Several of the hymns in the 2008 Hymnal Supplement have familiar tunes. For instance, Amazing Grace (hymn 431), arranged by Robert Rockabrand, with words adapted from John Newton.
A little research leads me to believe that John Newton is an English poet from the eighteenth century (think Beethoven, James Cook, Napoleon, American War of Independence). The web site here https://www.poemhunter.com/john-newton/poems/page-2/?a=a&l=3&y= led me to another where I found that John Newton's poem Amazing Grace has a further two verses. Unfortunately, they are not very uplifting; hence their omission from our hymnal.
A second poem by John Newton appears later in the supplement, no. 440 "Glorious things of thee are spoken". Of course, many will recognize the stirring Austrian national anthem as the alternate tune (hymn 71) for this lovely hymn.
The name of the tune for hymn 431 is New Britain, which is appropriate for a traditional American melody in the emerging colony I think, and this tune has been arranged by Robert Rockabrand for our hymnal supplement (2008). Robert Rockabrand who holds a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from Stanford University, is Professor Emeritus at Principia College (now retired) in the USA.
There are two hymns composed by Rockabrand:
Hodgson - 433 - "Blest Christmas morn..." (words by Mary Baker Eddy) and the very pretty
How to Sow - 456 - "Shepherd, show me..." (words by Mary Baker Eddy).
Oh, and here's some more which he adapted - the gloriously joyful
Brother James' Air - 435 - "Brood o'er us" (words by Mary Baker Eddy), and
Endless Song - 449 - "My life flows on" (words by Robert Lowry).
You're sure to find others ... like the swinging
Sanchez - 462 - "When my heart is lost" (words by Susan Mack).
But back to familiar tunes. Have you sung "O Waly, Waly" - 443 - "Home is the consciousness of good" (words by Rosemary Cobham"? This is a wonderful lilting Scottish folk song, arranged by Robert Rockabrand. The lovely words come from Cobham's poem "Home" published in the Christian Science Sentinel October 15, 1938.
http://sentinel.christianscience.com/issues/1938/10/41-7/home
An interesting feature of the hymnal is the metronome markings. Hymn 431 has crotchet = 84-88. I have discovered that it's possible to "google" this (type 'metronome marking 88" for instance) and up comes the correct tempo! That's a great help, though of course this isn't a rigid requirement and may vary depending on the congregation and the space where the singing is happening.
Julie Swannell
No comments:
Post a Comment