Is there a finer LDS hymn than "Redeemer of Israel?"

[LA Ute]

I haven't kept up on this thread, so forgive me if this has been mentioned previously.

We sang All Creatures of Our God and King as our Sunday School practice hymn. The chorister explained that the hymn was over 800 years old and was originally penned by Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals. I had no idea it was written by St. Frank or that it was that old.

If you have 25 minutes or so you can hear the entire history of that hymn here. (You'll have to scroll down a bit to find "All Creatures.") You can download the podcast to your iPod and listen while you work out. It's pretty interesting and includes a fair amount about Francis' life.

[YOhio]

I have a distaste for LDS Hymns in general, but if I had to pick one... then "Truth Reflects Upon Our Senses" or, as I know it, "真理反映" would be my favorite. I rarely hear it performed in the States, and when it is selected, the tempo chosen is way too slow (but most hymns are sung at a tempo too slow IMHO).

I served in the small town of 淡水 (in Taiwan) for 6 months. The Branch President there insisted that "真理反映" be the closing song for each and every Sacrament meeting. The BP was a funny dude (funny, like maybe just a wee bit off mentally)... and was the only Melchezidek priesthood holder in the town (aside from the missionaries), so no one really called him on it (probably no one cared to). Anyway, those 6 months of singing "Truth Reflects Upon Our Senses" (in Mandarin) every week forever seared the chorus in my memory:

神聖救主，您必領導，直到我等達彼岸，那裡有天使在等待永遠同聲讚頌您。

I can't sing the chorus of this song in English... it's hardwired into my brain now, even 20 years later.

cheers.

--rus.

Great post. Whenever I hear "Count Your Blessings," my mind always goes back to the Mandarin chorus.

注的恩典樣樣都要數 主的恩典都要接情趣

[TripletDaddy]

注的恩典樣樣都要數 主的恩典都要接情趣

Thanks a lot. Now I will have that stuck in my head all day.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I'm also partial to In Humility Our Savior, which has an exquisite melody. I ended up researching the hymn as part of my initial composing prep work. By that, I mean I usually let a musical arrangement idea simmer a bit while I do some historical research and harmonic experimentation.

It turns out that we mormonized the hymn in the 50's. There are a few different lyrics set to the tune as we know it, but the version you might find in various Protestant hymnals is Jesus What A Friend For Sinners, with lyrics by J Chapman circa 1910. Upon the discovery of this factoid, I pondered the reason for the lyrical rewrite. Were the lyrics for the original hymn too evangelical? Did someone commision Mabel Gabbot Jones to write LDS lyrics?

I guess we'll never know. But I decided to merge both lyrics into my arrangement. It sybmolizes the thought that even though the LDS faith has differences in doctrine, we have a common ground of our love for the Savior.

Anyway, here's an mp3 link to the arrangement I finished in 2005. The 3rd verse is the first verse of Jesus What A Friend For Sinners.

I know this a pretty hard group to please, but any comments are appreciated.

-J

That was a very nice arrangement. I enjoyed listening to it as I read KL's post about Ruth. Was that you on the keyboard? And did you do a choral version of that arrangement? My wife is always on the lookout for nice choral pieces for our ward. And DDD is correct; you should frequent this place more often and share some of your work here.

[Jennerstein]

注的恩典樣樣都要數 主的恩典都要接情趣

The best part of singing this is how it just rolls off the tongue. Yang yang dou yao shu(name them one by one). It's a blast to sing fast. And for non native speakers of Mandarin, you feel like a true Chinese superstar, since when singing, people can't hear your tones.

The Taiwanese members also loved singing Before Thee Lord, I Bow Thy Head. I never figured out why, maybe it reminds them of a Chinese folk song or something?

[YOhio]

The Taiwanese members also loved singing Before Thee Lord, I Bow Thy Head. I never figured out why, maybe it reminds them of a Chinese folk song or something?

God is Love and Our Mountain Home So Dear seemed to regularly appear on the Sunday set list in Taiwan.

[LA Ute]

I'm also partial to In Humility Our Savior, which has an exquisite melody. I ended up researching the hymn as part of my initial composing prep work. By that, I mean I usually let a musical arrangement idea simmer a bit while I do some historical research and harmonic experimentation.

It turns out that we mormonized the hymn in the 50's. There are a few different lyrics set to the tune as we know it, but the version you might find in various Protestant hymnals is Jesus What A Friend For Sinners, with lyrics by J Chapman circa 1910. Upon the discovery of this factoid, I pondered the reason for the lyrical rewrite. Were the lyrics for the original hymn too evangelical? Did someone commision Mabel Gabbot Jones to write LDS lyrics?

I guess we'll never know. But I decided to merge both lyrics into my arrangement. It sybmolizes the thought that even though the LDS faith has differences in doctrine, we have a common ground of our love for the Savior.

Anyway, here's an mp3 link to the arrangement I finished in 2005. The 3rd verse is the first verse of Jesus What A Friend For Sinners.

I know this a pretty hard group to please, but any comments are appreciated.

-J

I just listened. Superb. I echo DDD's invitation - don't be a stranger here!

That hymn is also one of my favorites. The author of the revised text, Mabel Jones Gabbott, is a cousin of my father's by marriage. (Dad's mother was a Gabbott and his middle name was Gabbott.) I would love the hymn anyway, regardless of any personal connection. It may be my favorite sacrament hymn.

