Old Hymns for a New Virus
Hymn histories are from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, except where noted.
HOW GREAT THOU ART
Arrangement by Rebecca Belliston and Dale Wood
"How Great Thou Art" is a Christian hymn based on a Swedish traditional melody and a poem written by Carl Boberg (1859–1940) in Mönsterås, Sweden, in 1885. It was translated into German and then into Russian. It was translated into English from the Russian by English missionary Stuart K. Hine, who also added two original verses of his own. It was popularised by George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows during the Billy Graham crusades. It was voted the United Kingdom's favorite hymn by BBC's Songs of Praise. "How Great Thou Art" was ranked second (after "Amazing Grace") on a list of the favorite hymns of all time in a survey by Christianity Today magazine in 2001.
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IN THE GARDEN
Arrangement by Joel Raney ad Peggy Duquesnel
"In the Garden" (sometimes rendered by its first line "I Come to the Garden Alone") is a gospel song written by American songwriter C. Austin Miles (1868–1946), a former pharmacist who served as editor and manager at Hall-Mack publishers for 37 years. According to Miles' great-granddaughter, the song was written "in a cold, dreary and leaky basement in Pitman, New Jersey that didn't even have a window in it let alone a view of a garden." The song was first published in 1912 and popularized during the Billy Sunday evangelistic campaigns of the early twentieth century by two members of his staff, Homer Rodeheaver and Virginia Asher.
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LORD, YOU HAVE COME TO THE LAKESHORE
Arrangement by John Carter
Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore, in some versions You Have Come to the Seashore (Spanish: Pescador de hombres, "Fisher of Men") is a 1974 Spanish religious song by Cesáreo Gabaráin. It was translated into English by Gertrude C. Suppe, George Lockwood and Raquel Gutiérrez-Achon. It was Pope John Paul II's favorite song, and the Polish lyrics (titled Barka, "The Barge") were written by a Salesian of Don Bosco Stanisław Szmidt also in 1974.
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I'VE GOT PEACE LIKE A RIVER
Arrangement by Martha Sherrill Kelsey
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SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS
Arrangement by Charity Book Putnam
There shall be showers of blessings is a Christian hymn which was written in 1883 by Daniel Webster (1840–1901) under the pseudonym of D. W. Whittle. It was given music by James McGranahan. The hymn is based on the "showers of blessing" referred to in Ezekiel 34:26–27. Webster wrote under various pseudonyms, including Daniel W. Whittle, Daniel Webster White, Whittle Daniel, Nathan and El Nathan.
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JUST A CLOSER WALK
Arrangement by Jack Schrader
"Just a Closer Walk with Thee" is a traditional gospel song that has been performed and recorded by many artists. Performed as either an instrumental or vocal, "A Closer Walk" is perhaps the most frequently played number in the hymn and dirge section of traditional New Orleans jazz funerals. The title and lyrics of the song allude to the Biblical passage from 2 Corinthians 5:7 which states, "We walk by faith, not by sight" and James 4:8, "Come near to God and He will come near to you."
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PRAISE HIM! PRAISE HIM!
Arrangement by Ted Cornell
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BLESSED ASSURANCE
Arrangement by Jerry Carraway
"Blessed Assurance" is a well-known Christian hymn. The lyrics were written in 1873 by blind hymn writer Fanny Crosby to the music written in 1873 by Phoebe Knapp.
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WHAT A FRIEND
Arrangement by John Innes
"What a Friend We Have in Jesus" is a Christian hymn originally written by preacher Joseph M. Scriven as a poem in 1855 to comfort his mother, who was living in Ireland while he was in Canada. Scriven originally published the poem anonymously, and only received full credit for it in the 1880s. The tune to the hymn was composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868. William Bolcom composed a setting of the hymn.
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JESUS LOVES ME
Arrangement by Roger Summers
"Jesus Loves Me" is a Christian hymn written by Anna Bartlett Warner (1827–1915). The lyrics first appeared as a poem in the context of an 1860 novel called Say and Seal, written by her older sister Susan Warner (1819–1885), in which the words were spoken as a comforting poem to a dying child. The tune was added in 1862 by William Batchelder Bradbury (1816–1868). Along with his tune, Bradbury added his own chorus "Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus Loves me..." After publication as a song it became one of the most popular Christian hymns in churches around the world, especially among children.
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Below is a picture of The Artist, also known as Saint Karmen. As always she appears artistically inspirational, although some say she appears inspirationally artistic. Her irrepressible enthusiasm for the Lord's hymns is demonstrated via this picture, taken with a tele-photo lens while maintaining a safe distance of sixty feet. The careful observer of the notes on her face covering will conclude that The Artist is a fan of Antonín Dvorák, although debate continues on whether the notes are from his "Seventh Symphony" or his opera "Rusalka." When asked about the notes she will offer matter-of-factly that they are from the prelude to "Jesus Loves Me."
Regardless of the preceding statements, please believe that she offers the recordings on this page out of love for all God's children, and in the hopes that your spirits will be soothed and/or raised!
Regardless of the preceding statements, please believe that she offers the recordings on this page out of love for all God's children, and in the hopes that your spirits will be soothed and/or raised!