Review of THE CHRISTIAN LIFE HYMNAL in THE ORGAN by David Baker

I found an on-line review of The Christian Life Hymnal by David Baker in THE ORGAN recently.

This North American-published collection of 641 hymns combines old and new in a useful anthology that will complement hymnals with a more UK-centric approach. There are many popular tunes and texts from this side of the Atlantic, but a good many also that were unknown to me that could usefully be added to the repertoire of the church choir (as simple anthems) if not the congregation. The hymnals compilers have adopted a policy of relatively low keys for most of the tunes; this will be useful to the organist who finds transposing a challenge and also congregations that would welcome a less stretching range, especially when it comes to the treble. I certainly find modern worship songs in particular pitched too high for the average male voice. This edition might encourage more men to join in the singing! The edition is well printed, though the compact layout at times caused me problems, given that the texts are typically printed between the two staves. However, once one gets used to the arrangement, it is actually quite convenient. The various indices are also useful, though the type size was far too small in places, and (magnifying) glasses will be required. This is nevertheless a useful addition to the hymnal corpus, even though I would expect its usefulness to be relatively limited in most churches. DB

Copyright Musical Opinion Limited May-Jul 2007

Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved

DESCANT: Ye Servants of God (Tune: Hanover) #209

Anglican clergyman, co-founder (with his brother John) of Methodism, and prolific hymnwriter Charles Wesley wrote the text to #209 "Ye Servants of God" in 1744. It is set to the tune HANOVER, attributed to William Croft. The tune HANOVER also works very well with the text "O Worship the King" (#10). Here is a descant for Hanover, with the Wesley text as found in The Christian Life Hymnal, selection 209. (Gratis permission is granted to reproduce this descant for use in your church, provided the copyright notice is on each copy reproduced.)

Paul Ferrin's AN OLD FASHIONED HYMN SING welcomes THE CHRISTIAN LIFE HYMNAL

Last Friday night at Living Hope Church in Colorado Springs, Paul Ferrin's AN OLD FASHIONED HYMN SING celebrated its 10th Anniversary of twice yearly city-wide hymns sings introducing THE CHRISTIAN LIFE HYMNAL as the new hymnal for use at the gatherings. In spite of a change of venue, a large crowd gathered and sang for 2 hours from the hymnal. Joining Paul was Marjorie, his wife, at the organ, Grace Merrill on the piano, and the Mesa Hills Bible Church Choir.

I had the privilege to be in attendance - and the thrill of hearing 500+ voices singing from the hymnal. Highlights for me was to hear #58 "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" (tune: Coronation), #599; "Shall We Gather at the River" with vs. 2 and 3 a cappella; singing that rollicking bass line on #282 "Wonderful Grace of Jesus"; the Trinitarian hymn #4 "Come, Thou Almighty King";

our closing hymn of the evening #363 "It Is Well with My Soul"; and the final benediction #632 The Lord's Prayer" (tune: Malotte). At the beginning of the evening, Paul read a letter from Wess Stafford, president of Compassion International expressing his congratulations on 10 years of hymn sings and his regret he could not be there in attendance due to a board meeting.

Paul and Marjorie, through their "Old Fashioned Hymn Sings" are ambassadors of good hymn singing, and it was such a joy to see them bring these hymns to life in a creative and rewarding way! I'd encourage you to check out their website and consider bringing them to your city for a hymn sing. It would be a great way to bring people from various churches together. On Friday night as I watched people from churches all over the Colorado Springs area (and some who traveled a greater distance to be there) singing together, I was reminded how music is one of the great unifiers in the body of Christ.

#354 "Come, Labor On"

I've chosen for the recessional hymn at my church this Sunday #354 "Come, Labor On," text by Jane Laurie Borthwick (translator of the hymn text "Be Still, My Soul"), 1859, set to the tune ORA LABORA by T. Tertius Noble (then organist/choirmaster at St. Thomas Church, New York) in 1918.

It was only after the bulletin was printed yesterday did I realize the choice of this hymn fell on Labor Day Weekend, but I think it is rather appropriate. This hymn may not be familiar to many of you in the evangelical tradition, but I have found it to be a great hymn of Mission and Evangelism. It is one of only a handful of hymns in the Christian Life Hymnal with a unison/accompaniment setting (about 10 total - all the rest are scored for congregational 4-part singing - but more on that in a future posting).

Here are the lyrics:

Come, labor on!
Who dares stand idle, on the harvest plain
While all around him waves the golden grain?
And to each servant does the Master say, “Go work today.”

Come, labor on!
The enemy is watching night and day,
To sow the tares, to snatch the seed away;
While we in sleep our duty have forgot, He slumbered not.

Come, labor on!
Away with gloomy doubts and faithless fear!
No arm so weak but may do service here:
By feeblest agents may our God fulfill
His righteous will.

Come, labor on!
Claim the high calling angels cannot share—
To young and old the Gospel gladness bear;
Redeem the time; its hours too swiftly fly.
The night draws nigh.

Come, labor on!
No time for rest, till glows the western sky,
Till the long shadows o’er our pathway lie,
And a glad sound comes with the setting sun,
“Well done, well done!”

For information on Noble, the composer of the tune, click here.

For information on Borthwick, the author of the hymn, click here.

To hear a recording of the hymn, click here.