LDS Hymn #204

Hymn #204 - Silent Night

(Isn't this arrangement wonderful?!)

A well-beloved hymn. I grew up knowing its origin story because John Denver tells in on the John Denver and the Muppets Christmas album. Written on a guitar, the tune is very simple--a few chords that get repeated. I think its simplicity is what adds to its charm, lovability, and universal adoration. The lyrics are wonderful. Verse 1 is about the mother and the Baby. Verse 2 grows the circle a bit more and its the shepherds and angels. Verse 3 hones in on the Baby while broadening the story at the same time, for it is about what that Baby will do for all mankind--redeem each of us.

From the history book
It tells the origin story that the organ broke on Christmas Eve. The priest Joseph Mohr had written words, so he took the words to organist Franz Gruber to write an accompaniment with his guitar. They performed it that evening. It was 1818. It spread all over the world. Truly an inspiration from God to these two men to so quickly create a piece that could resonate in the hearts of so many. Apprently there were 7 verses, but we only sing 1, 6, and 2. I am all right that they changed the order so 2 is the last one we sing.

Lyrics

1. 1. Silent night! Holy night!
   All is calm, all is bright
   Round yon virgin mother and Child.
   Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
   Sleep in heavenly peace;
   Sleep in heavenly peace.
2. 2. Silent night! Holy night!
   Shepherds quake at the sight!
   Glories stream from heaven afar;
   Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia!
   Christ, the Savior, is born!
   Christ, the Savior, is born!
3. 3. Silent night! Holy night!
   Son of God, love's pure light
   Radiant beams from thy holy face,
   With the dawn of redeeming grace,
   Jesus, Lord, at thy birth;
   Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
4. Text: Joseph Mohr, 1792-1848; trans. by John F. Young, 1820-1885
   Music: Franz Gruber, 1787-1863

LDS Hymn #203

Hymn #203 - Angels We Have Heard on High

I love "Gloria" songs. Anything with a great refrain--and this is great because of the altering movement in the soprano and alto parts. (And the Mack Wilberg arrangement adds even more!!!!) I like the questioning in verse 2--wondering why is there such joy and gladness in what they have to say. And then verse 3 being an answer--inviting all to come and see the Christ. It of course refer to the baby, but I have always liked the symbolism of the shepherds to us, sharing the great news with all the world.

From the history book
This hymn was first added into LDS hymnals in this current one. The hymn first appeared in print in 1862, but it could be much older. And no one knows its composer or author or even the translator! I have heard other verses to this hymn, and some to different versions (Angels from the Realms of Glory), so I liked learning that there is a fourth verse, which we don't have in our hymnal Not sure why, but so it is.

See him in a manger laid, Whom the choirs of angels praise; Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, While our hearts in love we raise.

Lyrics

1. 1. Angels we have heard on high
   Sweetly singing o'er the plains,
   And the mountains in reply
   Echoing their joyous strains.
2. (Chorus)
   Gloria in excelsis Deo.
   Gloria in excelsis Deo.
3. 2. Shepherds, why this jubilee?
   Why your joyous strains prolong?
   What the gladsome tidings be
   Which inspire your heav'nly song?
4. 3. Come to Bethlehem and see
   Him whose birth the angels sing;
   Come, adore on bended knee
   Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
5. Text: French carol, ca. 1862
   Music: French carol

LDS Hymn #202

Hymn #202 - Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful

I like basically every Christmas hymn--they are all beautiful and wonderful and full of praise, rejoicing, and reverence. So please excuse my ever effusing over them! This was a hymn I liked all growing up, but it became especially wonderful when we sang it in 8th/9th grade choir. And...I got to be in the descant. I loved those descants in choir! And the one for this song was lovely. I find myself holding back every time I sing this song, wanting to soar up on a couple of notes to show even more my "sing[ing] in exultation," my little attempt to convey how I want to give Him all the glory I can.

From the history book
Oh I like the words it begins with in description--regal and dignified. Very true. Interesting here: "decades of research by Christian scholars have failed to resolve the question of its origins." There were 7 manuscripts that included the hymn, all by the same copyist John Wade. He could have been the author as well, but he never claimed authorship. Originally written in Latin, the hymn name Adeste Fideles was its first line which meant "Be present [draw near], ye faithful." The original translation from the Latin was "Ye faithful, approach ye," which was changed to what we now know.

