Life is crazy right now. And I'll be honest, I'll be glad when this contest is done on the 10th (it's been fun but I haven't done half the things I wanted to have you guys do mainly because of time constraints) and I can just get back to idly blogging about stuff for a while. :-D
It's Christmas.
I work in Retail.
Nuff Said.
However, for the last two days I'm going to have one final assignment which is not book related. Well it is and it isn't.
Stories, songs, and history hidden in tunes all factor into Sharon Hinck's The Restorer series. The interesting thing is that our world too has a vast and relatively unknown history behind the hymns and worship songs sung today. It's amazing the stories you uncover when you scratch the surface of a hymn. I was blown away by the story behind the Christmas Song "Good King Wenceslas" and I think you will be too. That's something to share after this contest though, when I have a moment to breath.
Right! Your assignment is this:
Pick a hymn, praise and worship song, or Christmas carol. Then use the internet or books to find out the history behind it, and post the most fascinating thing that you find here in the comments.
This can be done more than once.
However, if two people pick the same hymn/worship song/ Christmas carol, the one that posts their findings first, gets credit.
Also in the post, provide a link back to where you found the information or the book that you took the information from.
For internet research on something, I'm going to ask for three links--and yes the wiki counts. For books, just one will be fine.
That's all. Have fun!
Oh wait.
Wait.
I mentioned points, didn't I?
1000 points for each hymn/praise and worship song/ Christmas carol that you find the history of and share with the rest of us.
Two days.
48 hours.
This is going to be interesting. ;)
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
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Psalm 49
A Psalm of Repentance
About Me
- everlastingscribe
- I tell stories all day long. Some with my pen, some with my keyboard and if you can find me, buy me a coffee and I'll tell you one too!
50 comments:
Sweeets,
If millard actually kicks into gear today, this would be an awesome learning/point thing.
Great Job scribe once again!
Millard
Carol of the Bells
This song was based on a chant whose launguage was thought to have magical powers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_of_the_Bells
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/carolofthebells.htm
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/carol_of_the_bells_notes.htm
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
This song was mentioned in "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Rest_Ye_Merry,_Gentlemen
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/Notes_On_Carols/god_rest_you_merry_notes.htm
http://www.packardmusichall.com/godrestyemerry.htm
The Twelve days of Christmas:
1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus.
2. The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stand for faith, hope and love.
4. The four calling birds are the four Gospels.
5. The five gold rings recall the Hebrew Torah (Law), or the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.
7. The seven swans a-swimming represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
8. The eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
10. The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful Apostles.
12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed.
http://www.holytrinitynewrochelle.org/yourti102896.html
maybe some more later
Amazing Grace
The writer of this hyme wrote of personal experience.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/h/shop.htm
http://www.markrhoads.com/amazingsite/index.htm
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/grace/grace-home.html
Joy to the World
It is believed that the melody for "Joy to the World" was partly based on the work of George Frideric Handel, namely the oratorio Messiah
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/joytotheworld.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy_to_the_World
http://www.christmasgifts.net/Christmasblog/2006/11/28/joy-to-the-world-carol/
O Come All Ye Faithful
This song is also known as "Adeste Fidelis"
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/adestefidelis.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Come_All_Ye_Faithful
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/c/ocomeayf.htm
Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer
Based on the tale of the ugly duckling
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/rudolph.asp
http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/history-rudolf-red-nose-reindeer.shtml
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/rudolph_the_red_nosed_reindeer.htm
Silent Night
Originally written for guitar because the church organ broke
http://silentnight.web.za/history/index.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Night
http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/VOLUME02/Silent_Night_History.shtml
O Holy Night
Declared "unfit for church services" in France
http://www.findthepower.com/ChristmasPagesTheStoryOfOHolyNight.htm
I Wonder as I Wander (John Jacob Niles is credited with saving this song although it's exact origins are not known) and Go Tell it on the Mountain
http://folkmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/origins_of_two_christmas_spirituals
The First Noel (among the oldest carols, thought to be about 500 years old)
http://folkmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_first_noel_and_silent_night
Good King Wenceslas
The carol Good King Wenceslas was originally published in the 16th century in Sweden but was later adapted into the well known children's Christmas song by English hymn writer John Mason Neale (1818 -1866). King Wenceslas did in fact exist and lived from approximately 907 to 935; King Wenceslas is the patron saint of the Czech Republic.
http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/origins_of_some_of_the_best_christmas_carols
Hark! the herald angels sing
(At least four people brought the now-inviolable hymn to its current form.)
