Handbook to the Mennonite HymnaryHostetler, Lester
Religion
Handbook to the Mennonite Hymnary
Hostetler, Lester
Hymns, English -- History and criticism; Mennonites -- Hymns -- History and criticism
_MUSIC._ VENI EMMANUEL, written in the first Gregorian mode, is an
adaptation by Thomas Helmore, in 1856, of a melody said to have been
found in a French manuscript in Lisbon, which has since disappeared. The
original is believed to have been a 12th century “Kyrie.” The harmony in
the minor mode gives the tune its quaint flavor. It should be sung with
spirit, in keeping with the joyful anticipation embodied in the words.
It is effective with men’s voices singing the first part in unison, then
all the voices in harmony on the refrain. The tune also lends itself to
interesting effects in antiphonal singing.
68. Veiled in darkness Judah lay _Douglas LeTell Rights_, 1891—
Written in 1915, while World War I was raging in Europe and the clouds
were gathering thick over the United States. The hymn is an appeal for
the Spirit of Christ to bring peace and light to a troubled world. It
was composed while the author, a Moravian, was a student at the Divinity
School of Harvard University. It was the custom at that institution to
have students of the School submit original compositions of hymns, one
of which would be selected to be sung at the annual Christmas service of
the school. This hymn was selected for the Christmas of 1915.
Douglas LeTell Rights, born in Winston-Salem, N. C., received his A. B.
degree from the University of North Carolina and then prepared for the
ministry at the Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem, Pa., and at
Harvard University. A member of the Moravian Church, anciently called
the _Unitas Fratrum_, his first pastorate was at the First Moravian
Church, Greensboro, N. C., 1916-18. In 1918-19, he was chaplain in the
army in World War I. Since 1919, he has been pastor of Trinity Moravian
Church, Winston-Salem, N. C. Rights is the author of _A Voyage Down the
Yadkin-Great Peedee River_, 1928, and has written numerous articles on
historical and archaeological subjects pertaining to his native state.
His latest book is the _American Indian in North Carolina_.
_MUSIC._ EBELING. For comments on the composer of this tune, Johann
Georg Ebeling, 1620-76, see Hymn 555.
69. Come, Thou long-expected Jesus _Charles Wesley_, 1707-88
A dignified, yet stirring Advent hymn, based on Haggai 2:7: “The desire
of all nations shall come.” One of the first hymns of Wesley, it
appeared in a small book of 24 pages. _Hymns for the Nativity of our
Lord_, published in 1744. It is found in nearly all the modern hymn
books in England and America.
For comments on Charles Wesley see Hymn 6.
_MUSIC._ HYFRYDOL is a Welsh tune composed by Rowland Hugh Prichard,
1811-87, of Bala, Wales, who was active in the church as song leader,
soloist, and composer of tunes. This tune is a composition of his youth,
while he was still under twenty. It is characterized by its length,
smoothness, and utter simplicity, the whole melody moving throughout,
except for one note, within the compass of the fifth.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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