"We Gather Together" | Shiloh Baptist Congregational Praise

Kindly overlook the malfunction leaving the choir out of view until the interlude after verse two (and the audibility of the voice of a certain nearby congregant). Appreciate instead how Shiloh Baptist Church's Senior Choir led the Washington, D.C., congregation in this well-known hymn of Thanksgiving on a Dutch tune at the 10:55 a.m. service on Sunday Nov. 25, 2007. The accomplished musician Evelyn Simpson Curenton accompanied on the 48-rank Casavant organ with percussionists joining fully on the last verse. The harmonies volunteered by the sopranos and altos in the vested chorus had the effect of a slight descant after the key change. All came together for a celebratory effect on this Thanksgiving weekend in the nation's capital.

A brief history of this great hymn is at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Gather_Together. The verses, as published in the twenty-second printing of The New National Baptist Hymnal (1985), are:

1. We gather together
to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens
His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing
now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His name,
He forgets not His own.

2. Beside us to guide us,
our God with us joining,
ordaining, maintaining
His kingdom divine;
so from the beginning
the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side:
all glory be Thine!

3. We all do extol Thee,
Thou leader in battle,
and pray that Thou still
our defender wilt be.
Let Thy congregation
escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised:
O Lord, make us free! Amen.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• shiloh
• baptist
• church
• washington
• dc
• wallace
• smith
• shaw
• senior
• choir
• organ
• casavant
• pipe
• vested
• anthem
• black
• thanksgivin

[randyman1955]

Still the best version I've found on-line. Why not contact your nearest PBS affiliate, ask them to bring their cameras and recording equipment, and do a half-hour Thanksgiving special?

[americanbaptist]

@randyman1955

Thanks for the vote of confidence, and great idea. Maybe I will...

[provoschoolbus]

does anyone know which arrangement this is. Or did the organist just made it up? it's really good

[americanbaptist]

Evelyn is a gifted musician, and I think she made up the organ interlude on the spot. As for the choral last verse, Shiloh choirs always go into parts on the last verses of Opening Hymns. Interestingly, for those of us who are musicians, we can tell that the (director-less) choir actually entered one beat early after her improvisation. But she covered them very very well; they turned the last part of Evelyn's interlude into a pick-up note, when in fact this hymn's verses start on beat one.

[V334432]

I always enjoy visiting Shiloh. I miss Everett at the console, but it's always a joy hear Evelyn play. I remeber she and Tommy at Metropolitan.

[americanbaptist]

Everett is now at the Asbury United Methodist Church a few blocks away at 11th and K streets NW.

[provoschoolbus]

it tingles me ":o)

[COSMOTOPPER777]

After 50 years or so as a music lover, I've come to believe that great art tends to suffer from perfectionism. This anthem is so epic by comparison to so many other lesser works, I'm just amazed at how rarely we hear it performed. I have written several times to Dr. Mack Wilberg (MD of MoTab), pleading for an arrangement, to no avail. Search for "Angels From The Realms of Glory" for a hymn which strongly resembles this one at it's marrow. Thanks again for posting it.

[younix1997]

that's my name! Love the song!!! :) <3

[armorsecsys]

That sounds really nice.. But I think it would sound better with just organ only.. Sounds like some bass guitar or something in the back ground.. Takes away from the sound of the organ.

[hollishilljr]

Beautiful!

[COSMOTOPPER777]

I've been trying to find a magnificent performance of this magnificent piece of music, and finally found one. Thank you!