Historical note: Not to nit-pick, but although the tune (called HYFRYDOL, Welsh for "good cheer") has been used for several hymns, the lyrics in our LDS hymnal are apparently Mabel's own work. That's what she claims, anyway, and I don't see any resemblance between her lyrics and J. Wilbur Chapman's. According to the Karen Lynn Davidson book, Our Latter-day Hymns: The Stories and the Messages, HYFRYDOL is a "well-known hymn tune" that "appears in virtually every Protestant hymnal." So Mabel simply wrote new original lyrics to a well-known tune.

I loved your arrangement of the hymn.

[Jennerstein]

That was a very nice arrangement. I enjoyed listening to it as I read KL's post about Ruth. Was that you on the keyboard? And did you do a choral version of that arrangement? My wife is always on the lookout for nice choral pieces for our ward. And DDD is correct; you should frequent this place more often and share some of your work here.

Yes, I'm playing the piano on that one. There's sheet music for it, but it's only a vocal solo and not in four part SATB. Some students in Idaho said that the chordal progressions work well as four part though. Maybe some day I'll rework the thing from the ground up as a choir piece.

I do have a SATB version of Silent Night I wrote a couple Christmases ago. I actually need to find a good choir to record that so I can hear what it officially sounds like. I was singing in the institute choir when we performed it (I wrote it for them), so I don't know what it sounds like live. I heard we butchered it though. That was comforting to hear.

[Jennerstein]

Historical note: Not to nit-pick, but although the tune (called HYFRYDOL, Welsh for "good cheer") has been used for several hymns, the lyrics in our LDS hymnal are apparently Mabel's own work. That's what she claims, anyway, and I don't see any resemblance between her lyrics and J. Wilbur Chapman's. According to the Karen Lynn Davidson book, Our Latter-day Hymns: The Stories and the Messages, HYFRYDOL is a "well-known hymn tune" that "appears in virtually every Protestant hymnal."

I loved your arrangement of the hymn.

Ah yes, that makes sense. From my original post, I didn't mean to imply that Sister Jones reworked the original lyrics, just that she came up with a completely new set for the melody. I'm glad she did, for it'd be a pity to have a hymnal without it.

Incidentally, I wrote the Mabel Gabbot Jones estate requesting permission to use her copyrighted lyrics in case I ever ended publishing the song commercially. They were most gracious.

[Surfah]

Awesome work Jennerstein. Please stick around. I wish that I had more music ability like some of you. I admit that it is something I had a natural talent for as a kid, but decided that it was dumb and I wanted to be a jock. I really wish I had continued with my music.

I love the big powerful hymns mentioned here. Redeemer of Israel, Battle Hymn of the Republic, How Firm a Foundation, Press Forward Saints, Praise to the Man, All Creatures of Our God and King, Now Let Us Rejoice, etc. I love standing and singing these as a rest hymn.

[Bo Diddley]

Redeemer of Israel is a really great hymn. But my favorite hymn is The Lord is My Shepherd, written by James Montgomery. It's based on the 23rd Psalm. The words perfectly capture the thoughts of my heart.

The Lord is my Shepherd, no want shall I know;
I feed in green pastures, safe folded I rest;
He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow,
Restores me when wand’ring, redeems when oppressed.

Through valley and shadow of death though I stray,
Since Thou art my Guardian, no evil I fear;
Thy rod shall defend me, Thy staff be my stay;
No harm can befall, with my Comforter near.

In midst of affliction my table is spread;
With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o’er;
With perfume and oil Thou anointest my head;
O what shall I ask of Thy providence more?

Let goodness and mercy, my bountiful God,
Still follow my steps till I meet Thee above;
I seek, by the path which my forefathers trod,
Through land of their sojourn, Thy Kingdom of love.

[chrisrenrut]

Redeemer of Israel is a really great hymn. But my favorite hymn is The Lord is My Shepherd, written by James Montgomery. It's based on the 23rd Psalm. The words perfectly capture the thoughts of my heart.

The Lord is my Shepherd, no want shall I know;
I feed in green pastures, safe folded I rest;
He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow,
Restores me when wand’ring, redeems when oppressed.

Through valley and shadow of death though I stray,
Since Thou art my Guardian, no evil I fear;
Thy rod shall defend me, Thy staff be my stay;
No harm can befall, with my Comforter near.

In midst of affliction my table is spread;
With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o’er;
With perfume and oil Thou anointest my head;
O what shall I ask of Thy providence more?

Let goodness and mercy, my bountiful God,
Still follow my steps till I meet Thee above;
I seek, by the path which my forefathers trod,
Through land of their sojourn, Thy Kingdom of love.

This hymn has always been interesting to me, as the melody seems to be the alto line, instead of the soprano line. I'm always confused what I'm supposed to sing if not attempting the tenor or base line (my wife doesn't like me singing tenor or base when sitting next to her, it confuses her and makes me laugh).

[Lost Student]

High on a Mountain Top. Loved listening to a MoTab recording of it on my mission.

[Pelado]

Lead, Kindly Light - especially in Spanish.

Speaking of Spanish, Secreta Oración.

[SCcoug]

Lead, Kindly Light - especially in Spanish.

Speaking of Spanish, Secreta Oración.

Rendiré !