Hymns - why do you like what you like?

[zil2]

Not so many Sundays ago, our ward sang "I Believe in Christ" during Sacrament meeting, and I found myself wondering why I dislike it¹.  This set me to pondering why I like the hymns I like and dislike the few I dislike, and I reached some conclusions.  (Maybe I'll tell you about them later.)  And now I'm wondering if any of you have figured out what it is that causes you to like and / or dislike hymns.  Please share (not just whether you've figured it out, but your whys).  Or take this opportunity to ponder, and then share.

 

¹Yes, I dislike it - strongly.  Please don't stone me.

[Carborendum]

Here's what I look for:

• Does the topic reflect a sentiment that is deep, truthful, and moving?
• Are the lyrics artfully crafted to convey the message with all the power of poetic imagery?
• Does the music move a person in the manner which matches both the overall topic and the lyrics?

The lyrics to I Believe in Christ are not terrible.  Elder McConkie was a very literate man who obviously had training in poetry and was a fan of literature.  But he wasn't Alfred Noyes.

As far as the music.  It was professionally done and reasonably good.  But I tend to believe that the composer was trying to channel "Bruce R. McConkie" rather than the message of "I Believe in Christ."

Among my favorites:

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

I don't like the Hymnal arrangement of Come Thou Fount.  I REALLY like the BYU Combined Choir version.  That, to me, is the definitive rendition.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

I have not yet heard a rendering I didn't like.  I'd really like to hear a version I imagined in my head.  I just wish I could have someone put it together that way.  It would require the featuring of several instruments, each for specific verses.  Beginning with heavy chimes and perhaps bells. -- Then piano. --  Strings for the "in despair".   --  Then full orchestra with the loudest organ for the verse "Then peeled the bells..."

Casting Crowns did a pretty good version that has a theme and pattern that I'm thinking of, but their arrangement doesn't have the same tone or feeling I'm going for.

Then there are the verses that are not in our Hymnal.  So, for a non-Church setting, I'd like to hear even more for 

Via Dolorosa

I don't know if this would ever be approved for our hymnal (it's possible).  But I've always been moved by it.  I was finally able to realize my dream of performing it for our Easter program.  I combined portions of four different performers to weave it into a particularly nice rendition.  And luckily, my voice behaved properly, allowing me to sing my full range.  It really was a pretty good performance.

[mikbone]

On 10/4/2024 at 2:54 PM, zil2 said:

Not so many Sundays ago, our ward sang "I Believe in Christ" during Sacrament meeting, and I found myself wondering why I dislike it¹.  This set me to pondering why I like the hymns I like and dislike the few I dislike, and I reached some conclusions.  (Maybe I'll tell you about them later.)  And now I'm wondering if any of you have figured out what it is that causes you to like and / or dislike hymns.  Please share (not just whether you've figured it out, but your whys).  Or take this opportunity to ponder, and then share.

 

¹Yes, I dislike it - strongly.  Please don't stone me.

Bruce McConkie was beloved by many but also seemed to rub many wrongly.

He was quite the scholar - when we did not have many scholars in the church, or computer searches…

He shared many of his personal conclusions as if they were LDS doctrine - when they were not.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/inspiration/i-believe-in-christ-started-as-a-testimony?lang=eng

The above link gives some context to the hymn. Essentially it’s his testimony. It may not be your or my testimony.

I can appreciate the hymn.

 

But it has no comparison to:

Come thou fount of every blessing.  I can barely get through the song without tearing and choking up.

It’s is true.  It describes the challenges of life and staying true to the faith and yourself.

I feel His mercy.

The line with Ebenezer reminds me to reflect upon my personal memories of my testimony.

It reminds me of my dependence upon Christ and his Atoning Sacrifice.

The prone to wander line is the brilliance and gut punch.  We all know it is true.  And we beg for the strength and grace to bind our hearts to him although it may be brief due to our nature and fallen state.  But it gives us HOPE.

