In a way, I'm happy you weren't able to find many versions in a choral setting to choose from. This acapella version is perfect. Every word is discernible. This hymn is truly beautiful and uplifting. As always, thank you.
Yes, it is a lovely arrangement, and the singers are excellent. Usually we try for a setting that would be singable in a congregation. There are tremendous such with Kingsfold set to "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say," which is the better-known hymn, and a great favorite, of course.
Sigh. This was my wife Angelee's (and my) favorite hymn, and one we chose for several occasions (eg, both funerals of our two babies, and other things). We often quoted those last two lines, "Should we forget our Savior's praise/The stones themselves would sing".
And the melody ("Kingsfold") is just SO agonizingly beautiful, again a favorite -- one that Ralph Vaughan Williams used to powerful effect in his piece, "5 Variants of Dives & Lazarus." Hard for me to even listen to without choking up (as I am indeed doing as I type this while listening to the linked hymn along with the Dives and Lazarus piece in the background).
I'll just add that so many of the things in Word and Song are wonderful and strengthening and beautiful for many different reasons, but (and I suppose it's sorta like how whatever Narnian book you happen to be reading at the moment is your favorite -- still, I proclaim this with honest feeling) to me, today's column here encompasses and shines out on a hill what Word and Song is, in the end, really all about.
Ah, Stanley .. I'm glad you shared that with us. And your last paragraph just brought tears to my eyes. We've been pressing on to get the Word & Song essays out, while Jessica has been gravely ill in the hospital ... and you assure me that the project is worth our efforts. God bless you. Angelee was a rare soul.
Oh this is good! Thank you. Thank you for reminding me how good it is, to be His child……🥲
In a way, I'm happy you weren't able to find many versions in a choral setting to choose from. This acapella version is perfect. Every word is discernible. This hymn is truly beautiful and uplifting. As always, thank you.
Yes, it is a lovely arrangement, and the singers are excellent. Usually we try for a setting that would be singable in a congregation. There are tremendous such with Kingsfold set to "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say," which is the better-known hymn, and a great favorite, of course.
Sigh. This was my wife Angelee's (and my) favorite hymn, and one we chose for several occasions (eg, both funerals of our two babies, and other things). We often quoted those last two lines, "Should we forget our Savior's praise/The stones themselves would sing".
And the melody ("Kingsfold") is just SO agonizingly beautiful, again a favorite -- one that Ralph Vaughan Williams used to powerful effect in his piece, "5 Variants of Dives & Lazarus." Hard for me to even listen to without choking up (as I am indeed doing as I type this while listening to the linked hymn along with the Dives and Lazarus piece in the background).
I'll just add that so many of the things in Word and Song are wonderful and strengthening and beautiful for many different reasons, but (and I suppose it's sorta like how whatever Narnian book you happen to be reading at the moment is your favorite -- still, I proclaim this with honest feeling) to me, today's column here encompasses and shines out on a hill what Word and Song is, in the end, really all about.
The stones themselves would sing, indeed.
So beautiful! You have written what I have thought of Word and Song, only you have said it so perfectly.
Ah, Stanley .. I'm glad you shared that with us. And your last paragraph just brought tears to my eyes. We've been pressing on to get the Word & Song essays out, while Jessica has been gravely ill in the hospital ... and you assure me that the project is worth our efforts. God bless you. Angelee was a rare soul.