The Graduate Choir starts off this week’s show with a spiritual - Ain’a that good news! The Auckland-based ensemble is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
The Graduate Choir NZ Photo: Graduate Choir NZ
SONG: AIN’-A THAT GOOD NEWS
Artist: The Graduate Choir, Terence Maskell (dir)
Words/Music: Trad arr Dawson
Recording: Atoll ACD 105
I've a crown up in the Kingdom,
Ain'-a that good news!
I've a crown up in the Kingdom,
Ain'-a that good news!
I'm a-goin' to lay down this world,
Goin' to shoulder up my cross,
Goin' to take it home to Jesus,
Ain'-a that good news!
I've a harp up in the Kingdom,
Ain'-a that good news!
I've a harp up in the Kingdom,
Ain'-a that good news!
I'm a-goin' to lay down this world,
Goin' to shoulder up my cross,
Goin' to take it home to Jesus,
Ain'-a that good news!
I've a robe up in the Kingdom,
Ain'-a that good news!
I've a robe up in the Kingdom,
Ain'-a that good news!
I'm a-goin' to lay down this world,
Goin' to shoulder up my cross,
Goin' to take it home to Jesus,
Ain'-a that good news!
I've a Saviour in the Kingdom,
Ain'-a that good news!
I've a Saviour in the Kingdom,
Ain'-a that good news!
I'm a-goin' to lay down this world,
Goin' to shoulder up my cross,
Goin' to take it home to Jesus,
Ain'-a that good news!
SONG: I TO THE HILLS WILL LIFT MINE EYES
Artist: Scottish Philharmonic Singers, Ian McCrorie (dir), John Langdon (organ)
Words/Music: Psalm 121/Ravenscroft
Recording: Abbey 282830
I to the hills will lift mine eyes,
from whence doth come mine aid.
My safety cometh from the Lord,
who heav'n and earth hath made.
Thy foot he'll not let slide, nor will
he slumber that thee keeps.
Behold, he that keeps Israel,
he slumbers not, nor sleeps.
The Lord thee keeps, the Lord thy shade
on thy right hand doth stay:
The moon by night thee shall not smite,
nor yet the sun by day.
The Lord shall keep thy soul; he shall
preserve thee from all ill.
Henceforth thy going out and in
God keep for ever will.
SONG: THE KING OF LOVE MY SHEPHERD IS
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Psalm 23 (Baker)/Dykes /
Recording: Griffin GGCD 4010
The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never.
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth;
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
but yet in love he sought me;
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.
In death's dark vale I fear no ill,
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spreadst a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and oh, what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days,
thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house forever.
SONG: ONE BREAD, ONE BODY
Artist: St Louis Jesuits
Words/Music: Father John Foley
Recording: OCP Publications 1996
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
Gentile or Jew, servant or free, woman or man no more.
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
Many the gifts, many the works, one in the Lord of all.
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
SONG: AN UPPER ROOM
Artist: Timothy Newton (baritone), Choir of Trinity College, University of Melbourne, Michael Leighton Jones (dir)
Words/Music: Faber/Stainer
Recording: Priory PRCD 722
An upper room did our Lord prepare
for those he loved until the end:
and his disciples still gather there
to celebrate their risen friend.
A lasting gift Jesus gave his own:
to share his bread, his loving cup.
Whatever burdens may bow us down,
he by his cross shall lift us up.
And after supper he washed their feet,
for service, too, is sacrament.
In Christ our joy shall be made complete:
sent out to serve, as he was sent.
No end there is! We depart in peace.
He loves beyond our uttermost:
in every room in our Father's house
Christ will be there, as Lord and Host.
SONG: GOD EVERLASTING, WONDERFUL AND HOLY
Artist: Newcastle Cathedral Choir, Scott Farrell (dir), Michael Dutton (organ)
Words/Music: Riley/Riley
Recording: Priory PRCD 720
God everlasting, wonderful and holy,
Father most gracious, we who stand before thee,
here at thine altar, as the Son has taught us,
come to adore thee.
Countless the mercies thou has lavished on us,
source of all blessing to all creatures living,
to thee we render, for thy love o’erflowing,
humble thanksgiving.
Now in remembrance of our great Redeemer,
dying on Calvary, rising and ascending,
through him we offer what he ever offers,
sinners befriending.
Strength to the living, rest to the departed,
grant, Holy Father, through this pure oblation;
may the life-giving Bread for ever bring us
health and salvation.
SONG: KING OF GLORY, KING OF PEACE
Artist: Choir of All Saints Episcopal Church, Beverly Hills
Words/Music: Herbert/Walker
Recording: Gothic 349074
King of glory, King of peace,
I will love thee;
and that love may never cease,
I will move thee.
Thou hast granted my request,
thou hast heard me;
thou didst note my working breast,
thou hast spared me.
Wherefore with my utmost art
I will sing thee,
and the cream of all my heart
I will bring thee.
Though my sins against me cried,
thou didst clear me;
and alone, when they replied,
thou didst hear me.
Seven whole days, not one in seven,
I will praise thee;
in my heart, though not in heaven,
I can raise thee.
Small it is, in this poor sort
to enroll thee;
e'en eternity's too short
to extol thee.
SONG: THERE’S A WIDENESS IN GOD’S MERCY
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral
Words/Music: Frederick Faber/Maurice Bevan
Label: Hyperion 112105
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in his justice,
Which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth’s sorrows
Are more felt than up in heaven;
There is no place where earth’s failings
Have such kindly judgement given.
For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of man’s mind;
And the heart of the eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.
But we make his love too narrow
By false limits of our own;
And we magnify his strictness
With a zeal he will not own.
There is plentiful redemption
In the blood that has been shed;
There is joy for all the members
In the sorrows of the head.
There is grace enough for thousands
Of new worlds as great as this;
There is room for fresh creations
In that upper home of bliss.
If our love were but more simple,
We should take him at his word;
And our lives would be all goodness
In the joy of Christ our Lord.
SONG: SIMPLE GIFTS
Artist: Alison Krauss, Yo-Yo Ma
Words/Music: Brackett/Trad arr Meyer
Recording: Sony SK 89667
'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Til by turning, turning we come 'round right.
