The King of Love Westminster Abbey Choir

[organrick]

It was Princess Diana's funeral where I first heard this hymn. I use both tunes, and I've played it for every funeral, I believe, with the tune heard in this video (I'm a church organist). I also play it during preludes also.

[tonyg1227]

Love it...Remind me of when I was a small boy in Christ Church Parish Church, Barbados...

[shjakes]

The Greatest Hymn in the whole wide world! Mankind needs to really check out these lyrics…especially the ignorant, intolerant, bigoted, right-wing, religious fanatics of this world...

[mkl62]

I am an ELCA Lutheran from South Carolina. I play the piano and organ. Today (May 15, Easter 4), we sang this as the Hymn of the Day. Ditto for me as I filled in at a local Lutheran Church. It is #502 in Evangelical Lutheran Worship. But we sing it to the tune, ST. COLUMBIA, an Irish tune.

[MusicPredominates]

@mkl62 : Actually, the second tune should be spelt 'St Columba' after a Scoto-Irish saint.

[betteboop57]

@MusicPredominates and it's spelled. :)

[MusicPredominates]

@betteboop57 : It's a lovely tune and lovely words. ;-)

[porsche187]

I wish this was sung to the tune of St. Columba

[MusicPredominates]

@porsche187 : But on this occasion it was not ! But let thee be convinced by the soaring treblissimo of the last verse.

[Ninerats]

Ah yes. Sad to say. I just witnessed this in my church. The best thing it had going for it was the music. We're "moving on" the pastor said.

[13robinmenzies]

There are great music in this world which is played by people of many religions, faiths and this one would have to be among the best!!!! Beautiful!!!

[HeldbyHim2010]

The King of love my Shepherd is,whose goodness faileth never,I nothing lack if I am His & He is mine forever.Where streams of living water flow,my ransomed soul He leadeth & where the verdant pastures grow,with food celestial feedeth. Perverse & foolish oft I strayed,but yet in love He sought me & on His shoulder gently laid & home rejoicing,brought me.In death’s dark vale I fear no ill, With Thee,dear Lord,beside me;Thy rod & staff my comfort still,Thy cross before to guide me...stunning lyrics

[Chesterbarnes1]

@HeldbyHim2010 Your so kind to print these words for us thank you for posting

[episcopal100]

The hymnal (US) page 645 and alternately 646.

[episcopal100]

Makes you glad to be anglican.

[theismagelssen]

Top Gear brought me here.

[MusicPredominates]

@nauort23 : joining the Royal family requires giving oneself with dignity to the task ... the Princess, it is (or was) said had some strange ways ... are well, they are both departed and we cam move on ... !

[galenct]

@nauort23 she did more damage to the monarchy than anyone else in its history, and then the royal family is expected to set up a royal funeral, the queen to give a statement, and the queen and prince consort expected to attend and care about someone who cared little about them.

it was populist hysteria at its best.

[nauort23]

@galenct They certainly have you snowed. Supporting a monarchy into the 21st C sounds like "populist hysteria" to me.

[nauort23]

It's ironic that so many high-profile funerals take place in churches that are crammed-full with the kind of people the deceased despised. Wherever you are, Diana, I hope no one is there by appointment or wearing a crown.

[MusicPredominates]

@nauort23 ; but are we not all appointed to some place at some time ?

[nauort23]

@MusicPredominates Perhaps you should change your name to MusicPontificates or MusicPedant. "joining the [r]oyal family requires giving oneself with dignity to the task..." Is it "dignity" with which Prince Phillip shoots off abrasive comments to his wife's subjects? And their dullard offspring aren't much better. Remember Grand Knockout? Now THERE was some dignity! And was that "dignity" that Princess Margaret was wearing on the beach in Mustique, while "cheating" on her gay husband?

[MusicPredominates]

@nauort23 : Prince Phillip is a lovely chap. In fact, I must write to him shortly. But, as I say, we are all appointed to some place or other at some time or other. Thankyou for being a co-essayist in this controversy.

[MrTonygreaves]

@MusicPredominates To be free is to be to be true to oneself and to be productive.

True freedom lies within oneself.

[Chesterbarnes1]

I love this hymn, wish I could find the sheet music to it?

[notyobs]

@Chesterbarnes1 Well, it's in most hymn books if you have access to a hymn book? I just did a search on "Dominus Regit Me score" and managed to find the music in various printable versions quite easily, so give it a go!

[Chesterbarnes1]

@Chesterbarnes1

Thanks for your help, now I've got to find an Angelican church with hymnbooks. Oh well...I do as you say and give it a try. Help?

[FanClassicMusic]

@Chesterbarnes1 We have this hymn in our hymnbook. If you want I can send you the scanned page. Give me your e-mail. Bye!

[leland61]

I love the theater of the English church and the wonderful unmatched power of men and boys' choirs. Even atheists like me enjoy a good show and good music.

[genevieve0604]

i am a nigerian anglican and this song is the most emotional for us,expecially the last part were we do the descant[alternate]version.i think westminister did it beautifully,here...

[nodlon20]

Diana would have loved it! It's been over 10 years ago since she died and I still cry.

Especially when I hear the music to her

funeral. She left us too soon!! A life snuffed out before it even began!

[3NUNS]

to be more accurate this hymn is a metrical paraphrase of psalm 23

[havaneezer]

go to fluteceleste organ version. Thats how it sounds.

[havaneezer]

At my Catholic parish we sing it in sort of a trillingly fashion. Its one of my favorites.

[shjakes]

and yes...I still have my little green English Hymnal.

[shjakes]

This is my most favorite hymm in the entire world. I watched the Diana's funeral ceremony with a heavy heart ..and was wishing they would sing this hymn. Well they did and that was it! The dam broke and I cried like a baby! This Anglican music still plays in the minds of folks who have long abandoned the religion.

[JIrwin83]

i am catholic and we have the same song with many different tunes one version is quite simple and can be sung a a round that gives me goose bumps

[magpie4321]

That is the St. Columba tune, which is way prettier than this one!

[oceanmaid]

I personally am partial to the tune "St. Columba." But still. The Westminster Abbey Choir. I got goosebumps!

[yamaho5]

Thanks for posting this wonderful music. We don't get to hear this kind much anymore since the fools have taken over our church music.

[Peterlovesgarage]

Well said and perfectly put I couldn't agree more..

[choirboy526]

Want to change that?

get involved in the music at your parish...

if no one stands up for the right music then it will be run by idiots

[AmosPressley]

It really is a shame, isn't it, yamaho5? Most good hymnbooks have hymns that go back to the second century, and THIS GENERATION is the one that is dropping them in favor of a dollar-driven, entertainment-centered approach to worship that is not much more than a marketing outlet for the religious music industry.

[obxemt]

@AmosPressley

Isn't that the truth! Unfortunately we've done little to raise up fine organists, so half-assed post-modernist entertainment-driven crap with syrupy lyrics, bad theology, and rotten music is preferred to Aunt Maude's rousing rendition of "Amazing Grace" on the local Church's 1963 Hammond.

[jensmom604]

Stop talking so we can hear!!!!

[shooster11]

Hey jensmom604,

The narrator also provided the feed for the radio broadcast of the funeral. People listening would not have been able to read what was on the screen. Hence, it was necessary for the narrator to speak.

Plus, I am not a member of the Church of England and thus I am not familiar with the funeral customs and thus the narration helps me get an idea of what is going on.

[spliffveron]

This is the World's greatest choir.

[gageed]

This music is marvellous. Anglicans have a nice hymns. Congratulations.

[madlyderanged]

This is one of the better tunes to this hymn. Another good tune is the one composed by Harry Rowe Shelley...go do some research...lol

[Bethanhkhyufygiluyio]

very good song it was one of my aunties fav hyms it was sung at her funarl

[charged2]

Ilike this song is one of my favorites...

[hymnguy317]

The name of this tune is "Dominus Regit Me" written by John Bacchus Dykes it is also sometimes sung to an Irish tune called "St. Columba"

[magpie4321]

oldgatt(whatever) Yep it is, Irish music is happy music

[owling9]

Thanks for posting.

