This is a c18 text by Thomas Olivers based an older Jewish original and Rev 4-5. There are many other verses and variations but the text below is as per CWB II.
The God of Abraham praise, Who reigns enthroned above; Ancient of everlasting days And God of love. The Lord the great I AM! By earth and heaven confessed; We bow and bless the sacred name Forever blessed.
The God of Abraham praise, Whose all sufficient grace Shall guide us all our happy days In all our ways. He calls us each a friend; He calls himself our God. And he shall save us to the end Through Jesus’ blood.
He by himself has sworn; We on his oath depend. We shall, on eagle wings up borne, To heaven ascend. We shall behold his face; We shall his power adore And sing the wonders of his grace Forever more.
The God who reigns on high The great archangels sing, And “Holy, holy, holy!” cry, “Almighty King!” Who was and is the same. And evermore shall be: the Lord, our Father, Great I AM! Eternally.
Before the Saviour’s face the ransomed nations bow, all praising his almighty grace, forever new. He shows his wounds of love, they kindle to a flame and sound through all the worlds above the slaughtered lamb.
The whole triumphant host Give thanks to God on high. “Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!” They ever cry. Hail, Abraham’s God and mine! I join the heavenly lays: All might and majesty are thine And endless praise!
This is a typical CWB II hymn. A text from c20, with a tune from much further back in time – here c18.
The text is by Bryn Rees and will suit any liturgy with a focus on the Reign of God. Godsongs has background on the author and the hymn. The text is here.
CWB II chooses to set it to HANOVER by William Croft. My backing is more fake organ from BIAB.
There is no misprint in the title, this is from Catholic Worship Book I. It is also in The New Living Parish Hymn Book 269.
It is a charming 70s song for Eucharist from Mark Arnold. Brett was looking into copyright for it and it resides with the author whom we don’t know how to find. I’ll put it out there for anyone who might know a bit more about the song and its author. Being in the two hymn books noted suggests an Australian songsmith.
I have already looked at this song here as set to OLD HUNDREDTH.
The text by Charles William Everest is here set to ERHALT UNS HERR.
1 “Take up your cross,” the Savior said, “if you would my disciple be; take up your cross with willing heart, and humbly follow after me.”
2 Take up your cross; let not its weight fill your weak spirit with alarm; Christ’s strength shall bear your spirit up and brace your heart and nerve your arm.
3 Take up your cross, heed not the shame, and let your foolish heart be still; the Lord for you accepted death upon a cross, on Calv’ry’s hill.
4 Take up your cross, then, in Christ’s strength, and calmly ev’ry danger brave: it guides you to abundant life and leads to vict’ry o’er the grave.
This is Michael Herry’s setting of the same test for Psalm 34 from The Grail That was in yesterday’s post.
He provides the full text and sheet music for free here, although it is in C rather than D as in CWB II. He sings the refrain here (19B). The verses are chanted.
The first line of the antiphon in CWB II is all that is needed. There is a second line there not in Herry’s online version, that instead of repeating “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord,” adds “Come receive the living bread of God,” which would make it unsuitable for the Psalm but fine for Eucharist as a mantra I suppose.
My string band backing is just the chorus because BIAB can’t do chant.
As promised, more settings of Psalm 34. This time it is by Christopher Willcock, setting the text from The Grail. The refrain is singable by an assembly, if you drop the key somewhat, and the verses will test your cantor.
The sheet music is at OCP where they do lower it from Eb to D. This version of the text is in their preview.
I've worked my way through the As One Voice books and other collections making backings on Band in a Box to help me (& you if you're interested) learn new songs for church. This is aimed at churches and musicians that own the collections but haven't exploited them fully. If you don't have them they are certainly worth buying. This site is educational, nonprofit and designed to enhance the commercial prospects of songwriters. This site does not distribute copyrighted sheet music.
Disclaimer
Any opinions expressed here are personal views and not the responsibility of any Church.
All music backings posted are created by myself and the intention is for them to be used to learn the songs. If any copyright holder wishes me to cease publicising and promoting their wares and directing people to where sheet music can be legally purchased please let me know.
Mason’s “Mass of Glory and Praise”
To access my backings for Paul Mason's mass go to Feb 2011 in the archive.
