Hymn Story: The Nail-Pierced Hands
The Nail-Scarred Hand was written by Baylus B. McKinney in 1924. He was born on July 22, 1886 in Heflin, Louisiana, attended the Bush Conservatory of Music and awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree…
Behind the Christmas Carol: Angels We Have Heard on High
Angels We Have Heard on High commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ found in the Gospel of Luke. The song focuses on the shepherds encounter with the angels foretelling of the birth of the newborn…
Behind the Christmas Carol: Go Tell It on the Mountain
African Americans have a rich musical history through the use of passing down stories in the guise of a song. These songs are called spirituals and the slaves often sung them in the fields, while…
Behind the Christmas Song: The Birthday of the King
This is a beautiful Christmas song that Daddy and I performed together many times. The lyrics and music were written by William H. Neidlinger in 1890. No other information is known about this beautiful Christmas…
Behind the Christmas Carol: O Little Town of Bethlehem
Imagine traveling to the Holy Land and being inspired by the places where Jesus was born, walked, died and rose from the grave. To ride by horseback out to the fields where the shepherds attended…
Behind the Christmas Carol: Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
The hymn we sing today as Hark! The Herald Angels Sing has had many alterations since it originated. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing first appeared in the 1739 Hymns and Sacred Poems. This is one…
Behind the Song: O Holy Night
In 1847, Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure was most likely shocked when the parish priest asked him to write a poem for Christmas Mass. De Roquemaure was the commissioner of wines in a small French town and…
Behind the Hymn: We Gather Together
We Gather Together is a popular hymn sung at Thanksgiving. The song was written in 1597 by Adrianus Valerius. The original title of the Dutch hymn was “Wilt heden nu treden“. The song was written…
Behind the Song: Ave Maria
Franz Schubert composed the popular Catholic hymn in 1825, as part of his Opus 52. He titled the song “Ellens dritter Gesang” or Ellen’s Third Song. Philip Adam Storck translated and published the poem Lady…
Behind the Hymn: America the Beautiful
In honor of Veteran’s Day this week, I wanted to look at a beloved Patriotic hymn. Katharine Lee Bates and a group of colleagues ascended up Pike’s Peak by prairie wagon in the summer of…
Behind the Hymn: All Hail King Jesus
Dave Moody was preparing for the worship service he was to lead that evening in 1977. He sat down at the piano and began to worship God. A song came to him, and as he…
Behind the Hymn: Majesty
This is Mama’s favorite song. In honor of her birthday this week, I thought I would cover the history of this song of praise. The song was written by Jack William Hayford, who is a…
Behind the Song: The Savior is Waiting
This hymn was written by Ralph Carmichael in the mid-1950s. Mr. Carmichael shares that his pastor, Lester Harnish, requested he write a new hymn to be used as an invitation each night for the upcoming…
Behind the Song: Burdens Are Lifted At Calvary
This hymn was written in 1952 by Rev. John M. Moore. Rev. Moore was born in Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, Scotland on September 1, 1925. He shares that he was raised by godly parents and…
Behind the Hymn: All Hail the Power of Jesus Name
Edward Perronet was born in 1726 England, the grandson of a French immigrant. He followed in his father’s footsteps and entered the ministry. He became close friends with John and Charles Wesley, eventually leaving the…
Behind the Hymn: Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross
This popular hymn was written by Fanny Crosby, author of over 8,000 hymns and songs. She often collaborated with composer William Doane. Doane wrote the music and then the melody was played for Crosby. Upon…