Favorite Hymns?

[WirSindBettler]

I'll start. Any one got some great hymns that they love?

I know the LDS is not Orthodox, and I am by no means Mormon, but the MTC does the best arrangement of Hark the Herald Angels Sing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFjMPaOBzXc​

146 Hallelujah of Sacred Harp is another beautiful hymn, in my opinion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m34OaYzG9NE​

 

[three4rd]

Lasst uns Erfreuen is mine, otherwise known as "Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones". It's fun to play too although the pedal part certainly keeps moving.

 

[samkadya]

My favorite hymn is "Lord Plant my Feet on Higher Ground". This inspires me to earnestly seek the Lord to raise me up higher and higher.

 

[Goodbook]

 

[Brokenhill]

Acapella:
"Holy, Holy, Holy", "Leave It There", "Blest Be the Tie", "Because He Lives", "As the Deer", "There is a God, He is Alive".

In general, I love hymns that don't have the typical verse-chorus-verse-chorus (repeat) structure.

This is probably my favorite recording of a hymn ever, though:

 

[SwordmanJr]

I've always liked this one.
https://soundcloud.com/https%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Ffourwindsangels%2Fgodofourfathers3

 

[NIrelandGillian]

Bless the Lord, oh my soul.

Gillian

 

[David4223]

I'll Fly Away.

 

[talitha]

I came on here to say that although I don't really much like hymns, there are a few that I do like, especially when they are somehow modernized. I see that people have very different ideas here about what hymns are.
Defining the term....
When I hear the word "hymn" I think of the thick hardbound books in the backs of the pews in Methodist and Baptist and some other churches with eighteenth and nineteenth century songs of at least three verses each. That's what I don't really much like. I do like this one:

Biblically speaking the word that is translated "hymn" - what is it? I like what this author says:
http://www.firstluv.org/tod/Chapter Four.htm
in which case I like this one:

 

[sunsurfkdt]

I loooove the old unmodernized hymns. Always have. They are so Holy.

 

[talitha]

I loooove the old unmodernized hymns. Always have. They are so Holy.

What makes them "Holy" in your view? I don't see that.

 

[sunsurfkdt]

Because...their traditional! I love traditional...it just...makes me...I don't know...I can't explain it

 

[faroukfarouk]

Because...their traditional! I love traditional...it just...makes me...I don't know...I can't explain it

A lot of the older hymns and carols are more accurately Scriptural.

 

[sunsurfkdt]

Probably it!

 

[NIrelandGillian]

I wouldn't have called them 'holy' either, more like 'inspired' and many hymns of recent years are just as inspired. I like the modernised versions of the old hymns.

Gillian

 

[MissRowy]

Here is another one I like

 

[Dave-W]

 

[mnorian]

To me any song that uses the words of the bible as inspiration for the words in the songs are hymns; here is my favorite hymn right now; tomorrow it will probably be another one:

You are my Lord---Maranatha Singers

 

[Dave-W]

To me any song that uses the words of the bible as inspiration for the words in the songs are hymns;

That brings up an interesting point. How do you define "hymn?"

To me the song I posted "I want to walk" is a hymn, but other songs from the same source (Catholic Charismatic Renewal) are NOT hymns even though their scriptural content may be more. "I am the Bread of Life" I would NOT categorize as a hymn even though it quotes John 6 massively.

To me it is a musical style.

 

[mnorian]

That brings up an interesting point. How do you define "hymn?"

To me the song I posted "I want to walk" is a hymn, but other songs from the same source (Catholic Charismatic Renewal) are NOT hymns even though their scriptural content may be more. "I am the Bread of Life" I would NOT categorize as a hymn even though it quotes John 6 massively.

To me it is a musical style.

Well; Webster's defines it as "a religious song : a song that praises God." Which I think is about right; a hymn should praise God; a lot of new Christian songs are all about how bad the author is and how bad they need God; not praising Him.

Here is a little test; would this song be considered a hymn? I have wondered when I wanted to post it in a Christmas song thread I had made. It's called "Rivers of Babylon" by Boney M from 1978;The words are all from the Bible: