Frederick W. Faber (1814-1863) | Words: Frederick W. Faber, 1849, alt. Music: St. Cross, John B. Dykes, in Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861 (MIDI, score). Alternate tune: | John B. Dykes (1823-1876) |
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John of Damascus (675-749) | Words: John of Damascus, 8th Century (Αὕτη ἥ κλητή κλητή καὶ ἁγία ἡμέρα); translated from Greek to English by John M. Neale, 1862. Music: Eisenach, Johann H. Schein, 1628; harmony by Johann S. Bach (1685-1750) (MIDI, score). | Johann H. Schein (1586-1630) |
Thou hallowed chosen morn of praise,
That best and greatest shinest;
Fair Easter, queen of all the days,
Of seasons, best, divinest!
Christ rose from death; and we adore
Forever and forevermore.
Come, let us taste the vine’s new fruit,
For heav’nly joy preparing;
Today the branches with the root
In resurrection sharing:
Whom as true God our hymns adore
Forever and forevermore.
Rise, Zion, rise! and looking forth,
Behold thy children round thee!
From east and west, from south and north,
Thy scattered sons have found thee;
And in thy bosom Christ adore
Forever and for evermore.
O Father, O co-equal Son,
O co-eternal Spirit,
In persons Three, in Godhead One,
And One in power and merit;
In Thee baptized, we Thee adore
Forever and for evermore.
Labels: 8th c., John of Damascus, Neale
Labels: latin
Labels: modern
Words: Unknown author, probably 6th Century (Ad regias Agni dapes); translated from Latin to English by Robert Campbell, 1849.
Music: Salzburg (Hintze), Jakob Hintze, 1678 (MIDI, score).
If you have access to a picture of Jakob Hintze or Robert Campbell that we could put online, please click here.
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing,
Praise to our victorious King,
Who hath washed us in the tide
Flowing from his piercèd side;
Praise we Him, Whose love divine
Gives His sacred blood for wine,
Gives His body for the feast,
Christ the Victim, Christ the Priest.
Where the Paschal blood is poured,
Death’s dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, Whose blood was shed,
Paschal Victim, paschal Bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we Manna from above.
Mighty Victim from the sky,
Hell’s fierce powers beneath Thee lie;
Thou hast conquered in the fight,
Thou hast brought us life and light;
Now no more can death appall,
Now no more the grave enthrall;
Thou hast opened Paradise,
And in Thee Thy saints shall rise.
Paschal triumph, Easter joy,
Only sin can this destroy;
From sin’s death do Thou set free
Souls reborn, O Lord, in Thee.
Hymns of glory and of praise,
Father, to Thee we raise;
Risen Lord, all praise to Thee,
Ever with the Spirit be.
Venantius Fortunatus (530-609) |
Music: Upp, Min Tunga, Swedish Koralbok, 1697 (MIDI, score). Alternate tune:
If you have access to a picture of Augustus Nelson that we could put online, please click here.
Praise the Savior now and ever;
Praise Him, all beneath the skies;
Prostrate lying, suff’ring, dying
On the cross, a sacrifice.
Vict’ry gaining, life obtaining,
Now in glory He doth rise.
Man’s work faileth, Christ’s availeth;
He is all our righteousness;
He, our Savior, has forever
Set us free from dire distress.
Through His merit we inherit
Light and peace and happiness.
Sin’s bonds severed, we’re delivered,
Christ has bruised the serpent’s head;
Death no longer is the stronger,
Hell itself is captive led.
Christ has risen from death’s prison,
O’er the tomb He light has shed.
For His favor, praise forever,
Unto God the Father sing;
Praise the Savior, praise Him ever,
Son of God, our Lord and King.
Praise the Spirit, through Christ’s merit,
He doth us salvation bring.
Labels: 5th c., Venantius Fortunatus
Michael Praetorius (1571-1621) | Words: Unknown author, 5th Century (Aurora lucis rutilat); translated from Latin to English in Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861, based on John M. Neale’s text in the Hymnal Noted, 1851. Music: Puer Nobis Nascitur, Trier manuscript, 15th Century, adapted by Michael Praetorius, 1609; harmony by George R. Woodward, 1910 (MIDI, score). Alternate tune:
| John M. Neale (1818-1866) |
That Eastertide with joy was bright,
The sun shone out with fairer light,
When, to their longing eyes restored,
The glad apostles saw their Lord.
He bade them see His hands, His side,
Where yet the glorious wounds abide;
The tokens true which made it plain
Their Lord indeed was risen again.