Lyrics

1. 1. Oh, come, all ye faithful,
   Joyful and triumphant!
   Oh, come ye, oh come ye to Bethlehem.
   Come and behold him,
   Born the King of angels;
2. (Chorus)
   Oh, come, let us adore him;
   Oh, come, let us adore him;
   Oh, come, let us adore him,
   Christ, the Lord.
3. 2. Sing, choirs of angels,
   Sing in exultation;
   Sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above!
   Glory to God,
   Glory in the highest;
4. 3. Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
   Born this happy morning;
   Jesus, to thee be all glory giv'n.
   Son of the Father,
   Now in flesh appearing;
5. Text: Attr. to John F. Wade, ca. 1711-1786; trans. by Frederick Oakeley, 1802-1880
   Music: Attr. to John F. Wade

LDS Hymn #201

Hymn #201 - Joy to the World

Yeah, I skipped a few. It is the Christmas season--I should be writing about the Christmas hymns!! Isn't it wonderful that the first Christmas hymn in our Christmas section is "Joy to the World!" When we get to sing glorious praises about the birth of our Redeemer--not just us but everything in the world! Because its Creator has come. The greatest gift to all mankind. Singingly shouting in joy is the perfect response!!!

My favorite lines of this hymn:
-Let ev'ry heart prepare him room
-And Saints and angels sing
-He'll come and make the blessings flow

A note--the LDS hymnal changed two words that I know of. Others sing "Heav'n and nature sing" in the first verse, but William W. Phelps changed it to "Saints and angels."

From the history book
Other changes made for the LDS hymnal (the first one), was "the Lord will come" instead of "is" among others apparently so it would be more of a millennial hymn. But for 1985, the hymn was changed back to "is" to go more with the Christmas message. The composer said he arranged this hymn from Handel. The book points out a couple of parts. I suppose I don't know Handel that well to be able to distinguish those.

Lyrics

1. 1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come;
   Let earth receive her King!
   Let ev'ry heart prepare him room,
   And Saints and angels sing,
   And Saints and angels sing,
   And Saints, and Saints and angels sing.
2. 2. Rejoice! Rejoice when Jesus reigns,
   And Saints their songs employ,
   While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
   Repeat the sounding joy,
   Repeat the sounding joy,
   Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3. 3. No more will sin and sorrow grow,
   Nor thorns infest the ground;
   He'll come and make the blessings flow
   Far as the curse was found,
   Far as the curse was found,
   Far as, far as the curse was found.
4. 4. Rejoice! Rejoice in the Most High,
   While Israel spreads abroad
   Like stars that glitter in the sky,
   And ever worship God,
   And ever worship God,
   And ever, and ever worship God.
5. Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748; alt. by William W. Phelps, 1792-1872. Included in the first LDS Hymnbook, 1835.
   Music: George F. Handel, 1685-1759; arr. by Lowell Mason, 1792-1872

LDS Hymn #44

Hymn #44 - Beautiful Zion, Built Above

This is one I do remember singing when I was growing up. I liked the chorus as a child. As I got older, I liked the Soprano-Tenor duet in line 3. It's actually a fairly easy one to play--maybe even the organ considering the bass/pedal part. The Zion in this song does not refer to the Zion we are trying to build on earth, but to the one we look forward to going to in heaven one day. It is a hopeful view of what lies beyond when we move on from this life, which helps to alleviate fears that may accompany.

From the history book
Another hymn--and one about a Zion--written by someone not of the LDS faith. He wrote it as a missionary in the Cook Islands. The composer was LDS, and a self-taught musician. The words had first been published in 1864. Not sure when the tune was connected to the text, but at least by 1906 when the composer passed away.

Lyrics

1. 1. Beautiful Zion, built above;
   Beautiful city that I love;
   Beautiful gates of pearly white;
   Beautiful temple--God its light;
   He who was slain on Calvary
   Opens those pearly gates to me.
2. (Chorus]
   Zion, Zion, lovely Zion;
   Beautiful Zion;
   Zion, city of our God!
3. 2. Beautiful heav'n, where all is light;
   Beautiful angels clothed in white;
   Beautiful strains that never tire;
   Beautiful harps thru all the choir;
   There shall I join the chorus sweet,
   Worshiping at the Savior's feet.
4. 3. Beautiful crowns on ev'ry brow;
   Beautiful palms the conq'rors show;
   Beautiful robes the ransomed wear;
   Beautiful all who enter there;
   Thither I press with eager feet;
   There shall my rest be long and sweet.