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/decemberweb-only/150-52.0.html
O Little Town of Bethlehem
(a carol of inspiration with words by Phillips Brooks and music by Lewis Redner.)
http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/o_little_town_of_bethlehem
We Three Kings of Orient Are
(the carol was instrumental in organizing an elaborate holiday pageant)
http://christmas.howstuffworks.com/traditions/christmas-songs17.htm
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear (Written by Edmund Hamilton Sears (1810-1876) who was also the pastor of the Unitarian Church in Wayland, Massachusetts.)
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/christmascarols.htm
JINGLE BELLS:
Originally titled "One Horse Open Sleigh" was composed for thanks giving.
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/jinglebells.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jingle_Bells
http://www.helium.com/items/72864-the-author-and-history-of-jingle-bells
This was fun!
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
(written in the time of the Civil War)
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/news/2000/dec15.html
O Come, O Come Emanuel
("O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" is an Advent hymn with Christian Latin tune name "Veni Emmanuel" (Come God with Us.) Its history originates in the medieval Roman Catholic Church, c.12th century. It was translated into English by John Mason Neale)
http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/neales_o_come_o_come_emmanuel
We Three Kings
The writer of this song made stained glass windows
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/wethreekings.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Three_Kings
http://www.biblehistory.net/newsletter/kings.htm
What Child is This?Based on Greensleeves
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Child_Is_This%3F
Away in a Manger
The writing of this song has been credited to Martin Luthar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Away_in_a_Manger
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Away_in_a_Manger
Good Christian Men Rejoice
The original lyrics were a combination of both Latin and German
http://makingmusicfun.net/htm/f_mmf_music_library_songbook/good-christian-men-rejoice-history-and-lyrics-of-a-christmas-favorite.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/good-christian-men-rejoice
http://schaefer-family.com/hymns/good.htm
Once in Royal David's City
This song was originally a poem
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_In_Royal_David%27s_City
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/In_which_century_was_Once_in_Royal_David's_City_composed&src=ansTT
http://www.victorshepherd.on.ca/Sermons/once_in_royal_david's_city.htm
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
A poem set to the final movement of Beethoven's final symphony
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyful,_Joyful_We_Adore_Thee
http://www.invitationtochrist.org/joyful_joyful_we_adore_thee.htm
http://www2.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Joyful,_Joyful_We_Adore_Thee_(Ludwig_van_Beethoven)
How Great Thou Art
First published in a weekly newspaper
http://www.allaboutgod.com/how-great-thou-art.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Great_Thou_Art_(hymn)
http://johntroutman.com/lyrics/howgreatthouart.html
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Based on Lamentations 3:22-23
http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/great_is_thy_faithfulness
http://schaefer-family.com/hymns/great.htm
http://www.invitationtochrist.org/great_is_thy_faithfulness.htm
When I Survay the Wonderous Cross
One of the first hymes in the English-launguage to use the word "I" and to focus directly on personal religious experience
http://www.selahpub.com/Choral/ChoralTitles/425-350-WhenISurvey.html#anchor376061
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_I_Survey_the_Wondrous_Cross
http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/when_i_survey_the_wondrous_cross
The Old Rugged Cross
The writer of this hyme was a native of Ohio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Rugged_Cross
http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/R980413.shtml
http://www.invitationtochrist.org/old_rugged_cross.htm
For the Beauty of the Earth
The writer of this hyme was 29 years of age when he wrote it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_Beauty_of_the_Earth
http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/thanks_for_the_beauty_of_the_earth
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/b/fbeautye.htm
Room at the Cross for You
Was originally written on many scraps of paper
http://schaefer-family.com/hymns/room.htm
How Great Thou Art:
Mr. Boberg was enjoying a nice walk when a thunderstorm suddenly appeared out of no where. A severe wind began to blow. After the storm was over, Mr. Boberg looked out over the clear bay. He then heard a church bell in the distance. And the words to How Great Thou Art begin to form in his heart.
http://www.allaboutgod.com/how-great-thou-art.htm
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1294435/musical_messages_hymn_stories_how_great.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Great_Thou_Art_(hymn)
I Saw Three Ships:
In the original version of the carol, the Three Ships were the ones taking the supposed skulls of the wise men to Cologne cathedral in Germany.
http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/carols_stories.shtml#i_saw_three_ships
http://christmas.howstuffworks.com/traditions/christmas-songs33.htm
http://www.christmasgifts.net/Christmasblog/2006/12/12/i-saw-three-ships-the-carol/
What Child Is This:
there have been more than twenty different known lyrics associated with it throughout history.