The music is beautiful and no doubt inspired.

 

If you could hie to Kolob. is another one.

Pure truth and it focuses us on an eternal perspective.  It brings us out of the muck and into the heavens.

I made a pandora channel based upon the above.  You should give it a try.

 

Gethsemane - This is why we worship Christ

 

How Great Thou Art.

I sang this while in the MTC choir. It was powerful. Every time I hear it I am reminded of that moment. And I can barely hold a tune. The MTC choir welcomes all.

Edited October 14, 2024 by mikbone

[laronius]

I do not sing well and I'm sure my technique is very lacking. But some hymns just strain my vocal cords and they literally start to get sore. I Believe in Christ is one of the worst if not the worst. I like the message and I'm fine with the tune but it literally is painful to sing for me. So I don't bother anymore. 

[zil2]

Thank you! I'll reply in more detail later.  For now, a generic reply to responses thus far:

I am not trained in music in any way (beyond grade school flute lessons). I cannot sing to save my life (which is why the music in my car is at full volume - so I can sing along and not hear myself - I like singing along, but not hearing myself ).  So for me, this is not a technical or analytical question, it is a question of simple reaction to hearing a hymn.

Regarding "I Believe in Christ": I was not specifically asking about this hymn.  I was not commenting on any technical value to the hymn, nor its truthfulness, nor on Elder McConkie.  I can appreciate the message.  I like what talks and other things I've read by E. McConkie, so it's not a question of his personality / style influencing my perception of the hymn.  I just don't like it - not even when the Tabernacle Choir sing it (and I like the Choir).

@mikbone caught the theme of my question, as did @Carborendum, with some obvious differences in how they approach things.  Like Carb's response, I've identified certain common elements to the hymns I like best, and can rank the elements (to a degree) as to which are most likely to appeal to me, and which are least likely.

Finally (for the moment), the only Vaughan I'm familiar with is Stevie Ray.   (Not to get us off track, but I love this one...)

I'll have to google this other Vaughan.

[zil2]

1 hour ago, mikbone said:

 

Not bad.  A little to stringy to be my favorites.  I prefer my classical fast, loud, and full of brass and percussion.    But there would be times I would enjoy listening to these.

[zil2]

11 minutes ago, zil2 said:

I've identified certain common elements to the hymns I like best, and can rank the elements (to a degree) as to which are most likely to appeal to me, and which are least likely.

Forgot to mention - not only have I figured out the above, but I think I know why (second-level why) I prefer those elements - in other words, I could give my rendition of @Carborendum and @mikbone's answers and then add another level of why.  It seems obvious after the fact, so I suppose I just never spent any time pondering it before...

Smoke says I have to pay attention to him now...

[Traveler]

For me there is a difference between secular music and hymns.  It is the same as the difference between secular story telling or scientific speculations (and resolution) and sacred scripture.   Sacred hymns, I believe, are a musical type of scripture.

I have a great appreciation for those hymns that are standard through out the restored Church.  Though I enjoy what is often referred to as religious music – it is not the same or as sacred to me as the standardized hymns of the restoration.  I have tried to point this out to various choir directors (I feel an obligation to sing in the ward choir as part of my worship covenant).   I have difficulty reading music and my talents are limited but despite my limitations I have a sacred covenant to sing using what talents I have been given.

There are many songs of the restoration that spiritually connect me to Christ.  Often, I am so overcome by the spirit that I cannot sing them.  Among such hymns are “Oh My Father”, “The Spirit of G-d Like a Fire is Burning” and “Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy”.   Others bring invigoration and joy – like, “If You Could Hie to Kolob”.

I firmly believe that performing the music of the restoration is a type of worship that brings a spirit of light and truth and is a means of learning divine things that cannot be obtained by any other method.

 

 

The Traveler

[zil2]

On 10/5/2024 at 10:01 AM, Traveler said:

There are many songs of the restoration that spiritually connect me to Christ.  Often, I am so overcome by the spirit that I cannot sing them. 

