If you lived southwest of London, in the late 1700’s to mid-1800’s, you might know some of the most fervent and self-denying Christian reformers in the history of the faith. One was the man most responsible for getting a sluggish British Parliament to repudiate the slave trade.
A hymn that I've known since childhood....and I loved the tie-in to the Clapham society and the British & Foreign Bible Society. I have a 160-yr old B&FBS Bible that belonged to my great-grandfather, a Methodist minister who came to PA from England in the late 19th century.
That's a wonderful family heirloom, for sure, and represents a fine heritage, as well. I grew up in a Methodist church, and the hymn singing was a tremendous treasure to me. I would consider myself deprived to have grown up without congregational singing of traditional hymns.
A fresh longing was brought to the fore while reading this. Its been thirty-years since my grandfather’s death and yet you’ve brought his voice again to my ear. “I love to tell the story” was one of the hymns he sang everyday. Thank you for bringing him and it to my ear anew.
This one was new to me, so I listened at your Norman Luboff link. Naturally, YouTube offered the same title from other artists, whose style, I must admit, I prefer. First there were the Oak Ridge Boys (they're ANCIENT now -- I haven't watched them perform in decades -- but I like their version a lot). And then, of course, "Old Ern" from Tennessee, whose version was wonderful. And finally, Alan Jackson, another country guy I haven't seen for years, but who is quite well-preserved. I think the hymn benefits from a seriously good baritone/bass element. It's a lovely hymn, not burdened by sentimentality as so many of its genre can be. Many thanks.
Claudia, I'll have to look for Ernie Ford's rendition now! He had quite a well trained voice, not corn-pone at all like his comic persona. But I wanted to emphasize with this hymn the experience of congregational singing that was common in the not-THAT-remote past, and so chose a SATB version by a mixed choir. The men are singing in this choir, but no one is hot-dogging the hymn, and even the sopranos are staying in line. They sang it straight! And yes, the hymn is quite simple and direct, with nothing mushy about it. I didn't grow up with this one, either, but learned it in the days of the Jesus People. It stayed with me!
A hymn that I've known since childhood....and I loved the tie-in to the Clapham society and the British & Foreign Bible Society. I have a 160-yr old B&FBS Bible that belonged to my great-grandfather, a Methodist minister who came to PA from England in the late 19th century.
That's a wonderful family heirloom, for sure, and represents a fine heritage, as well. I grew up in a Methodist church, and the hymn singing was a tremendous treasure to me. I would consider myself deprived to have grown up without congregational singing of traditional hymns.
A fresh longing was brought to the fore while reading this. Its been thirty-years since my grandfather’s death and yet you’ve brought his voice again to my ear. “I love to tell the story” was one of the hymns he sang everyday. Thank you for bringing him and it to my ear anew.
Roger, we are so glad that this hymn brought your grandfather's singing back to you! What a delightful and dear memory you have shared of him.
This one was new to me, so I listened at your Norman Luboff link. Naturally, YouTube offered the same title from other artists, whose style, I must admit, I prefer. First there were the Oak Ridge Boys (they're ANCIENT now -- I haven't watched them perform in decades -- but I like their version a lot). And then, of course, "Old Ern" from Tennessee, whose version was wonderful. And finally, Alan Jackson, another country guy I haven't seen for years, but who is quite well-preserved. I think the hymn benefits from a seriously good baritone/bass element. It's a lovely hymn, not burdened by sentimentality as so many of its genre can be. Many thanks.
Claudia, I'll have to look for Ernie Ford's rendition now! He had quite a well trained voice, not corn-pone at all like his comic persona. But I wanted to emphasize with this hymn the experience of congregational singing that was common in the not-THAT-remote past, and so chose a SATB version by a mixed choir. The men are singing in this choir, but no one is hot-dogging the hymn, and even the sopranos are staying in line. They sang it straight! And yes, the hymn is quite simple and direct, with nothing mushy about it. I didn't grow up with this one, either, but learned it in the days of the Jesus People. It stayed with me!