Jesus, the King of gentleness,
Do Thou Thyself our hearts possess
That we may give Thee all our days
The tribute of our grateful praise.
O Lord of all, with us abide
In this our joyful Eastertide;
From every weapon death can wield
Thine own redeemed forever shield.
All praise be Thine, O risen Lord,
From death to endless life restored;
All praise to God the Father be
And Holy Ghost eternally.
John Ellerton (1826-1893) | Words: Venantius Fortunatus, circa 590 (Salve, festa dies); translated from Latin to English by John Ellerton, 1868. Music: Fortunatus, Arthur S. Sullivan, in The Hymnary, by Joseph Barnby, 1872 (MIDI, score). Alternate tunes:
| Arthur S. Sullivan (1842-1900) |
“Welcome, happy morning!” age to age shall say:
“Hell today is vanquished, Heav’n is won today!”
Lo! the dead is living, God forevermore!
Him, their true Creator, all His works adore!
Refrain
“Welcome, happy morning!”
Age to age shall say.
Earth her joy confesses, clothing her for spring,
All fresh gifts returned with her returning King:
Bloom in every meadow, leaves on every bough,
Speak His sorrow ended, hail His triumph now.
Refrain
Months in due succession, days of lengthening light,
Hours and passing moments praise Thee in their flight.
Brightness of the morning, sky and fields and sea,
Vanquisher of darkness, bring their praise to Thee.
Refrain
Maker and Redeemer, life and health of all,
Thou from heaven beholding human nature’s fall,
Of the Father’s Godhead true and only Son,
Mankind to deliver, manhood didst put on.
Refrain
Thou, of life the Author, death didst undergo,
Tread the path of darkness, saving strength to show;
Come, then True and Faithful, now fulfill Thy Word;
’Tis Thine own third morning; rise, O buried Lord!
Refrain
Loose the souls long prisoned, bound with Satan’s chain;
All that now is fallen raise to life again;
Show Thy face in brightness, bid the nations see;
Bring again our daylight: day returns with Thee!
Refrain
Labels: 6th c., Venantius Fortunatus
Martin F. Shaw (1875-1958) | Words: John M. C. Crum, in the Oxford Book of Carols, 1928. Music: Noël Nouvelet (Sing We Now of Christmas), 15th Century French melody; arranged by Martin F. Shaw (1875-1958) (MIDI, score). |
Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,
Wheat that in the dark earth many years has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
In the grave they laid Him, Love Whom we had slain,
Thinking that He’d never wake to life again,
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
Up He sprang at Easter, like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain;
Up from the dead my risen Lord is seen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
When our hearts are saddened, grieving or in pain,
By Your touch You call us back to life again;
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
Venantius Fortunatus (530-609) | Words: Venantius Fortunatus (530-609) (Salve festa dies toto venerabilis aevo); translated from Latin to English by Maurice F. Bell in The English Hymnal (London: Oxford University Press, 1906), number 624. Music: Salve Festa Dies, Ralph Vaughan Williams, in The English Hymnal (London: Oxford University Press, 1906) (MIDI, score). Originally credited to “Anonymous,” Vaughan Williams was named as the composer in Songs of Praise, 1931. The complexity of this score makes it a challenge for congregational use (there are three versions for different occasions, which can be sung separately or combined). However, it can be quite impressive when sung by a trained choir. | Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) |
EASTER
Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
Blessed day to be hallowed forever;
Day when our Lord was raised,
Breaking the kingdom of death.
Lo, the fair beauty of the earth,
From the death of the winter arising!
Every good gift of the year
Now with its Master returns.
Refrain
Rise from the grave now, O Lord,
The author of life and creation.
Treading the pathway of death,
New life You give to us all.
ASCENSION
Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
Blessed day to be hallowed forever;
Day when our risen Lord
Rose in the heavens to reign.
He who was nailed to the cross
Is Ruler and Lord of all people.
All things created on earth
Sing to the glory of God.
Refrain
Daily the loveliness grows,
Adorned with glory of blossom;
Heaven her gates unbars,
Flinging her increase of light.
Refrain
PENTECOST
Refrain
Hail thee, festival day!
Blessed day to be hallowed forever;
Day when the Holy Ghost
Shone in the world full of grace.
Bright and in the likeness of fire,
On those who await your appearing,
You Whom the Lord had foretold
Suddenly, swiftly descend.
Refrain
Forth from the Father You come
With sevenfold mystical offering,
Pouring on all human souls
Infinite riches of God.