I'm the same way.

On 10/5/2024 at 10:01 AM, Traveler said:

“If You Could Hie to Kolob”

There's a thread on the Fountain Pen Network with a title that starts "If you could..." and I always finish it with "hie to Kolob" - can't seem to stop myself!

Hoping more folk will reply, hence my delay.

[JohnsonJones]

I actually haven't had a hymn I disliked until recently.

The only hymn I dislike is Amazing Grace.

Perhaps it's my life I had prior to converting to the church, or just a general distaste, but the song has always ground at me somewhat wrongly.

It's been used massively by Baptists to point to the fact that you are saved by Grace (not a bad thing) without having to do anything on your own.  The idea that you are unable to do anything to save yourself and it is by grace, not works, that you are saved...is not the bad idea, it's that it leads to this thing that because it's grace, not works, there is nothing needed or necessary EXCEPT to simply accept and believe.

That the idea given in the Book of Mormon where the people say Eat, Drink, And be Merry and if we die tomorrow we'll be hit with a few slaps and then go on to heaven is alive and well...and I am reminded of that theology every time I hear that song.

It completely reminds me of the Baptists and others similar to that ideology throughout my life.  It's a great song, and it's a good idea, but it just seems wrong to be in our Hymnbook now. 

[zil2]

1 hour ago, JohnsonJones said:

It's a great song, and it's a good idea, but it just seems wrong to be in our Hymnbook now. 

If you look up the lyrics, you'll see that we've limited our version to verses 1, 4, and 3 - in that order!  (we left out 2, 5, and 6.)  Anywho, I expect you're not alone in your feelings.

But this doesn't tell me whether you've ever considered why you like what you do like.

[NeuroTypical]

I have inexplicable likes when it comes to music in general, which includes hymns.

- Anything by WW Phelps.   I like his story, and his style is distinctive so when you hear a hymn by Phelps, you know you're hearing one by him. 

- Lead Kindly Light, All is Well, Nearer my God to Thee, Amazing Grace:  I'm a sucker for songs about reflecting on one's life, especially by remorseful sinners, especially as one approaches death.  It's why I'm also such a fan of so many Johnny Cash songs. 

- I like eclectic.  Off the beaten path.  Undiscovered fresh takes or underdog cuts.   Therefore: 

On 10/5/2024 at 10:01 AM, Traveler said:

Others bring invigoration and joy – like, “If You Could Hie to Kolob”.

On 10/4/2024 at 4:50 PM, mikbone said:

If you could hie to Kolob. is another one.

Pure truth and it focuses us on an eternal perspective.  It brings us out of the muck and into the heavens.

Invigoration, joy, up out of the muck and into the heavens.  These folks would agree with you.

 

The Catholics seem to like it: 

 

 

It even works as an orchestral tango by homeschooled kids:

 

Edited October 7, 2024 by NeuroTypical

[zil2]

15 minutes ago, NeuroTypical said:

I have inexplicable likes when it comes to music in general, which includes hymns.

Yes, some of my likes are beyond my understandable "why"s.  (I made them their own why - am in the process of writing my response.)

15 minutes ago, NeuroTypical said:

Anything by WW Phelps.   I like his story, and his style is distinctive so when you hear a hymn by Phelps, you know you're hearing one by him.

