Music Notes for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost — August 25, 2024

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name – Text: Edward Perronet (1726-1792); John Rippon (1751-1836) / Music: William Shrubsole (1759?-1806)

 

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This morning’s offertory hymn, All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, is a hymn with a complicated history. The first verse appeared in the November 1779 Gospel Magazine to the tune of “Shrubsole”, afterwards known as “Miles Lane”. In the April 1780 edition of the same magazine, the complete hymn was given with the title “On the Resurrection, the Lord is King.” Through a lot of cross-referencing, experts are quite certain the author of this text was Edward Perronet. Four years after this publication, G. Burder, in his Collection, adapted the hymn giving it four stanzas, altering some text, and titled it “The Coronation Hymn.” John Rippon, in his 1787 Selection of Hymns, also altered the text. Most modern hymns are now based on a combination of Perronet’s and Rippon’s text. The variations and different pairings of the text abound, but many hymnals include four stanzas: 1-3 by Perronet and altered by Rippon, and stanza 4 by Rippon.

There are three main tunes for this hymn: “Coronation” is found in most American hymnals along with “Diadem”, which is also found in hymnals from Great Britain along with “Miles Lane”. “Coronation” features a sturdier marching feel, while “Diadem” is more ornate and includes elaborate harmonies. “Miles Lane”, which we sing this morning, has a wide melodic range, and a climax in the refrain.

All hail the power of Jesu’s name;
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
To crown him Lord of all.

Crown him, ye morning stars of light,
Who fixed this floating ball;
Now hail the Strength of Israel’s might,
And crown him Lord of all.

Crown him, ye martyrs of your God,
Who from his altar call;
Praise him whose way of pain ye trod,
And crown him Lord of all.

Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race,
Ye ransomed of the fall,
Hail him who saves you by his grace,
And crown him Lord of all.

Hail him, ye heirs of David’s line,
Whom David Lord did call;
The God incarnate, Man divine,
And crown him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
The wormwood and the gall,
Go spread your trophies at his feet,
And crown him Lord of all.

Let every tribe and every tongue
To him their hearts enthral,
Lift high the universal song,
And crown him Lord of all.

Gerald Harder

 

 

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Music Notes for The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — August 18, 2024

Tell out, my soul – Text: Song of Mary (Luke 1:46-56); para. Timothy Dudley-Smith (b. 1926). Music: Walter Greatorex (1877-1949)

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Timothy Dudley-Smith was born in Manchester on December 26, 1926. A graduate of Pembroke College at Cambridge, he served as a parish priest, Archdeacon of Norwich and then as Bishop of Thetford from 1981 to 1991. He has written about four hundred hymns, including this paraphrase of the Magnificat.

The dramatic character of “Woodlands” makes it a perfect tune for the bold text of the Magnificat and Dudley-Smith’s paraphrase. Walter Greatorex, who composed this tune in 1916, began his musical education as a chorister at King’s College, Cambridge, and received his university music training at St. John’s College, Cambridge.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy name—the Lord, the mighty one.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by;
proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.

Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children’s children and forevermore!

Gerald Harder

 

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