A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Music

Comfort Comfort Now His People

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I wasn’t introduced to this older hymn until this year.   I thought the words were nice, and it makes for a nice advent/Christmas song. 

Written by Johannes Olearius, a pastor from Germany back in the mid-1600’s.  Mr. Olearius was an author of a Bible commentary as well as devotionals.   He also put together the Geistliche Singe-Kunst, which was one of the largest and most important German hymnals of the 17th Century.

Lyrics

Comfort, comfort ye My people,
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning ’neath their sorrow’s load;
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover,
And her warfare now is over.

For the herald’s voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Bidding all men to repentance,
Since the kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way!
Let the valleys rise to meet Him,
And the hills bow down to greet Him.

Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger
He will no more see nor heed.
She has suffered many a day,
Now her griefs have passed away,
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever springing gladness.

Make ye straight what long was crooked,
Make the rougher places plain:
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits His holy reign,
For the glory of the Lord
Now o’er the earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

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Two verses in most hymnals, but four in others, sometimes sung with a descant.  A Lovely song of advent, reminding us of our wait for our Saviour.

Written by Charles Wesley.  Other hymns that I have featured by Wesley are as follows:

Charles Wesley ministered in the 1700’s.  He wrote more than 150 hymns.  He started out his ministerial life within the Church of England, but later took to preaching in open fields. Upon his death he asked to be buried in a graveyard for Church of England members and it was allowed. 

Lyrics

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Below I put a video with a different tune, but I like it so thought you might too!  Sorry if I’m wrong.  🙂

Saviour, Thy Dying Love

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Saviour thy dying love, a quiet song of worship.  A person seeing what Christ did for him/her and wanting to give something back to the Lord.  This worshiping person works through what they can give, to the Lord who died, and now sustains their feeble faith.   A great song to offer to the Lord.

saviour, thy dying love

Lyrics

Savior, Thy dying love
Thou gavest me.
Nor should I aught withhold,
Dear Lord, from Thee.
In love my soul would bow,
My heart fulfill its vow,
Some offering bring Thee now,
Something for Thee.

O’er the blest mercy seat,
Pleading for me,
My feeble faith looks up,
Jesus, to Thee.
Help me the cross to bear,
Thy wondrous love declare,
Some song to raise, or prayer,
Something for Thee.

Give me a faithful heart,
Likeness to Thee.
That each departing day
Menceforth may see
Some work of love begun,
Some deed of kindness done,
Some wanderer sought and won,
Something for Thee.

All that I am and have,
Thy gifts so free,
In joy, in grief, through life,
O Lord, for Thee!
And when Thy face I see,
My ransomed soul shall be
Through all eternity,
Something for Thee.

Sylvanus Phelps penned this lovely hymn in 1862.  It was originally entitled “Some­thing, my God, for Thee.”  He lived 1816-1895.  A Con­nec­ti­cut boy he was educated at Brown University in Rhode Island. He pastored at First Baptist in New Haven, Rhode Island.   

We know of four hymns that he wrote.  Hemarried and had a son who went on to become a preacher, author and professor.

Comments

I love the words of this hymn, a lovely song of worship, recognizing what Christ gave to us, and what we in turn give to him. 

These words strike me everytime I sing this song.

My feeble faith looks up,
Jesus, to Thee.
Help me the cross to bear,

This is me. My feeble faith needs the Lord.  Without him my faith struggles to survive. But Christ sustains, and the end result of that, is want to find a way to live my life for him.  Don’t you find the same?  

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

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I have sung When I Survey the Wondrous Cross for way to many years.  I’m not meaning that in a bad way.  It’s just so familar I have most of it memorized.   Another Isaac Watts song for you to enjoy. 

When I survey the wondrous cross

Lyrics

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 to 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?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

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.

To Christ, who won for sinners grace
By bitter grief and anguish sore,
Be praise from all the ransomed race
Forever and forevermore.

This first youtube video is a tune I don’t often hear, but I thought it was a pretty tune and therefore thought you all might like it too, or perhaps it’s a version that YOU are familiar with. 🙂

History

lsaac Watts is the author of this lovely hymn.  According to the Center for Church Music, this song was written for a communion service. It was originally called “Crucifixion to the World by the Cross of Christ”.

Watts lived from 1674 to 1748.  Born in Southampton, England he became a Congregational Minister. He wrote at least 750 hymns over his lifetime. He enjoyed teaching more than preaching, and loved to train people.  Preaching to a particular denomination leaning was not his interest.

He eventually took a job as a private tutor for the Hartopps, and through them got to know the Abneys. Watts lived with the Abneys for a large portion of his life. 

Comments

The lyrics I found in the Cyber Hymnal contained five verses that I am very familiar with.  The sixth verse is a new one to me. It’s one of the things I find fascinating with looking at the hymns. Different tradition use different verses to sing, and sometimes they add new ones, change the words, or alter the tune. 

This song is no different.  Watts wrote a fourth stanza he expected would get left out, and two other verses were later added.  I remember a conversation I had with someone on facebook.  He understood the desire of people to update hymns to today’s linguistics, but as an author he felt bad for the people who wrote the songs.  What would they think of the words they wrote being changed?

I don’t know that Watts would have minded, since he changed some of the words himself. (visit the center of church music to learn more)  It just might be something we want to be cognizant of when we change music to suit our present day sensibilities and understandings.   It would not harm us to learn the meanings of unfamiliar words and learn to praise God using them, now would it?