LDS Hymn #43

Hymn #43 - Zion Stands with Hills Surrounded

Like the previous hymn this is one that I'm not sure how I am familiar with it, but I am. It's a fairly easy one to play on the piano, except for the two sharps. :-) Actually, two sharps really isn't that bad. This does have the slightest bit of a Utah reference ("stands will hills surrounded"), though one really should choose to see the symbolic part of being surrounded by an Almighty fortress that confounds our foes no matter how awful things could get (friends leaving, mothers abandoning). Which leads to that beautiful line "But no changes Can attend Jehovah's love." Brings to mind the time when Joseph was in Liberty Jail and the Lord tells him that though it seems all have left him, he isn't because the Savior is always there. Verse 3--marvelous!! The best part of the entire song. It is one that could go with a different, slower tune to really draw out its meaning. Looking at the hymn meters, I think Hymn #96 (Dearest Children, God is Near You) would do that. I may have to consider this for the choir!

From the history book
And, like the previous hymn, this was written by a man who likely never heard of the LDS Church in his lifetime. I need to stop being so quick to assume Utah references. ;-) He used scripture references of being protected by surrounding hills, yet was still a bit prophetic that the early Saints literally found that protection. The tune was first combined with the text in a hymnal published in 1883.

Lyrics

1. 1. Zion stands with hill surrounded--
   Zion, kept by pow'r divine.
   All her foes shall be confounded,
   Though the world in arms combine.
   Happy Zion, Happy Zion,
   What a favored lot is thine!
2. 2. Ev'ry human tie may perish,
   Friend to friend unfaithful prove,
   Mothers cease their own to cherish,
   Heav'n and earth at last remove.
   But no changes, But no changes
   Can attend Jehovah's love.
3. 3. In the furnace God may prove thee,
   Thence to bring thee forth more bright,
   But can never cease to love thee;
   Thou art precious in his sight.
   God is with thee, God is with thee;
   Thou shalt triumph in his might.
4. Text: Thomas Kelly, 1769-1854
   Music: A. C. Smyth, 1840-1909

LDS Hymn #42

Hymn #42 - Hail to the Brightness of Zion's Glad Morning!

Hmm. I have no idea how I know this hymn as well as I do. Words aren't memorized, but I could hum about 60% of it correctly if asked on the spot. I don't remember it from childhood. I have no memories of it in college or experience with it in my organ lessons. But somewhere I have sung/heard/played it enough to be decently familiar with it. It is an upbeat hymn with a little syncopation to keep it from getting to chord-y. The text refers to the great joy for the Gospel being restored. That which has been foretold has come, dispelling darkness. Verse 3 may be a nod to the Utah-ness, but I like to look at it, along with verse 4, as a worldwide description--that all throughout the world in desert, on sea, on mountains, etc. can raise their voices in praise for bonds being broken free.

From the history book
J. Spencer Cornwall described the hymn having "exclamatory gladness." Perfect description. Oh my word--the author Thomas Hastings is not LDS! Like the book's author (Karen Lynn Davidson) mentions, LDS often link the restoration of the Gospel with the symbol of the dawn breaking. But Thomas liked the image of the coming of day, and used it in at least two other hymns that are not in our hymnal. So now I know it is not a Utah reference and definitely about the world. The author did not think of missionary work application in the words, but we can see it! Wow--I am even more impressed with the lyrics of the hymn matching so closely to our beliefs and sentiments about the Gospel, the Restoration and missionary work. The composer was LDS, and his tune and the text first appeared in the 1889 LDS hymnal. In the current hymnal, tenor and bass parts were added to the 3rd line.

Lyrics

1. 1. Hail to the brightness of Zion's glad morning!
   Joy to the lands that in darkness have lain!
   Hushed be the accents of sorrow and mourning.
   Zion in triumph begins her glad reign.
2. 2. Hail to the brightness of Zion's glad morning,
   Long by the prophets of Israel foretold!
   Hail to the millions from bondage returning!
   Gentiles and Jews the glad vision behold.
3. 3. Lo! in the desert the flowers are springing;
   Streams, ever copious, are gliding along.
   Loud from the mountaintops echoes are ringing;
   Wastes rise in verdure and mingle in song.
4. 4. Hark! from all lands, from the isles of the ocean,
   Praise to Jehovah ascending on high.
   Fallen the engines of war and commotion;
   Shouts of salvation are rending the sky.
5. Text: Thomas Hastings, 1784-1872
   Music: Edwin F. Parry, 1850-1935