Refrain
ALL OCCASIONS
God the Almighty Lord,
The Ruler of earth and the heavens,
Guard us from harm without;
Cleanse us from evil within.
Jesus the health of the world,
Enlighten our minds, great Redeemer,
Son of the Father supreme,
Only begotten of God.
Spirit of life and of power,
Now flow in us, fount of our being,
Light that enlightens us all,
Life that in all may abide.
Praise to the giver of good!
O lover and author of concord,
Pour out your balm on our days;
Order our ways in your peace.
Labels: 6th c., Venantius Fortunatus
John of Damascus (675-749) | Words: John of Damascus (675-749) (Αναστάσεως ήμέρα); translated from Greek to English by John M. Neale, 1862. Music: Lancashire, Henry T. Smart, 1835 (MIDI, score). Smart wrote this tune for a music festival in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, commemorating the 350th anniversary of the Reformation in England. Alternate tunes:
| Henry T. Smart (1813-1879) |
John Neale described how early Greek Christians sang this hymn:
As midnight approached, the archbishop, with his priests, accompanied by the king and queen, left the church and stationed themselves on the platform, which was raised considerably from the ground, so that they were distinctly seen by the people. Everyone now remained in breathless expectation, holding an unlighted taper in readiness when the glad moment should arrive, while the priests still continued murmuring their melancholy chant in a low half whisper. Suddenly a single report of a cannon announced that twelve o’clock had struck and that Easter Day had begun; then the old archbishop, elevating the cross, exclaimed in a loud, exulting tone, “Christos aneste!” “Christ is risen!” and instantly every single individual of all that host took up the cry…At that same moment the oppressive darkness was succeeded by a blaze of light from thousands of tapers which…seemed to send streams of fire in all directions.
The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;
The Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.
Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright
The Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light;
And listening to His accents, may hear, so calm and plain,
His own “All hail!” and, hearing, may raise the victor strain.
Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth the song begin!
Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein!
Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend,
For Christ the Lord hath risen, our joy that hath no end.
Then praise we God the Father, And praise we Christ His Son,
With them the Holy Spirit, Eternal Three in One;
'Till all the ransomed number fall down before the throne,
And honor, pow'r and glory ascribe to God alone!
Labels: 8th c., John of Damascus, Neale
Labels: 15th c., chords, Jean Tisserand, Neale
Labels: 11th c., Wipo of Burgundy
John of Damascus (675-749) | Words: John of Damascus (675-749) (Αισωμεν πάντες Λαοί); translated from Greek to English by John M. Neale, 1859. Music: St. Kevin, Arthur S. Sullivan, 1872 (MIDI, score). Alternate tunes:
| Arthur S. Sullivan (1842-1900) |
Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought forth Israel into joy from sadness;
Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke Jacob’s sons and daughters,
Led them with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea waters.
’Tis the spring of souls today; Christ has burst His prison,
And from three days’ sleep in death as a sun hath risen;
All the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying
From His light, to Whom we give laud and praise undying.
Now the queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendor,
With the royal feast of feasts, comes its joy to render;
Comes to glad Jerusalem, who with true affection
Welcomes in unwearied strains Jesus’ resurrection.
Neither might the gates of death, nor the tomb’s dark portal,
Nor the watchers, nor the seal hold Thee as a mortal;
But today amidst the twelve Thou didst stand, bestowing
That Thy peace which evermore passeth human knowing.
“Alleluia!” now we cry to our King immortal,
Who, triumphant, burst the bars of the tomb’s dark portal;
“Alleluia!” with the Son, God the Father praising,
“Alleluia!” yet again to the Spirit raising.
Labels: 7th c., John of Damascus, Neale
Charles Wesley (1707-1788) | Words: Charles Wesley, 1739. Stanzas 8-10, author unknown, 14th Century; translated from Latin to English in Lyra Davidica. This exuberant song is one of the most popular Easter hymns in the English language. Music: Easter Hymn, composer unknown, in Lyra Davidica (London: 1708) (MIDI, score). Wesley’s words were written for use at the first worship service at the Wesleyan Chapel in London. The chapel, on the site of a former iron foundry, became known as the Foundry Meeting House, and this hymn was included in the Foundry Collection. |
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William Walker (1809-1875) |
Music: From The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, by William Walker (New York: Hastings House, 1835); arranged by William Jenson Reynolds (1920-) (MIDI, score).
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O 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 sinking 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 to 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.
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