Other Isaac Watts Songs:

Wondrous Love

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Oh, I haven’t sung this song enough to have it memorized completely, but enough that I know Wondrous Love fairly well.  Interestingly enough it was harder than expected to find videos since a number that I found had different words to it.  Also known as What Wondrous Love.

wondrous love

Lyrics

What wondrous Love is this, oh my soul, oh my soul
What wondrous Love is this, oh my soul
What wondrous Love is this that caused the Lord of Bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down
When I was sinking down, sinking down
When I was seeking down beneath God’s righteous frown
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing
To God and the the Lamb, who is the great I AM
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on
And through eternity I’ll sing on

Who wrote is a bit of a mystery, there is no definitive answer.  It is known to be an traditional American folk though. 

Comments

Ah, to remember what Christ did for us eh?   It’s definitely a reason to sing.  I was mentioning on a fellow FMF writers blog today that I find it easier to sing a pray than to say a prayer.   This song just reminds me of that truism. 

What would you sing to the Lord in prayer?

Mansion over the Hilltop

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I am almost finished going through this little hymnbook that I have here.  It’s an old Singspiration folk Hymnal.  Anyways, I’m hoping to finish up soon so I can either give it to my lady who likes the old songbooks I have, or put it back on our hymnal shelf.   It’s a rather nice song with a forward looking theme. 

Mansion over the hilltop
I’m satisfied with just a cottage below
A little silver and a little gold
But in that city where the ransomed will shine
I want a gold one that’s silver lined
 
Refrain
I’ve got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we’ll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold
 
Don’t think me poor or deserted or lonely
I’m not discouraged I’m heaven bound
I’m but a pilgrim in search of the city
I want a mansion, a harp and a crown
 
Refrain
 
I’ve got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we’ll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold
 
Refrain

Written by Ira F. Stanphill in 1949.   He also wrote Happiness is the Lord.  Born in New Mexico, he spent most of his formative years in Kansas.   He became a pastor within the Assemblies of God.  Later on he gave up pastoring to focus on evangelistic meeting and concerting. 

According this Wiki Article I found, he was known to “Occasionally as part of his crusades, he would ask members of the congregation to suggest titles for songs. Selecting one title from the suggestions, he would write words and music for a song during the service.”  Doesn’t that show talent?

Comments

I Found it interesting when I was looking for videos to share how often the songs would start the same, but then they would vary from the tune I had in my head.  It’s a bit disconcerting to start singing along and then oops… that’s not how they are singing it!  Slight changes matter!

I love the forward looking of this old gospel tune.  Knowing what we have here, and what we have to look forward to.  Do you ever consider that?   Does it make a difference in your contentment levels to know that here is temporary.  Might be a life of struggle (or not) but either way we have something to look forward to, and that (at least for me) makes the going easier. 

Enjoy Learning Music?

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Did you know that my lad and I used to practice songs together?  We’d memorize hymns such as Rock of Ages or Silent Night.  We picked up playing the keyboard and have learned some flute.  I love music though I admittedly have lost my good singing voice. Introducing this love of music has been a goal of mine for the past 14 years.  🙂   I don’t know how successful I have been, but my lad has signed up to learn guitar this coming year.  Could it be true that my lad might enjoy learning music?

enjoy learning music

Resources

So let’s imagine that you, like me, have this desire to help your children enjoy learning music.  How might you do so?  I’ve collected some resources that may prove useful for you.

  • Classics for Kids. I LOVE this website.  My lad and I used it throughout his elementary years.  Listening to classical music, learning about the composers behind it.  Wonderful site!
  • Harmony Fine Arts has a music appreciation course that you might like. 
  • If you are learning music and want to learn some theory to go with it, Teoria and Music Theory might be sites you want to check out. 
  • Music in our Homeschool is a facebook group for folks wanting to bring music… into their homeschool!   🙂  I’ve been a member since it started I think.  It’s a pretty good group of people. 
  • Grab a song, whether it’s a hymn, folk, country, jazz or whatever. Learn songs of your choice.  Learn about the person who wrote it. Music draws people together.  Memorizing songs serves you well in your older age if you have it memorized and you can’t read the words!  🙂  (No no, not speaking from experience!) Give that gift to your children and sing together.
  • you could even head to youtube to listen to various genres of music.  See what you like and what you don’t. 

Games and More

  • SFSkids has a flash player game to learn about the orchestra.  Then go to Carnegie Hall and play an orchestra related game. Both require flash player to work. 
  • Another way to add enjoyment to your music lessons is to make your own instruments.  This can be as simple as beating a plastic bowl, taping elastics to a box, or blowing on a piece of grass held between your palms.  There are kits to build your own ukulele.  
  • Two years ago we got a subscription to the K-W Symphony.  Just a two ticket package for six different shows.  The lad and Dad went a couple times on their own, and I and Dad and then twice we bought an extra ticket so we could all go.  It was a TOTAL hoot! The lad loved it and got to listen to many different styles of music.  He developed a love of classical and plays it while he does his school work.   We would LOVE to do this again sometime.  🙂   If you can… do it!

Reviews I’ve Done

  • Maestro Classics is a fun way to learn music.  CD’s telling a story about music and composers.  It’s a great listen. 
  • Learning piano or organ?  You might want to check out this free music site called Simply Music.  This is my review. 

In Conclusion

I hope you have found something to help your students enjoy learning music.  Adding music into your life will add depth and enjoyment to your life. Music is a good thing!  🙂

This post is my last in the write 31 days challenge.  I know some I was very strict and stuck to the five minute rule and others I just included it as part of another post.  It’s okay to do that you know, sometimes you have to bend the rules to make a challenge work.  🙂  

enjoy