Hymn Story: The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life, How Sweet the Fruit comes from the account of the Tree of life as recorded in the book of Genesis. I’ve been unable to uncover any information on who wrote the song. The melody is described as “Traditional American Melody”. Listening to the version below the melody is the one we know very well. It is […]

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Hymn Story: Revelation Song

Revelation Song is adapted from Revelation 5. The song was written by Jennie Lee Riddle. It was first released on May 5, 2009 on the album Fearless by Phillips, Craig and Dean. Band member Randy Phillips explained why the trio recorded the song: “This song captures the moment of looking up into Heaven, peeling back the curtain of eternity so […]

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Hymn Story: Waymaker

Waymaker is a contemporary worship song that is very popular right now. It was written by Nigerian gospel singer Sinach. She released the song as a single and music video on December 30, 2015. The following year, she released Waymaker-Live in November. The song became certified gold by the Recording Industry of South Africa. Sinach was rated as the “female […]

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Hymn Story: Earth and All Stars

Earth and All Stars was written by Herbert Brokering. He was born in 1926 and a Lutheran pastor, teacher, author of over 40 books, poet and hymn writer. He died in 2009. The tune to Earth and All Stars is the same tune used for Brokering’s other well-known hymns, “Alleluia! Christ Is Risen.”                         The tune was composed by David […]

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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 earliest compositions was the very beautiful hymn, “Oh! what if we are Christ’s”. His hymns are described as “simplicity of language, smoothness of rhythm, and […]

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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 the third section of Handel’s oratorio Judas Maccabaeus. The German Advent hymn Tochter Zion, freue dich uses the same tune. The hymn is also sometimes […]

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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 Great’s conversion to Christianity and seeing a cross which had the Latin version of “In this sign thou shalt conquer” written on it. Kitchin wrote […]

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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 Appalachian Spring, first performed in 1944. Copeland used the song a second time “in 1950 in his first set of Old American Songs.” Several Shaker […]

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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 Rest Beneath Night’s Shadow. He died in 1676 in Lubben, Germany. John Kelly was born in 1833 Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. He ministered to churches Hebburn-on-Tyne and […]

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Christmas Song Story: Christmas Canon

Christmas Canon is set to Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major. Paul O’Neill provided lyrics to Pachelbel’s music. The song is performed by Trans-Siberian Orchestra and a departure from their normal rock arrangements. The group is accompanied by a children’s choir and was released on the 1998 album The Christmas Attic. As on 2016, the song ranked 7th among the all-time […]

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Hymn Story: This is the Day

This is the Day is an upbeat song that reminds us that this is the day the Lord has made, we should be happy and rejoice. The hymn is based on Psalm 118:24, “This is the day that the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” The practice of writing songs based off of scripture dates […]

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