Yes!  Him and Eliza R. Snow (she's brutal, man - like Nibley - leaves you no excuses - apparently too brutal for the current hymnal: "Think Not When You Gather to Zion"; (but a little brutal is OK: "The Time Is Far Spent") - though really, I prefer "How Great the Wisdom and the Love")

15 minutes ago, NeuroTypical said:

Lead Kindly Light

15 minutes ago, NeuroTypical said:

Johnny Cash songs

Love this version of "I Saw the Light" (Yes, I first heard it on the version of Columbo mentioned in the description! )

Edited October 7, 2024 by zil2

[NeuroTypical]

Fun Johnny Cash story I may have told before: 

When I baptized one of my kiddos, I was also in charge of the interlude music.  I loaded up an MP3 player with a selection of golden oldie primary songs sung by primary children which I downloaded from the church website, and this one from Johnny Cash.  As far as I can tell, that song is not only 100% doctrinally in alignment with LDS teachings, but also entirely relevant for someone just emerging from the waters of baptism.   Right before we headed out of the water to the dressing rooms, I leaned over to the MP3 player and hit shuffle, leaving it up to the Lord if He wanted the room of folks to go from Popcorn Popping to Ain't No Grave or not.

Edited October 7, 2024 by NeuroTypical

[zil2]

Because it's a hymn, it's a given that it must teach truth and thereby invite the Spirit.  If it doesn't seem to do this, I may like it, but it doesn't make the top of my list.  ("Scatter Sunshine" encourages good behavior, but it doesn't directly teach of (or even mention) Christ or His gospel.  An atheist who believes in treating others kindly could sing this song without finding anything objectionable.  Its presence in the hymn book kind of puzzles me.)

The following are why I like a hymn - the more of these the hymn fits, the more and more likely I like it.  These are not necessarily in order of importance (I'm not sure there is an order of importance as far as "like" goes).  I didn't list it as a separate item, but if a hymn brings the Spirit so strongly that thinking about its meaning reduces me to tears, it's at the top of my list...

1. Directly teaches of Christ.  (And even better if it includes restoration truths.)

• "I Stand All Amazed" is a good example here. I cannot both think about the meaning of the words and sing "I Stand All Amazed" - thinking about the meaning while the music is playing reduces me to tears (see also under #3 below).)  It's hard for me to identify the difference between this and "I Believe in Christ"...  Familiarity (see #5), music, emotion? ("I Stand All Amazed" is more internal and emotional, where "I Believe in Christ" is (to me at least) mostly a listing of factoids. And I can't seem to put myself in the position of "I", despite my testimony - I always experience this hymn as someone speaking to me, not as me speaking, and I have no idea why.)
• "Beautiful Savior" (children's songbook) is another I like (I seem to like lullaby music - here's MoTab, gently singing you to sleep)
• Nearly all the Sacrament, Christmas, and Easter hymns can go in here.

2. Tells a story or at least has a "character" in it.  This might be the most important for me. I often have difficulty relating or feeling connected in real life, and yet I have no difficulty "moving in and living" a story, feeling deeply the emotions of the characters - indeed, it happens automatically and subconsciously with a well-told story.  (#3 and #4 feed into this.)

• "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" is probably the best example, but a surprising number of hymns are story-like (it's a crime that we don't always sing all verses)
• "Nearer My God to Thee" took someone else pointing out that this is actually a story before I noticed it!
• "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" - what a story! I like the original text.
• Interestingly, "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" tells a story, but I don't like it.  It's too syrupy and past-tense and someone-else-y, not "this motivates me to do something-y" (see #4 and contrast with "Praise to the Man").
• "Master, the Tempest Is Raging"
• "Be Still, My Soul"
• "How Gentle God's Commands" (also #3, #4, and lullaby-like)
• "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd"
• "Onward, Christian Soldiers" (I also have a soft spot for marches - Rimsky-Korsakov does good marches)
• When you start looking, you find that a fair number of hymns at least have "characters" you can relate to, often a plot of sorts, and imagery which all work together to inspire faith in Christ.

3. Imagery, not just rhymes. To me, rhyming prose is not the same as poetry (even if technically it is poetry).  If an image is worth a thousand words, a single poetic line paints a picture.  "I Believe in Christ" is rhyming prose.  (There are three, at most, images in it, but they're weak images, IMO.)

