19th Day of Easter - Sweet, Sweet Spirit

This is an old favorite of the Sardis UMC congregation where I have served as music minister for 15 years. This wonderful recording is an Adventist Choir and a congregation in North London singing together.

Sweet, Sweet Spirit

I love the harmony they split into at the high part - “sweet Holy Spirit, sweet heavenly dove...” That is where congregations tend to lose singers, or they drop an octave. Harmony makes it possible for everyone to sing in their best voice, together. We just can’t all sing the melody at the same time. There is a life lesson in that, for sure.

Read this, if you have time, to learn about the composer and the wonderful way the song came about. Story behind the song

18th Day of Easter - I Need Thee Every Hour

(My apologies for not posting every day of the Easter season. There are plenty of great songs, but 50 days of continuous posting is a bit more than I can find the time to do well)

I woke up with the chorus of this song in my head. Here is the hymn page with all the verses and a recorded version with some fine guitar picking in it. 

I Need Thee Every Hour hymn page

I Need Thee - Chelsea Moon w/ Franz Brothers

If you want to just sing the chorus over and over, join along with this congregation. I Need Thee - Don Moen

Annie S. Hawks wrote the words to “I Need Thee” in 1872. Her pastor, Rev. Robert Lowry, composed the music and added the repeating chorus. I wonder if we would know the song without the chorus - it is the most powerful part. 

Wikipedia quotes Ms. Hawks about her mood when she wrote the song -  "For myself, the hymn was prophetic rather than expressive of my own experiences, for it was wafted out to the world on the wings of love and joy, instead of under the stress of personal sorrow."

15th Day of Easter - We Will Feast in the House of Zion

Based on promises in Psalm 42 and 62 as well as Isaiah 43, Sandra McCracken’s “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” is especially appropriate for the anxious times in our lives.

We Will Feast in the House of Zion

You can easily find excellent video and audio recordings of the composer singing the song, but something about this woman’s offering is especially sweet and touched me in a way that the professional productions of the songs didn’t. Thank you, Laura Anderson. I, too, have been a little bit stressed lately and found that I couldn’t come up with a song every day, even though all I do is post other people’s work. You took the time to learn the chords and had the courage to post yourself singing. I hoped to do that myself but haven’t made it happen. You did, and it cheered my heart and encouraged me which is what you wanted all along, isn’t it?

12th Day of Easter - Getty Family Sing

Some of you enjoyed hearing the Gettys sing “In Christ Alone”with Alison Krauss during Holy Week. Here the Gettys are singing in their home with their adorable little girls.

Getty Family Sing

The Gettys have posted several family videos during the shelter-in-place season.

Here is In Christ Alone in case you missed it.

9th Day of Easter - I Heard the Angels Singing

Eric Bibb has a unique drive to his music that makes it instantly distinguishable. If I had to pick a favorite musician at this stage of my life, it would be him.

There are studio versions of Bibb performing this song that can be found online, but I love the minimalism of just the man with his guitar -

I Heard the Angels Singing

The lyrics are traditional, perhaps a spiritual.

I went down in the valley one day
I heard the angels singing
I heard a voice, I saw no one
I heard the angels singing
What you reckon the angels said
I heard the angels singing
Your sins is forgiven and your soul is free
I heard the angels singing
I went down in the valley one day
I heard the angels singing to me
I seen an old devil walk down my way
I heard the angels singing
What you reckon the devil said
I heard the angels singing
He said that heaven's door is closed, go home don't pray
But I heard the angels singing
I said get back sit down, get out of my way
I heard the angels singing
I don't wanna hear another word you say
Oh I heard the angels singing
Oh yes, I heard the angels singing
Just when I thought my soul was lost
I heard the angels singing
My dungeon was shook, my chains dropped off
I heard them singing
The people come running, saying what's it all about
I heard the angels singing
The holy ghost hit me, I could not help but shout
I heard the angels singing
When I went down in the valley one day
I heard the angels singing to me
I seen an old devil walk down my way
I heard the angels singing
I said get back sit down, get out of my way
I heard the angels
I don't wanna hear another word you say
Woo! I heard 'em singing
In that great getting up morning
I heard the angels singing to me
In that great getting up morning and I, whoo!
You know I heard the angels, hallelujah!

8th Day of Easter - And Can It Be

This version has stayed in my head in a delightful way, so I’m sharing it again.

And Can It Be-Lou Fellingham and Phatfish

It is joyous and easy to sing. If the video is distracting, try just listening.
The group is from England and performed together for 20 years, only recently retiring.

Two other versions of this song are posted back on day 5, if you missed it. Like most contemporary versions, this one omits the second verse, which is a shame but understandable.

And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood!
Died he for me? Who caused his pain! For me? Who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

‘Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies! Who can explore his strange design? 
In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depth of love divine.
‘Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more.

He left his Father’s throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!),
Emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race. 
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine; 
Alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own

7th Day of Easter - That Easter Day

That Easter Day

My little choir at Sardis UMC had just started rehearsing this for our Easter anthem on our last rehearsal together in early March. I am very glad we avoided the virus spread that happened at some choir rehearsals the same week. Choir rehearsals can be “super spreader events.”

 I’m surprised that this Mormon Tabernacle Choir performance is the closest to the arrangement I had in my head ...with a mite fewer voices and instruments. Maybe 8 voices and a flute?

This song needs to be dance-like and full of energy, not plodding at a slow tempo with an overpowering organ like most versions online. Mack Wilberg is a fine arranger who strikes a delicate balance between staying true to a melody while milking it for all it is worth for his massive performing forces.

Even world class choirs are hard to understand, so the text is provided below. It was written by Michael Praetorius, a German composer who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The tune is also called Puer Nobis and is sometimes used for Christmas texts.

That Easter Day with joy was bright, the sun shone out with fairer light,
When to their longing eyes restored, the apostles saw their risen Lord.

His risen flesh with radiance glowed; his wounded hands and feet he showed;
Those scars their solemn witness gave that Christ was risen from the grave.

O Lord of all, with us abide in this, our joyful Eastertide;
From every weapon death can wield, thine own redeemed forever shield.

All praise, O risen Lord, we give to thee, who dead, again does live; 
To God the Father equal praise, and God the Holy Spirit raise.