There's a focus on the pipe organ in today's selection of traditional and modern hymns. Our recordings include organs from Westminster Abbey, St John's Church, Elora, Wells Cathedral, and St Paul's Cathedral in Dunedin.
Church pipe organ at St Marienkirche. Berlin, Germany Photo: Jorge Royan, Wikimedia Commons
SONG: FOR ALL THE SAINTS
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (Henry Willis organ)
Words/Music: How/Vaughan Williams
Recording: Hyperion 711210
For all the saints, who from their labours rest;
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might;
thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
SONG: O THOU WHO CAMEST FROM ABOVE
Artist: Cantus Choro, Peter Chapman (dir), Geoffrey Cox (JE Dodd organ)
Words/Music: C Wesley/SS Wesley
Recording: Move 743142
O Thou who camest from above,
the pure celestial fire to impart
kindle a flame of sacred love
upon the mean altar of my heart.
There let it for thy glory burn
with inextinguishable blaze,
and trembling to its source return,
in humble prayer and fervent praise.
Jesus, confirm my heart's desire
to work and speak and think for thee;
still let me guard the holy fire,
and still stir up thy gift in me.
Ready for all thy perfect will,
my acts of faith and love repeat,
till death thy endless mercies seal,
and make my sacrifice complete.
SONG: LORD, THOU ART BECOME GRACIOUS UNTO THY LAND
Artist: Choir of Westminster Abbey, Martin Neary (dir), Andrew Lumsden (Harrison and Harrison organ)
Words/Music: Psalm 85/Lloyd
Recording: Virgin 545036
LORD, thou art become gracious unto thy land; thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy people, and covered all their sins.
3 Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure, and turned thyself from thy wrathful indignation.
4 Turn us then, O God our Saviour, and let thine anger cease from us.
5 Wilt thou be displeased at us for ever? and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another?
6 Wilt thou not turn again, and quicken us, that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Show us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hearken what the Lord God will say; for he shall speak peace unto his people, and to his saints, that they turn not again unto foolishness.
9 For his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together: righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall flourish out of the earth, and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.
12 Yea, the Lord shall show loving-kindness; and our land shall give her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him, and shall direct his going in the way.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
SONG: O PRAISE YE THE LORD
Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland, Michael Stoddart (dir), Philip Smith (organ)
Words/Music: Baker/Parry
Recording: RNZ
O praise ye the Lord! praise Him in the height;
Rejoice in His Word, ye angels of light;
Ye heavens, adore Him by Whom ye were made,
And worship before Him in brightness arrayed.
O praise ye the Lord! All things that give sound;
Each jubilant chord re-echo around;
Loud organs, His glory forth tell in deep tone,
And sweet harp, the story of what He hath done.
O praise ye the Lord! Thanksgiving and song
To Him be outpoured all ages along!
For love in creation, for Heaven restored,
For grace of salvation, O praise ye the Lord!
Amen
SONG: THROUGH ALL THE CHANGING SCENES OF LIFE
Artist: Choir of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh, Denis Townhill (dir), Peter Backhouse (Henry Willis organ)
Words/Music: Tate/Smart
Recording: Priory PRCD 376
Through all the changing scenes of life,
in trouble and in joy,
the praises of my God shall still
my heart and tongue employ.
O magnify the Lord with me,
with me exalt his name;
when in distress to him I called,
he to my rescue came.
The hosts of God encamp around
the dwellings of the just;
deliverance he affords to all
who on his succour trust.
Fear him, ye saints, and you will then
have nothing else to fear;
make you his service your delight;
your wants shall be his care.
To father, son and Holy Ghost
The God whom we adore
Be glory, as it was, is now
And shall be evermore.
SONG: THE DAY THOU GAVEST, LORD, IS ENDED
Artist: Choir of St John’s, Elora, Noel Edison (dir), Paul Halley (Karn-Warren organ)
Words/Music: Ellerton/Scholefield
Recording: Hyperion 112105
The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended,
The darkness falls at Thy behest;
To Thee our morning hymns ascended,
Thy praise shall hallow now our rest.
We thank Thee that Thy Church unsleeping,
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.
The sun, that bids us rest, is waking
Our brethren 'neath the western sky,
And hour by hour fresh lips are making
Thy wondrous doings heard on high.
So be it, Lord; Thy throne shall never,
Like earth's proud empires, pass away:
But stand, and rule, and grow for ever,
Till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.
SONG: CHORALE PRELUDE ON RHOSYMEDRE
Artist: Michael Stewart (William Hill organ, ChristChurch Cathedral)
Music: Vaughan Williams
Recording: Private MS 2001A
SONG: GIVE TO OUR GOD IMMORTAL PRAISE
Artist: Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin, Raymond White (Henry Willis III organ)
Words/Music: Watts/Griffiths
Recording: Ely 105
Give to our God immortal praise:
mercy and truth are all his ways;
wonders of grace to God belong;
repeat his mercies in your song.
Give to the Lord of lords renown;
the King of kings with glory crown:
his mercies ever shall endure,
when lords and kings are known no more.
He sent His Son with power to save
from guilt and darkness and the grave;
wonders of grace to God belong;
repeat his mercies in your song.
Through this vain world he guides our feet,
and leads us to his heavenly seat:
his mercies ever shall endure,
when this our world shall be no more.
