What Wondrous Love
The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
September 1, 2019
It is always interesting to hear different musical settings of the same text. As we listen and sing, we can gain new insights into the meaning and significance of familiar words.
In today's liturgy, we will hear two settings of "What wondrous love is this" - one for organ, one for choir. The anonymous text first appeared in hymnals in the early 19th century, and it was a new addition to The Hymnal 1982. The metre and rhyme scheme are unusual. The hymn uses a poetic structure known as the "Captain Kidd" metre because of its use in an 18th century ballad about the famous pirate. This early American text is rich in scriptural images.
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 lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
to lay 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 them, 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.
The tune, Wondrous Love, is an American folk hymn. It appeared in The Southern Harmony, published in 1835, and numerous other shape-note books. The organ prelude by David N. Johnson (1922-1987) is an arrangement of this hauntingly beautiful tune. Hear a recording: What Wondrous Love Is This
The offertory anthem reframes the text in a new musical setting by Charles Dupree. Father Dupree is an Episcopal priest serving as rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia. This lyrical setting, accompanied by piano, casts new light on this traditional text.
As you listen to both settings this morning, follow and reflect on the words in The Hymnal 1982, #439. How does each musical setting effectively convey the meaning of the words? When listening to the shape-note tune, do you feel a sense of connection with our early American forebears? When listening to the newer musical setting, is there an emphasis on different words or ideas?
This type of active listening can be a form of prayer. It allows us to deeply interact with the words of our hymns, spiritually engaging these texts in new ways.
Music for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
September 1, 2019
Hymns
423 Immortal, invisible, God only wise (St. Denio)
637 How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord (Lyons)
822 Through north and south (Lasst uns erfreuen)*
763 As we gather at your table (Raquel)*
705 As those of old their first fruits brought (Forest Green)
437 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord (Birmingham)
Service Music
Gloria in excelsis S-280, Robert Powell
Psalm 112 S-415, Simplified Anglican chant
Sanctus S-129, Powell
Fraction Anthem S-152, Ambrosian chant, arr. Martens
Anthem
What Wondrous Love -Charles Dupree
Organ Voluntaries
Wondrous Love -Southern folk tune, arr. David N. Johnson
Toccata in A Minor -Jan Pieter Sweelinck
*From Wonder, Love, and Praise
September 1, 2019
It is always interesting to hear different musical settings of the same text. As we listen and sing, we can gain new insights into the meaning and significance of familiar words.
In today's liturgy, we will hear two settings of "What wondrous love is this" - one for organ, one for choir. The anonymous text first appeared in hymnals in the early 19th century, and it was a new addition to The Hymnal 1982. The metre and rhyme scheme are unusual. The hymn uses a poetic structure known as the "Captain Kidd" metre because of its use in an 18th century ballad about the famous pirate. This early American text is rich in scriptural images.
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 lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
to lay 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 them, 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.
The tune, Wondrous Love, is an American folk hymn. It appeared in The Southern Harmony, published in 1835, and numerous other shape-note books. The organ prelude by David N. Johnson (1922-1987) is an arrangement of this hauntingly beautiful tune. Hear a recording: What Wondrous Love Is This
As you listen to both settings this morning, follow and reflect on the words in The Hymnal 1982, #439. How does each musical setting effectively convey the meaning of the words? When listening to the shape-note tune, do you feel a sense of connection with our early American forebears? When listening to the newer musical setting, is there an emphasis on different words or ideas?
This type of active listening can be a form of prayer. It allows us to deeply interact with the words of our hymns, spiritually engaging these texts in new ways.
Music for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
September 1, 2019
Hymns
423 Immortal, invisible, God only wise (St. Denio)
637 How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord (Lyons)
822 Through north and south (Lasst uns erfreuen)*
763 As we gather at your table (Raquel)*
705 As those of old their first fruits brought (Forest Green)
437 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord (Birmingham)
Service Music
Gloria in excelsis S-280, Robert Powell
Psalm 112 S-415, Simplified Anglican chant
Sanctus S-129, Powell
Fraction Anthem S-152, Ambrosian chant, arr. Martens
Anthem
What Wondrous Love -Charles Dupree
Organ Voluntaries
Wondrous Love -Southern folk tune, arr. David N. Johnson
Toccata in A Minor -Jan Pieter Sweelinck
*From Wonder, Love, and Praise
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