Old Hymns New Music

[tom pumroy]

Howdy, I have been putting new music to old hymns for a number of years and have finally got some of them up online. Some of them are familiar but most are I believe lost to obscurity and they are way too good to remain there. So it is my hope to revive the sacred poetry of the past and bring it back into circulation where it can do its spiritual magic.

So I have put simple chords (the ones I can play) to approx. 200 old hymns 98 of which are up here.

Sorry, I need 49 more posts before I can share this.......

I would be most grateful if anyone could see if my directions are helpful in explaining how the songs go.

Singing these songs to myself and God has become my spiritual exercise and I wonder if it might work for others as well?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX- no youtube for you.

The youtube is a bit of an explanation for what I am doing.

All Glories to God and Showers of Blessings!

 

[tom pumroy]

It seemed like a good idea. I wanted to share some of the great hymns I’ve run across and put new music to but apparently I can’t use links to accomplish this.

If anyone knows where I might share these hymns please advise.

 

[tom pumroy]

Well ok, I can’t put up a link for now but I can provide some samples of the hymns I have put new music to. I notice that it is within the tradition to put hymns to different tunes and it is my opinion that sometimes the new music allows the power of the words to take on new significance.

I am often amazed at many of the verses of songs that I have never really heard beyond the first verse. Take “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” for example; it has some really good lyrics, powerful stuff that never penetrated my consciousness as an adult.


The simple chords I have for this are --2 chords per line AEGD twice then DGEA twice

[FONT=&quot]1. It came upon the midnight clear,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] That glorious song of old,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]From angels bending near the earth[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] To touch their harps of gold;[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]"Peace on the earth, good will to men[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] From heaven’s all-gracious King" – [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The world in solemn stillness lay[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] To hear the angels sing.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]2. Still through the cloven skies they come[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] With peaceful wings unfurled,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And still their heavenly music floats[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] O'er all the weary world;[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Above its sad and lowly plains[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] They bend on hovering wing,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And ever o'er its Babel-sounds[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] The blessed angels sing.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]3. But with the woes of sin and strife[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] The world has suffered long;[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Beneath the angel-strain have rolled[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Two thousand years of wrong;[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And man, at war with man, hears not[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] The love song which they bring; – [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]O hush the noise, ye men of strife,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] And hear the angels sing![/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]4. And ye, beneath life's crushing load,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Whose forms are bending low,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Who toil along the climbing way[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] With painful steps and slow,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Look now! for glad and golden hours[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Come swiftly on the wing; – [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Oh, rest beside the weary road[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] And hear the angels sing![/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]5. For lo! the days are hastening on[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] By prophet bards foretold,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]When, with the ever circling years[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Shall come the age of gold;[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]When Peace shall over all the earth,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Its ancient splendors fling,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]And the whole world give back the song,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Which now the angels sing.[/FONT]