• "High on the Mountain Top" - good imagery, a sort of plot
• "How Firm a Foundation" - especially the 4 verses we don't usually sing - it's a crime that we don't sing all 7 verses every time (though I couldn't do it - I'd be weeping like a baby if I tried - the only way I can sing some hymns is if I can manage not to think about the meaning, but then, that seems to defeat the purpose (excuse me while I get a tissue - yes, literally, just got a tissue to wipe my eyes - can't even think about the full hymn without tears)); this might be my favorite hymn.
• "Beautiful Zion, Built Above" is one that includes beautiful and inspiring imagery.  I also like the music.  (And somehow it manages not to be syrupy.)
• "Rock of Ages" - we don't sing this enough
• "Angels from the Realms of Glory" (same author as "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief") is full of powerful imagery
• The first two verses of "If You Could High to Kolob" have good imagery

4. Ascending verses - rising, increasing, whatever you want to call it. (Verses that build on each other, as well as inspire to greater obedience, nobility, virtue, whatever.)  While you could claim all or many hymns do this, some do it better than others.

• "Nearer My God to Thee" is the best example I can think of off the top of my head.  (This one ticks pretty much all the boxes.)
• "Come Come, Ye Saints" fits, too
• "The Spirit of God"
• "O My Father"

5. I have to assume that to some degree, familiarity and "what I've liked since before conscious memory" plays a part, since I like some hymns that don't fit well into the above, and these seem to be the "old favorites" - things that I would have heard over and over, even before I was born (i.e. in the womb) because our congregations sing them so often.  And I suppose we could stuff the actual tune into here - but I don't think there's any hymn I like only for the music, without the lyrics mattering...

• "Praise to the Man" probably fits here, with bits of #4 and #1's restoration aspect tossed in.  Perhaps I should add a "Joseph Smith" category - I have a particularly strong testimony of him (but that doesn't overcome the syrup of "Joseph Smith's First Prayer").  (And it's entirely possible that it's the pipes and drums and my Scottish ancestry that push this hymn into my favorites.)
• For the record, "'Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love" should only be sung to the music found in hymn #177.  #176 (not worthy of being linked) is all wrong!!

6. OK, "If You Could High to Kolob" makes me think maybe I need a new category, one related to doctrinal curiosity or pondering, or something. I do like a hymn that makes me think or perceive in a way different from my usual.

 

Sorry if my novella bored you.  I enjoyed thinking about all the reasons I like hymns and hope your own pondering of what you like, and why, was beneficial for you.   I've enjoyed reading your perceptions, and hope more folks choose to respond!

[mikbone]

2 hours ago, zil2 said:

I have to assume that to some degree, familiarity and "what I've liked since before conscious memory" plays a part, since I like some hymns that don't fit well into the above, and these seem to be the "old favorites" - things that I would have heard over and over, even before I was born (i.e. in the womb) because our congregations sing them so often. 

This reminds me of one of my favorite brain functions and words.

Redolent - Smells that evoke a sensory or emotional memory. 

I think that some music has a similar function.  

 

[JohnsonJones]

I'm not positive why I like some of the songs, probably why I'm never focused on music!

I like most of the hymns (with the one excluded I already mentioned).  If we go for those that are my favorites, I'd say it is probably due more to familiarity (sang them a lot in Sacrament meetings?) than anything else. 

I tend to like the slower ones that are reflective I suppose, and the ones that sound more triumphant (like the Spirit of God) or with faster tempos and a stronger beat (Master the Tempest is Raging, Have I done any Good in the World Today...etc).

I also like Christmas songs.

 

PS:  In relation to "I Believe in Christ" as a hymn, it's not put together as melodically or harmonically well and instead of the words matching a harmonic and more melodic song, the song and it's beats are more written around a word.  It's more like speaking in song (like some operas) rather than singing a song.  At least, that's one key difference I think with the hymn vs. other hymns (as I said, not a music master or even an apprentice speaking here).  I still like it as it is basically a testimony set to music, but it is somewhat different than other hymns in the hymnbook and I can understand why that may jar someone. 