http://pg4anna.tripod.com/Greensleeves.htm
http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/greensleeves.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Child_Is_This%3F
It Is Well With My Soul:
the man who wrote the song had lost his son and four daughters, the son to sickness, and the daughters drowned. "When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul."
http://www.biblestudycharts.com/A_Daily_Hymn.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Is_Well_With_My_Soul
http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/hymn_it_is_well_with_my_soul
Great Is Thy Faithfulness:
It was not until 1945 when George Beverly Shea began to sing Great is Thy Faithfulness at the Billy Graham evangelistic crusades, that the hymn was heard around the world.
http://www.faithclipart.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/great-is-they-faithfulness-the-song-and-the-story.html
http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/great_is_thy_faithfulness
http://schaefer-family.com/hymns/great.htm
Just as I am
The writer wrote this sitting under a tree
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_as_I_Am_(hymn)
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/lutheranism/74646
http://www.invitationtochrist.org/just_as_i_am.htm
Blessed Assurence:
Wrtten by Fanny Crosby who was blind.
http://www.gospelpiano.com/articles/hymn-stories-19-blessed-assurance.htm
http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/blessed_assurance_hymn
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessed_Assurance
How Firm a Foundation:
President Andrew Jackson requested it to be sung at his bedside shortly before he died.
http://www.songtime.org/hymn/hymn1101.htm
http://www.fbcdesmoines.org/KLMX_Hymns4.htm
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/f/hfirmafo.htm
leaning on the Everlasting Arms
Sung in the movie "The Human Comedy"
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/o/lotearms.htm
http://schaefer-family.com/hymns/leaning.htm
http://www.invitationtochrist.org/leaning_on_the_everlasting_arms.htm
Holy,Holy,Holy:
lyrics speak specifically on the Trinity.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy,_Holy,_Holy
http://www.selahpub.com/Choral/ChoralTitles/425-612-HolyHolyHoly.html
http://www.faithclipart.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/holy,-holy,-holy,-lord-god-almighty-the-song-and-the-story.html
I Surrender All
Was written as the author was on the verge of making a huge decision
http://www.invitationtochrist.org/i_surrender_all.htm
http://schaefer-family.com/hymns/surrender.htm
ALAS! AND DID MY SAVIOR BLEED:
writtem by isaac watts.
http://www.faithclipart.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/alas-and-did-my-savior-bleed-the-song-and-the-story.html
http://www.gospelpiano.com/articles/hymn-stories-3.alas-and-did-my-saviour-bleed.htm
http://subversiveinfluence.com/2009/04/hymns-of-my-youth-100-alas-and-did-my-savior-bleed/
All Creatures Of Our God and King:
In 1225, a devoted Italian monk named Francis of Assisi wrote the lyrics for “All Creatures Of Our God and King."
http://www.gospelpiano.com/articles/hymn-stories-9-all-creatures-of-our-god-and-king.htm
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/c/acoogak.htm
http://radio.lds.org/eng/programs/history-of-hymns-episode-2
o come, o come emanual:
is an Advent hymn with Christian Latin tune name "Veni Emmanuel" (Come God with Us.)
http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/neales_o_come_o_come_emmanuel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_come,_O_come,_Emmanuel
http://www.biblestudycharts.com/HH_O_Come_O_Come_Emmanuel.html
All Things Bright and Beautiful:
is a children's hymn written by Cecil Frances Humphreys-Alexander.
http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/all_things_bright_and_beautiful
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Things_Bright_and_Beautiful
http://www.semicolonblog.com/?p=5557
ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH:
The words of the song are based on a traditional French carol known as Les Anges dans nos campagnes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_We_Have_Heard_on_High
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/angels_we_have_heard_on_high_1.htm
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/classical_music/11819
BE THOU MY VISION:
The text had been a part of Irish monastic tradition for centuries before its setting to the tune.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_Thou_My_Vision
http://songsandhymns.org/hymns/detail/be-thou-my-vision
http://www.gospelpiano.com/articles/hymn-stories-18-be-thou-my-vision.htm
TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE:
On Frances Ridley Havergal tombstone at Astley,Worcestershire, is engraved her favorite text,
"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7
http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/bhavergal3.html
http://schaefer-family.com/hymns.htm
http://www.biblestudycharts.com/HH_Take_My_Life.html
CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY:
originally entitled "Hymn for Easter Day"
http://christianmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/charles_wesleys_easter_hymn
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_the_Lord_Is_Risen_Today
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/t/ctlrisen.htm
come thou fount of every blessing:
the hymn is usually set to an American folk tune known as Nettleton.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_Thou_Fount_of_Every_Blessing
http://www.stempublishing.com/hymns/biographies/robinson.html
http://www.faithclipart.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/come-thou-fount-of-every-blessing-the-song-and-the-story.html
Crown Him with Many Crowns:
Based on the verse, Revelation 19:12, Matthew Bridges, in 1851,
wrote the hymn.original title was "The Song of the Seraphs."
