of Christ, the living Word.
It floateth like a banner
before God's host unfurled;
it shineth like a beacon
above the darkling world.
It is the chart and compass
that o'er life's surging sea,
'mid mists and rocks and quicksands,
still guides, O Christ, to thee.
O make thy church, dear Savior,
a lamp of purest gold,
to bear before the nations
thy true light, as of old.
O teach thy wand'ring pilgrims
by this their path to trace,
'til, clouds and darkness ended,
they see thee face to face.
Jesus Paid It All
Words by Elvina M. Hall. Music by John T. Grape
Ezekiel 11:19
And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh
Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
Ephesians 1:7
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
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If your mind has ever wandered during a long church service, you have something in common with Elvina M. Hall (1820-1889), composer of "Jesus Paid it All." On a hot day in August 1865, Hall was sitting in the choir loft of the Monument Methodist Episcopal Church. Her mind turned to thoughts of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for our sins, and she began jotting a poem in a blank page in her hymnal. Later, she gave the poem to the church's minister, Rev. George Schreck. Coincidentally, during the same week the church's organist, John T. Grape (1835-1915), shared with Schreck that he had written a tune titled "All to Christ I Owe." Schreck saw that Hall's poem and Grape's tune were a perfect match, and they worked together to complete the hymn, which was first published in Sabbath Carols (1868), edited by Theodore Perkins.
If this hymn is new to you here is a lovely recording by Fernando Ortega. And here's a recording by the Angelic Gospel Singers, an American gospel group founded in Philadelphia in 1944 by Margaret Wells Allison.
Note: "Jesus Paid It All" contains one of the best-known publishing errors in all of hymnody. In the second verse, the phrase "change the leper's spots" should be "change the leopard's spots," in reference to Jeremiah 13:23.
Revelation 7:14
I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.______________________________________________________
If your mind has ever wandered during a long church service, you have something in common with Elvina M. Hall (1820-1889), composer of "Jesus Paid it All." On a hot day in August 1865, Hall was sitting in the choir loft of the Monument Methodist Episcopal Church. Her mind turned to thoughts of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for our sins, and she began jotting a poem in a blank page in her hymnal. Later, she gave the poem to the church's minister, Rev. George Schreck. Coincidentally, during the same week the church's organist, John T. Grape (1835-1915), shared with Schreck that he had written a tune titled "All to Christ I Owe." Schreck saw that Hall's poem and Grape's tune were a perfect match, and they worked together to complete the hymn, which was first published in Sabbath Carols (1868), edited by Theodore Perkins.
If this hymn is new to you here is a lovely recording by Fernando Ortega. And here's a recording by the Angelic Gospel Singers, an American gospel group founded in Philadelphia in 1944 by Margaret Wells Allison.
Note: "Jesus Paid It All" contains one of the best-known publishing errors in all of hymnody. In the second verse, the phrase "change the leper's spots" should be "change the leopard's spots," in reference to Jeremiah 13:23.
I hear the Savior say,
"Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all."
Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.
Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow'r and Thine alone,
Can change the leper's (leopard's) spots
And melt the heart of stone. [Refrain]
For nothing good have I
Where-by Thy grace to claim;
I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv'ry's Lamb. [Refrain]
And when, before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
"Jesus died my soul to save,"
My lips shall still repeat. [Refrain]
POSTLUDE
Joyful Hymn of Praise
Piano solo by Faye López
Revelation 5:13
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
Psalm 63:3-8
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
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