[Carborendum]

On 10/7/2024 at 7:39 AM, zil2 said:

If you look up the lyrics, you'll see that we've limited our version to verses 1, 4, and 3 - in that order!  (we left out 2, 5, and 6.)  Anywho, I expect you're not alone in your feelings.

But this doesn't tell me whether you've ever considered why you like what you do like.

Always comes the argument about "faith v. works."  The argument always ignores "faith which results in works."

Sectarians often claim that we "depend too much" on our works rather than faith in Christ.  There is some truth to that notion.  If our desire to repent is "to avoid hellfire" is that really faith?  Instead, we repent because we realize that Christ has given us a path.  And that path gives us hope. And with that hope, comes motivation to do better and be better.

Are we really following the Lord when we have a notion that "I'm supposed to be a good person?"  I'd say it's a baby-step in the right direction.  But the more noble motivation is that when we truly understand what the Savior's Atonement really is, we will want to make use of that Atonement through faith which motivates works.

[Carborendum]

20 hours ago, zil2 said:

Because it's a hymn, it's a given that it must teach truth and thereby invite the Spirit.  If it doesn't seem to do this, I may like it, but it doesn't make the top of my list.

1. Directly teaches of Christ.  (And even better if it includes restoration truths.)

Sounds good.

20 hours ago, zil2 said:

"I Stand All Amazed"

Have you read the Spanish version?  I like the lyrics a bit better.  But yes, it is pretty profound in English as well.

20 hours ago, zil2 said:

"I Believe in Christ"

I have thought about this for a bit and realized that it is not a song of modern day.  It is a psalm.  Look at the pattern.  It follows the flow of a psalm.

While the psalms have many great messages, I don't know of many that have been made into beloved hymns.  There's "The Lord is my Shepherd."  I like the lyrics.  I like the music.  But I never really thought the two went together well.  I have a guess/theory.  I believe that the ancient Jews had a very different type of music than we do today.  And the Psalms has patterns in Hebrew that went well with their music.  But in our culture for the past several hundred years utilizes a very different music theory than they did back then.

So, my guess is that I Believe in Christ would have worked well with a different music basis than what we're used to hearing.

20 hours ago, zil2 said:

• "Beautiful Savior" (children's songbook) is another I like (I seem to like lullaby music - here's MoTab, gently singing you to sleep)

I don't know if I've ever heard that.  I'll have to check it out when I get home.

20 hours ago, zil2 said:

• "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief"

One of my favorites!

20 hours ago, zil2 said:

• "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" - what a story! I like the original text.

Well, who doesn't like that one?!

20 hours ago, zil2 said:

• Interestingly, "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" tells a story, but I don't like it.  It's too syrupy and past-tense and someone-else-y, not "this motivates me to do something-y" (see #4 and contrast with "Praise to the Man").

I'm not particularly moved by the lyrics.  But I like singing them.  Same for High on the Mountain Top.  The base part is really fun to sing.  For that song, I'm glad I don't often sing tenor.

20 hours ago, zil2 said:

• "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd"

Interesting.  This one seems to check all the boxes.  And as I think about it, I really like it.  But it has never been a memorable one for me.  I mean, I remember the lyrics.  But when I think of "my favorite hymns" this doesn't ever come to mind.

20 hours ago, zil2 said:

"If You Could High to Kolob"

I just really like the tune.  Both the tenor and bass parts are pretty cool to sing.  I don't find the subject matter to be all that inspiring.

Edited October 8, 2024 by Carborendum

[zil2]

9 minutes ago, Carborendum said:

Have you read the Spanish version?

Ages ago, when I was in college.  We would sing a hymn in Spanish at the start of one of my Spanish classes.  For some reason, I can only remember (without looking it up) some of the words to "High on the Mountain Top".

