A selection of traditional and modern hymns. We're marking All Saints' Day this week with some suitably saint-themed hymns, including Let saints on earth, Ye watchers and ye holy ones and For all the saints.
Saints Photo: Wikimedia Commons
SONG: FOR ALL THE SAINTS
Artist: CBSO Chorus, Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge
Words/Music: How/Vaughan Williams
Recording: Conifer 500521
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!
Oh, may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win, with them, the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
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: HARK! THE SOUND OF HOLY VOICES
Artist: Choir of All Saints, Margaret Street, London
Words/Music: C. Wordsworth/Langran
Recording: Priory PRCD 740
Hark! the sound of holy voices,
chanting at the crystal sea,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Lord, to Thee;
Multitude, which none can number,
like the stars in glory stand
Clothed in white apparel,
holding palms of victory in their hand.
Patriarch, and holy prophet,
who prepared the way of Christ
King, apostle, saint, confessor,
martyr and evangelist;
Saintly maiden, godly matron,
widows who have watched to prayer
Joined in holy concert,
singing to the Lord of all, are there.
They have come from tribulation,
and have washed their robes in blood,
Washed them in the blood of Jesus;
tried they were, and firm they stood;
Gladly, Lord, with Thee they suffered;
gladly, Lord, with Thee they died;
And by death to life immortal
they were born and glorified.
Now they reign in heav’nly glory,
now they walk in golden light,
Now they drink, as from a river,
holy bliss and infinite:
Love and peace they taste forever,
and all truth and knowledge see
In the beatific vision
of the blessèd Trinity.
God of God, the One begotten,
Light of light, Emmanuel,
In whose body joined together
all the saints forever dwell;
Pour upon us of Thy fullness
that we may forevermore
God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Holy Ghost adore.
SONG: LET SAINTS ON EARTH
Artist: Llandaff Cathedral Choir
Words/Music: C Wesley/Anon arr. Ravenscroft
Recording: Priory PRCD 719
Let saints on earth in concert sing
With those whose work is done;
For all the servants of our king
In heav’n and earth are one.
One family, we dwell in him,
One church, above, beneath;
Though now divided by the stream,
The narrow stream of death.
One army of the living God,
To his command we bow;
Part of his host has crossed the flood,
And part is crossing now.
E’en now to their eternal home
There pass some spirits blest;
While others to the margin come,
Waiting their call to rest.
Jesu, be thou our constant guide;
Then, when the word is given,
Bid Jordan’s narrow stream divide,
And bring us safe to heav’n.
SONG: HAIL TO THE LORD’S ANOINTED
Artist: Coventry Singers
Words/Music: Montgomery/Cruger
Recording: Mission Praise
Hail to the Lord’s anointed, great David’s greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free;
To take away transgression and rule in equity.
He comes in succor speedy to those who suffer wrong;
To help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong;
To give them songs for sighing, their darkness turn to light,
Whose souls, condemned and dying, were precious in His sight.
He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth;
Love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in His path to birth.
Before Him, on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go,
And righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow.
To Him shall prayer unceasing and daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing, a kingdom without end:
The tide of time shall never His covenant remove;
His Name shall stand forever, His Name to us is Love.
SONG: SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER
Artist: Anonymous 4
Words/Music: Walford/Bradbury
Recording: Harmonia Mundi HMU 907326
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
That calls me from a world of care
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known!
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless:
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I'll cast on Him my ev'ry care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer,
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah's lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I'll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
"Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!"
SONG: DEEP HARMONY
Artist: Black Dyke Mills Band, John Foster (dir)
Music: Parker
Recording: Chandos 828558
SONG: YE WATCHERS AND YE HOLY ONES
Artist: Elora Festival Singers, Noel Edison (dir), Matthew Larkin (organ)
Words/Music: Riley/Anon arr Willan
Recording: Naxos 8.557734
Ye watchers and ye holy ones,
Bright seraphs, cherubim and thrones,
Raise the glad strain, Alleluia!
Cry out, dominions, princedoms, powers,
Virtues, archangels, angels’ choirs:
Refrain:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
O higher than the cherubim,
More glorious than the seraphim,
Lead their praises, Alleluia!
Thou bearer of th’eternal Word,
Most gracious, magnify the Lord.
Refrain:
Respond, ye souls in endless rest,
Ye patriarchs and prophets blest,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Ye holy twelve, ye martyrs strong,
All saints triumphant, raise the song.
Refrain:
O friends, in gladness let us sing,
Supernal anthems echoing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
To God the father, God the son,
And God the spirit, three in one.
Refrain:
