1000 Songs/Christ the Lord is risen today (Charles Wesley)
Christ the Lord is risen today (Wesley)
Text
editAuthor
editThe text of "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" was written by Charles Wesley, an English man who was a crucial part of the development of the Methodist Church.
Translations/Challenges
editThere are no challenges in the translation since it was originally written in English. However, Charles Wesley's version did not have the "Alleluias" that break up the text.
Editor's Choice
editThe full version of the text can be found here.
Music
editThe typical version of the sheet music can be found here.
Tune
editArrangements
editThe tune of "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" was first published in Lyra Davidica and was anonymously written.
Editor's Choice
editThe tune can be heard here.
Background
editAuthor biography
editThe hymns of Charles Wesley have had an astounding impact on later hymnody. It is estimated that Charles Wesley has written approximately between 6,500 and 9,000 hymn texts, a few of which are found in today's modern hymnals.
Author's circumstances
editWesley has had a strong impact of the evangelical emphasis of hymnody. The Wesleyan belief of unlimited atonement if found in his hymns. For example, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" is written from the stand point of his beliefs. Another difference that Wesley has made in his hymns is the metrical variation. Compared to his contemporary, Isaac Watts, who only wrote in three different meters, Charles Wesley wrote in thirty different meters. The meter of "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" is 7.7.7.7..