11 minutes ago, Carborendum said:

I have thought about this for a bit and realized that it is not a song of modern day.  It is a psalm.  Look at the pattern.  It follows the flow of a psalm.

Doing so isn't going to make me like it better. "Like" is not, in the case of music (as far as I can tell), a matter of comprehension or appreciation - and in this case, not even a matter of familiarity - we sing this thing often.

17 minutes ago, Carborendum said:

But when I think of "my favorite hymns" this ["Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd"] doesn't ever come to mind.

Me either, actually, but I do like it - and I was going for what I like vs dislike, not only my favorites.

14 minutes ago, Carborendum said:

I just really like the tune.  Both the tenor and bass parts are pretty cool to sing.  I don't find the subject matter to be all that inspiring.

My dad, who played piano, didn't like this one - he thought it too simple and something used too often. As for the subject mater, for some reason, I like thinking about the consequences of "eternity" and "infinity", so that aspect of this song appeals to me.

My dad had the same opinion of "Ye Elders of Israel" - which is one of my favorites (perhaps in part because I never get to hear it in Church).  It also has a story element to it.

I have a friend (woman) who absolutely detests "As Sisters in Zion" - due to its syrupy text.  I don't dislike this one, but I can't say I like it either - it sits in my "meh" zone.

[Carborendum]

5 minutes ago, zil2 said:

Doing so isn't going to make me like it better.  

 

Yeah, me neither.  But it makes me wonder if we might like it better with the tune from Ancient Israel.

At the same time, I was just going over the tune in my head and realized that there are parts where it is really good.

Notice: "I'll raise my voice in praise and joy.  In grand amens my tongue employ."  The music really captures that part.  And I recall the MoTab version being even more grandiose there. . .  Hmm.  I think I really liked the MoTab version.  Errr... the Tabernacle Choir On Temple Square version.

5 minutes ago, zil2 said:

My dad, who played piano, didn't like this one - he thought it too simple and something used too often.

This just made me realize that playing a song on the piano is very different than singing it.  I get different sensations from it depending on the medium.  Yes, the piano would be very repetitive.  But the joy as a singer is triggered by different criteria.  At least, it does to me.

[Carborendum]

We just sang All Creatures of our God and King yesterday.  I didn't really appreciate how much I liked that song until I was singing it and thought of this thread.

The base part is much livelier than most songs.  I appreciated that.  It really was a joy to sing.

[Vort]

(I'm no huge fan of I Believe in Christ, either, much as I love McConkie.)

Lyrics, first and foremost, make or break the hymn for me. Melody is a strong second, and the harmonies within the main melody are also a big attractor. But the lyrics are absolutely The Thing.

Yesterday at Church, we sang new hymn 1011, Holding Hands Around the World. Didn't do a thing for me. It's a Primary song, but many of my favorite hymns are Primary songs (e.g. My Heavenly Father Loves Me). Sort of like Amazing Grace, which we sang a week or three ago, except I have a bit of a visceral dislike for Amazing Grace. Lots of Latter-day Saints like the hymn, so that's fine. It's certainly not my thing, and for the reasons listed above: The lyrics are much too born-again evangelical Southern-Baptist-ish for my taste, the melody is unlovely to my ears, and the harmonies (such as they are) are uninteresting.

But for the sacrament, we sang In Remembrance of Thy Suffering. It was a marvelous experience. In reverse order (which I suppose should be called redro):

• Harmonies: The men drop out for the third stanza of each verse, a trick that seemed to be popular around 130ish years ago. I kind of like it. Something that maintains and emphasizes the differences between men and women, yet glorifies each.
• Melody: Not my favorite, but very serviceable. I have no complaints.
• Words:
  Verse 1: "We've forgiven, as Thou biddest, all who've trespassed against us / Lord, forgive, as we've forgiven, all Thou seest amiss in us."
  Verse 2: "Purify our hearts, our Savior, Let us go not far astray / That we may be counted worthy of Thy Spirit day by day."
  Verse 3: "When Thou comest in Thy glory to this earth to rule and reign / And with faithful ones partakest of the bread and wine again / May we be among the number worthy to surround the board / And partake anew the emblems of the suff'rings of our Lord."