http://www.faithclipart.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/crown-him-with-many-crowns-the-song-and-the-story.html
http://www.groupsrv.com/religion/about100506.html
http://schaefer-family.com/hymns.htm
DOWN AT THE CROSS:
Elisha Hoffman the writer of this song wrote over two thousand Gospel songs.
http://www.preparingforeternity.org/hymn_stories/glory_to_his.shtml
http://nethymnal.org/htm/d/o/downattc.htm
hmmm..... couldn't find one more.
Onward, Christan Soldiers:
the music was composed by Arthur Sullivan in 1871. Sullivan named the tune "St. Gertrude," after the wife of his friend Ernest Clay Ker Seymer, at whose country home he composed the tune.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onward,_Christian_Soldiers
http://www.sbgas.org/Onward,%20Christian%20Soldiers.pdf
http://schaefer-family.com/hymns.htm
I AM THINE, O LORD:
Talking with a friend about the nearness of God, as the sun was setting and evening shadows were gathering around them. The subject so impressed the well-known hymn-writer(fanny crosby), that before retiring she had written the words to this hymn.
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/a/iatolord.htm
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/c/r/o/crosby_fj.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanny_Crosby
Fairest Lord Jesus:
it was called "Crusader's Hymn" because it was sung by German Crusaders as they made their way to the Holy Land.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairest_Lord_Jesus
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/a/l/faljesus.htm
http://schaefer-family.com/hymns.htm
GOD REST YE MERRY, GENTLEMEN:
The composer is unknown; it is often attributed as English traditional.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_rest_you_merry,_gentlemen
http://en.allexperts.com/e/g/go/god_rest_ye_merry_gentlemen.htm
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/Notes_On_Carols/god_rest_you_merry_notes.htm
Grace Greater Then Our Sins:
written by Julia H. Johnston.
http://practicalbiblicalinsight.blogspot.com/2009/05/hymn-history-grace-greater-than-our-sin.html
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/g/ggreater.htm
http://www.google.com/search?q=history+of+the+hymn+grace+that+is+greater+than+all+my+sin&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7RNWE&sa=X&tbs=tl:1&tbo=u&ei=D4MgS8WsBY7ysgOj1bHWBA&oi=timeline_result&ct=title&resnum=11&ved=0CDMQ5wIwCg
Hallelujah What a Savior:
Written…shortly before Philip P. Bliss death.
http://subversiveinfluence.com/2009/05/hymns-of-my-youth-102-hallelujah-what-a-savior/
http://nethymnal.org/htm/h/a/halwasav.htm
http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Hallelujah_What_a_Savior/
He Leadeth Me:
God's leading grew upon Gilmore that he took out his pencil, wrote the hymn just as it stands today, handed it to his wife, and thought no more of it. Without Gilmore's knowledge, his wife sent it to the Watchman and Reflector magazine, and there it first appeared in print.
http://praiseworshipmusic.suite101.com/article.cfm/he_leadeth_me_o_blessed_thought
http://joyfulministry.com/leadeth.htm
http://books.google.com/books?id=UAAtAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA168&lpg=PA168&dq=history+of+the+hymn+he+leadeth+me&source=bl&ots=7ZOOmkyqxQ&sig=3X8zFADaGNBbfdzHAKp1EGuLAxE&hl=en&ei=rYggS4GdFZLwsgPtpISaBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Redeemed how I Love to Proclaim it: Mar 5, 1858 - On March 5, 1858, Fanny married Alexander van Alystyne, but wrote hymns using her maiden name and many other pen names. She wrote over 8000 hymns by her own count.
http://www.answers.com/topic/fanny-crosby
http://nethymnal.org/htm/r/e/redeemed.htm
http://www.google.com/search?q=history+of+the+hymn+redeemed+how+i+love+to+proclaim+it&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7RNWE&sa=X&tbs=tl:1&tbo=u&ei=TowgS6r3I4GwsgOuodjbBA&oi=timeline_result&ct=title&resnum=11&ved=0CD4Q5wIwCg
tis so sweet to trust in jesus:
One day Louisa Stead found some food and money had been left for her on her doorstep. The hymn “’Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus” was born from that incident.
http://schaefer-family.com/hymns/sweet.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/'Tis_So_Sweet_to_Trust_in_Jesus
http://nethymnal.org/htm/t/i/tissweet.htm
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