There's nothing quite like the sound of a Welsh male voice choir singing hymns! Hear the Treorchy Male Choir sing Isaac Watts' hymn When I survey the wondrous cross in this week's programme of listener requests.
View from churchyard gate, St Michael and All Saints Church, Porangahau. Photo: Robyn Jaquiery
SONG: PSALM 24 (YE GATES, LIFT UP YOUR HEADS ON HIGH)
Artist: Scottish Philharmonic Singers
Words/Music: Psalm 24/Andrew Thomson
Recording: Abbey 282830
Ye gates lift up your heads on high;
ye doors that last for aye,
be lifted up, that so the King
of glory enter may.
But who of glory is the King?
The mighty Lord is this,
ev’n that same Lord, that great in might
and strong in battle is.
Ye gates, lift up your heads; ye doors,
doors that do last for aye,
be lifted up, that so the King
of glory enter may.
But who is he that is the King,
the King of glory? who is this?
The Lord of hosts, and none but he,
the King of glory is.
Alleluia! alleluia!
alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!
Amen, amen, amen.
SONG: CHRIST, THE FAIR GLORY OF THE HOLY ANGELS
Artist: Choir of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury
Words/Music: Attrib Rabanus Maurus translated Athelstan Riley/Anon
Recording: Priory PRCD 709
Christ, the fair glory of the holy angels,
thou who hast made us, thou who o'er us rules,
grant of thy mercy, unto us thy servants,
steps up to heaven.
Send thine archangel, Gabriel, the mighty;
herald of heaven, may he from us mortals,
spurn the old serpent, watching o'er the temples
where thou art worshiped.
Send thy archangel, Raphael, the restorer,
of the misguided ways of those who wander,
who at thy bidding strengthens soul and body
with thine anointing.
Father almighty, Son and Holy Spirit,
God ever blessèd, be thou our preserver;
thine is the glory which which the angels worship
veiling their faces.
SONG: IN THE LORD IS MY JOY AND SALVATION
Artist: St Thomas’s Music Group, Margaret Rizza (dir)
Words/Music: Rizza/Rizza
Recording: Alliance Music 190892
In the Lord is my joy and salvation
He gives light to all his creation.
In the Lord is my joy and salvation,
He gives peace and true consolation.
SONG: WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS
Artist: Treorchy Male Choir
Words/Music: Isaac Watts/Emrys Jones
Recording: Axis 701578
When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
SONG: CROWN HIM WITH MANY CROWNS
Artist: Choir of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Catherine Palmer (dir), Ronald Jordan (organ)
Words/Music: Robert Bridges, Godfrey Thring/George Elvey
Recording: Marquis 1811175
Crown him with many crowns,
the lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy chosen king
through all eternity.
Crown him the Lord of life,
who triumphed o’er the grave,
who rose victorious in the strife
for those he came to save;
His glories now we sing
who died, and rose on high;
who died eternal life to bring;
and lives that death may die.
Crown him the Lord of heav'n,
Enthroned in worlds above;
Crown him the King to whom is giv'n
The wondrous name of Love.
All hail, redeemer, hail!
For thou has died for me;
Thy praise will never ever fail
throughout eternity.
SONG: JUST AS I AM
Artist: Choir of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich
Words/Music: Charlotte Elliott/William Bradbury
Recording: Abbey 280826
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come!
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt;
Fightings within, and fears without,
O Lamb of God, I come!
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come!
SONG: ROUND ME FALLS THE NIGHT
Artist: Choir of the Abbey School, Tewkesbury
Words/Music: William Romanis/Adam Drese
Recording: Priory PRCD 709
Round me falls the night;
Saviour, be my light;
through the hours in darkness shrouded
let me see thy face unclouded;
let thy glory shine
in this heart of mine.
Earthly work is done,
earthly sounds are none;
rest in sleep and silence seeking,
let me hear thee softly speaking;
in my spirit's ear
whisper, 'I am near'.
Blessèd, heavenly Light,
shining through earth's night;
voice, that oft of love hast told me;
arms, so strong to clasp and hold me;
thou thy watch wilt keep,
Saviour, o'er my sleep.
SONG: THE DAY THOU GAVEST, LORD, IS ENDED
Artist: Choir of St John’s, Elora, Paul Halley
Words/Music: John Ellerton/Clement Scholefield
Recording: Naxos 8.557037
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: THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU
Artist: Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia, John Rutter (dir)
Words/Music: Trad/John Rutter
Recording: Collegium COL CD 100
The Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
To shine upon you and be gracious, and be gracious unto you.
The Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
To shine upon you and be gracious, and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up the light
Of His countenance upon you,
The Lord lift up the light
Of His countenance upon you,
And give you peace,
And give you peace,
And give you peace,
And give you peace.
Amen.