The lyrics, specifically the end of Verse 3, bring tears to my eyes. I have long yearned to sit around the board with the Lord and those who are His, and there partake of bread and wine with my sisters and brothers in the very presence of our Brother.

(Also, many years ago, I used this or perhaps another hymn to teach my children that "the board" referred to the table around which people might sit, i.e. the chairman of the board, the board of directors, etc. They lovingly tease me about that to this day. But at least they know what "the board" means. I didn't figure it out until I was an adult.)

As a closing hymn, we sang an old favorite from my childhood, How Gentle God's Commands. No analysis needed for this one. The song is a beautiful gem of a poem, a small but profound offering of gratitude baked into a pretty melody.

[Vort]

Hymn of Thanksgiving (We Gather Together)

A favorite hymn; I'm disappointed that we sing it only once a year, around Thanksgiving. On the other hand, I'm grateful that we do sing it once every year.

The tune is pretty. The 3/4 time signature gives it a sort of waltz-like quality. But it's a staggered cadence, in that the second beat gets dotted and held out (every other line at first). That cadence serves to emphasize the rhyme scheme, which is the second-most notable thing about the hymn (after the meaning of the lyrics, always the most important aspect of any hymn). The rhymes come often, but sort of jump around. The first two verses are structured identically, while the third verse is notable for taking some liberty from the pattern set by the first two.

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens, His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His name; He forgets not his own.

The first line consists of four three-syllable metrical feet. The first two feet rhyme with each other ("gather"/"together", an almost-rhyme), as the color coding indicates. The second line follows the identical pattern, though with different rhymes ("-asten" vs. "-ather"; "chasten"/"hasten"). The third line then contains an internal rhyme of the second and fourth metrical feet ("oppressing"/"distressing"), though more widely spaced than the first two lines, providing a notable contrast. The fourth line contains no internal rhyme, but the end rhymes with the second line, thus tying the whole thing together. Simple but very effective, at least to my ear.

The second line follows exactly the same pattern:

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine.
So from the beginning the fight we were winning.
Thou, Lord, wast at our side; all glory be Thine!

This comforting second verse gives us confidence that the Lord fights the battles of His faithful people.

The third verse dispenses with the internal rhymes of the first two lines. To me, this seems to draw our focus to the verse by violating the paradigm established by the first two verses. But in this verse, the third line's internal rhyme remains, and the fourth line celebrates by tieing it all together with the expected rhyme with the second line, bringing the hymn to a triumphant conclusion.

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender wilt be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! Oh, Lord, make us free!

Just a beautiful hymn, brilliantly constructed. The original was Dutch, and I believe it was somewhat similar in rhyme, but it was not a congregational hymn of thanks. That's an English version thing. Wish we sang it more than once a year, but at least we do sing it once a year.

Edited November 25, 2024 by Vort

[zil2]

Thanks to @Vort's reply, I re-read the whole thread today...

On 10/21/2024 at 11:55 AM, Carborendum said:

We just sang All Creatures of our God and King yesterday.  I didn't really appreciate how much I liked that song until I was singing it and thought of this thread.

The base part is much livelier than most songs.  I appreciated that.  It really was a joy to sing.

I really like this hymn.  And if the bass is stronger (can't say I recall), that would be another reason for me to like it - I like music with a strong bass.

 

On 10/21/2024 at 2:13 PM, Vort said:

As a closing hymn, we sang an old favorite from my childhood, How Gentle God's Commands. No analysis needed for this one. The song is a beautiful gem of a poem, a small but profound offering of gratitude baked into a pretty melody.

I love this hymn.   (And it's easy to play on the flute.)

Perhaps I'll make a Christmas special post - after Thanksgiving.