Christmas Song Story: In the Bleak Midwinter
In the Bleak Midwinter is based on a poem by Christina Rossetti, an English poet. The poem was published in the January 1872 issue of Scribner’s Monthly under the title “A Christmas Carol”. The 1906…
Christmas Song Story: Candlelight Carol
John Rutter, an English composer and conductor, wrote Candlelight Carol in 1984. He recorded the song with his own group, the Cambridge Singers. The group released the song on their 1987 album Christmas Night. The…
Christmas Song Story: Calypso Carol
The Calypso Carol is often known by it’s opening line “See him lying on a bed of straw”. Some announcers have introduced the song as a traditional folk carol of the West Indies. However, it was…
Hymn Story: Gods Own Child
God’s own Child was written by Erdmann Neumeister. in Germany in 1671. He went on to serve as a pastor and assistant superintendent in the Eckartsberg district. In 1704, he went to tutor the daughter…
Hymn Story: Or Thy Strong Word did Cleve the Darkness
Thy Strong Word did Cleve the Darkness was written by Martin H. Franzmann. Franzmann was born in 1907 Minnesota and died in March 1976 in Cambridge, England. He wrote numerous books and hymns. He was…
Patriotic song: American Soldier
American Soldier is a song made popular by Toby Keith. He co-wrote the song with Chuck Cannon. Keith said that the song was written “for all the times that I get to meet the troops…
Hymn Story: The King of Love My Shepherd Is
The King of Love My Shepherd Is was written by Henry W. Baker. Baker was born in London, England in 1821. He took Holy Orders in 1844 and he wrote many hymns. One of his…
Hymn Story: Thine is the Glory
Thine is the Glory is often performed as an Easter song. The hymn was written by Edmond Budry, a Swiss Protestant minister. The lyrics are set to the tune “See, the Conqu’ring hero comes” from…
Hymn Story: Lift High the Cross
Lift High the Cross is a 19th Century English hymn. It was written by George Kitchin and altered by Michael R. Newbolt in 1916. It has been suggested the hymn was inspired by Constantine the…
Hymn Story: Simple Gifts
Simple Gifts is attributed to Joseph Brackett, a member of the Alfred Shaker Village. It was composed in 1848, and relatively unknown until Aaron Copeland used the melody in the score of Martha Graham’s ballet…
Hymn Story: No Tramp of Soldiers’ Marching Feet
No Tramp of Soldiers’ Marching Feet was written by Timothy Dudley-Smith. The hymn was copyrighted in 1984 by Hope Publishing Company. It is set to the tune Kingsfold which is an English folk tune dating…
Hymn Story: We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O God
We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O God was written by Stephen P. Starke. He was born in 1955 and described as “a prolific hymn writer”. In the notes below the song it says “This…
Behind the Hymn: Christ, Be My Leader
Christ, Be My Leader was written by Timothy Dudley-Smith. He was born in 1926 and served in the Church of England. He also edited the Billy Graham Crusade magazine. In the 1960s, he began writing…
Behind the Hymn: Christ is the world’s redeemer
Christ is the world’s redeemer is attributed to St. Columba, an Irish abbot, born in 521. He is credited with spreading Christianity through what is today Scotland. He is highly regarded among the Gaels and…
Behind the Hymn: Awake my heart with gladness
Awake my heart with gladness was written by Paul Gerhardt. The song was translated by John Kelly. Gerhardt was born in Gräfenheinichen, Saxony, Germany in 1607. He studied theology and wrote many hymns including Now…
Behind the Hymn: Now Rest Beneath Night’s Shadows
Now Rest Beneath Night’s Shadows was written by Paul Gerhardt. Gerhardt was born in Gräfenheinichen, Saxony, Germany in 1607. He studied theology and wrote many hymns. He endured much suffering and lived through The Thirty…
Behind the Hymn: Oh that I had a Thousand Voices
Oh that I had a Thousand Voices was written by Johann Mentzer. The song was first written in German and translated into English by Henry Mills. Mentzer was born born July 27, 1658, at Jahmen,…
Behind the Hymn: My Song is Love Unknown
My Song is Love Unknown is a hymn by Samuel Crossman. Crossman was a Puritan minister who opposed the Act of Uniformity 1662 and was exiled from the Church of England. He wrote the poem…
Behind the Hymn: The Day Thou Gavest
The Day Thou Gavest was written by John Ellerton. The hymn was first published in 1870. Ellerton was born in London, England in 1826. He was ordained to the Church of England in 1851 and…
Behind the Hymn: Now I Belong to Jesus
Now I Belong to Jesus was written by Norman J. Clayton. Clayton composed the tune Ellsworth in 1942 and a year later wrote the lyrics to this hymn to go with it. The hymn is…