[magpie4321]

This is an Irish hymn!!!!

[oldgattonian2]

It is not an Irish Hymn

"The King of Love My shepherd Is" was written by Reverend Sir Henry Williams Baker, born on May 27, 1821, in London.

The music is said to have originated from an ancient Irish melody.

Still great words and a lovely tune.

[notyobs]

The words are a paraphrase of Psalm 23, so written by King David. The tune is by the English clergyman and prolific hymnwriter, John Bacchus Dykes.

[secondtimeround]

THis song takes me back to my school days in Barbados, (former British West Indies) where we frequently sang this hymn in Hall before morning prayer.

Whilst I am not particularly religous, the tune and words of this hymn are so poetically moving you can feel it rise through your chest and and reach right to the soul. I enjoy playing this hymn on a piano as I find it helps to reconnect to spirituality that is somewhat lost in everyday life.

[MrTonygreaves]

@secondtimeround I too am a Bajan,it takes me back to singing it in the Harrison College Hall and at Christ Church Parish Chursh. I am not a church member anymore but like you, it truly strenghtens the spirit. Does it not take you back to a quiet place where you can rest your spirit and get away from the maddening crowd?

[musoguy69]

This shows just what beautiful music has been written for the Anglican Church over the centuries. It is an exquisite example of what this world renowned choir is capable of. They sang this under such trying conditions. I have sung this hymn many times and it still brings me to tears to hear that wonderful descant from the trebles in the last verse.

[bocah73]

That it is.

[doctoreish]

What a beautiful, beautiful hymn

[davidmiler12]

best hymn ever written

[34045]

Oh I do agree. Pity its a;ways used for funerals. It makes me sad when I hear it.

[floflo59370]

i like familly spencer

[simeonjevean]

1.The King of love my Shepherd is,

Whose goodness faileth never,

I nothing lack if I am His

And He is mine forever.

[KENinTN1]

Thank you for posting the lyrics to this beautiful hymn. I love this arrangement.

[simeonjevean]

2.Where streams of living water flow

My ransomed soul He leadeth,

And where the verdant pastures grow,

With food celestial feedeth.

[simeonjevean]

In death's dark vale I fear no ill

With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;

Thy rod and staff my comfort still,

Thy cross before to guide me.

[simeonjevean]

3.Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,

But yet in love He sought me,

And on His shoulder gently laid,

And home, rejoicing, brought me.

[simeonjevean]

5.Thou spread'st a table in my sight;

Thy unction grace bestoweth;

And O what transport of delight

From Thy pure chalice floweth!

[simeonjevean]

6.And so through all the length of days

Thy goodness faileth never;

Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise

Within Thy house forever.

[nathanfornash]

Timeless

[flysten]

that was very nicely sung

[northumberlandgirl]

what a lovely hymn. 9.6.97 was also the first time i heard this, it is played and sung with such confidence and conviction; very beautiful.

[poppykook]

One of the musical highlights of that sorrowful funeral day back in '97!

[THutch04]

For all the controversy surrounding it, the music is definitely something Anglicanism did right...I definitely miss the music!

[dsindc]

Um, THutch04, thank you from an Anglican, but we're not dead yet. We've gone through many trials and come out in once piece. We will emerge out of these trying times as well.

[obxemt]

THutch04, What is so unfortunate is that the continuing Anglican movement in the USA is (at least in part) forsaking good music and picking up the happy-clappy nonsense. The Hymnal 1982 overall is a testament to fine music and good theology, present controversy notwithstanding.  It presumes good choirs also, especially for the service music.

But let's not throw out the baby with the bath water. Some modern stuff is good...but the rock-inspired modern stuff is not a part of the tradition.

[slikdude]

WOW - the beauty of the hymn and the beautiful Anglican faith comes out here...

[nhhhp]

I love this version of the 23rd psalm. 9-6-97 was the first time that I heard this version of it and it is beautiful. Everytime I hear it however, I reflect back to that sad day in September.