Awake, My soul! Doddridge/Handel Recessional Hymn

[TheVOC]

Healthy singing even with the numbers! LOVE IT I want my smaller congregation to sing so healthily all the time like that!

[ticoguy05]

Brilliantly sung!!! Nice harmonization. Cheers from Mount Hoole Methodist Church in the Bay Islands of Honduras.

[gaiacaecilia]

I like both the music and what the event is in honour of as i am named afte the patron saint of music and have always endevoured to follow up on my name. :)

[Ercschneider9]

Very beautiful and uplifting. I like how you let the organ ring out in between verses. Thanks for sharing Bob, Eric

[mh605]

I like the trumpet descant.

[mh605]

I know this as "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night." Interesting to hear other words (though I can't hear what they are).

[jlandles]

So few people in the service. Where are the rest of the parish?

[bob4120]

Yes, sadly, I agree! This was an EVENING service; actually, the first St. Cecilia evening service I designed. Traditionally, Sunday evening services are not well attended.

[obxemt]

From an Episcopal standpoint, that's a hell of a crowd!

[codeman2008]

I'm Episcopal too and there are allot of Episcopal churches that have large congregations. Around where I live there aren't allot of Episcopalians, but my Grandfather used to work at an Episcopal church that had an average Sunday attendance of 400+, but I've been to plenty episcopal churches with an average Sunday attendance of 15 too. It all depends on the area. Take Saint John the Divine, Trinity Boston and Trinity Wall Street, Church of the Advent in Beacon Hill, Saint Bartholomew. :D

[kensingtonpalace]

i was also thinking this was well attended. we rarely have more than 20 at an evening service. i assume from the pomp that this church is from the episcipal side of the umc merg? we are from the 'united brethren' side, so there's much less formality (we would never process/recess or wear robes for an evening service.) beautiful hymn!

[JRCOOTS]

Thats just an amazing hymn and the improv at the end is awesome!

[mkl62]

The tune that I commented on earlier, CHESTERFIELD, by Thomas Haweis, is also known as RICHMOND (HAWEIS). I just discovered this on the cyberhymnal site.

[bob4120]

Thanks for the information connecting your hymn to the hymntune, RICHMOND. I found the hymn "O For a Heart to Praise My God" in the U. Methodist hymnal to that tune. My sources indicate: Haweis was born in Redruth, Cornwall, England in 1733 and died in Bath, Somersetshire, England in 1820. He was ordained an Anglican priest in 1757, but was attracted to Methodism, becoming an assistant at the Lock Hospital Chapel in London.

[mkl62]

There is a hymn written by Doddridge entitled Hark, the Glad Sound!, which is an Advent hymn that we sing every year. It is to the tune of CHESTERFIELD, composed by Thomas Haweis. It can also be sung to DIE HELLE SONNE, composed by Sigmund Gottlieb Staden. Do you sing this hymn? Please post if you do. I play the piano for Sunday School & a Steiner-Reck Pipe Organ at my church, usually on 4th Sundays.

[bob4120]

No, I am not aware of the hymn "Hark, the Glad Sound!" I will try to locate it and learn it. Thanks for the information. I'm sure your Steiner-Reck pipe organ is a joy to play.

[mkl62]

Just for the record, I am a Lutheran (ELCA).

[Steeze36]

Wow! How lovely! I'm a Catholic organist and choirmaster and I know what our choir is going to learn soon! The beautiful playing and singing brings a tear to the eye!

[bob4120]

Thank you for your words. I hope you will enjoy singing this hymn.

[godslittleacre]

WOW! Beautiful and soul-stirring. This Presbyterian has been lifted to heaven with your beautiful music.

Christ bless you and your church!

[bob4120]

Thanks for your words. Blessings to you!

[FrCusus]

Wonderful as always

[bob4120]

Thanks for your kind words.

[DesireeDeFete]

Very Majestic...very Anglican actually

[bob4120]

Ironically, I remember (as a child) singing this tune to the Christmas text "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night." This was an All-Handel service (nearly 2-hours in length) I designed back in '92 celebrating St. Cecilia. I was racking my brain to find (general text) hymn settings with Handel tunes.

[Jm4steam]

Excellent!!! I find it highly appropriate to extend the music. I for one stay in my pew till the organ stops.