1000 Songs/He appeared in a body 1 Tim 3:16

He appeared in a body 1 Tim 3:16

1000 Songs

Text

1 Timothy 3:16 "Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory."

Text: 1. O sing a song of Bethlehem, of shepherds watching there, and of the news that came to them from angels in the air. The light that shone on Bethlehem fills all the world today; of Jesus' birth and peace on earth the angels sing always.

2. O sing a song of Nazareth, of sunny days of joy; O sing of fragrant flowers' breath, and of the sinless Boy. For now the flowers of Nazareth in every heart may grow; now spreads the fame of his dear name on all the winds that blow.

3. O sing a song of Galilee, of lake and woods and hill, of him who walked upon the sea and bade the waves be still. For though like waves on Galilee, dark seas of trouble roll, when faith has heard the Master's work, falls peace upon the soul.

4. O sing a song of Calvary, its glory and dismay, of him who hung upon the tree, and took our sins away. For he who died on Calvary is risen from the grave, and Christ, our Lord, by heaven adored, is mighty now to save.

Author

Louis FitsGerald Benson 1889. http://www.hymnary.org/person/Benson_LF

Translations/Challenges

- Composed in English
- 8.6.8.6 meter. http://www.hymnary.org/text/o_sing_a_song_of_bethlehem_of_shepherds
- Modal.
- Often sung in unison but harmony can be added as well. 

Music

A collection of English melodies collected by Lucy Broadwood and arranged and modified by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Tune

- “Kingsfold” 
- Kingsfold is a popular folk tune that is set to many texts throughout Ireland and England. Upon hearing the tune, arranger Ralph Vaughan Williams chose to establish it in The English Hymnal in 1906 as a hymn tune. The first hymn that it was set to was Horatius Bonar’s “I heard the Voice of Jesus Say.” The tune itself was composed in e minor and very modal.
- The tune was originally written by Alfred J. Hopkins and was published in a the collection of English Country Songs. http://www.firstcongmadison.org/hymn-notes/hymn-51-o-sing-song-bethlehem 

Arrangements

Another arrangement is Horatius Bonar’s “I heard the Voice of Jesus Say” or Paralee Miles Eckman’s “If you could Hie to Kolob.” http://www.scoreexchange.com/scores/115196.html

Background

-Benson created this text as a summary of the life of Jesus. From his birth to His death and ressurection. It originally went by the title "Early Life of Jesus." -The tunes original background was as a folk tune in the village of Sussex, England.

Author biography

Louis FitsGerald Benson was born in Philidelphia, Pennsylvania in 1855. Little is known about his youth, but it is known that he graduated from University of Pennsylvania law school, but decided that after practicing law for seven years that he wanted to attend seminary. At this Benson entered Princeton Theological Seminary in 1877 and graduated as an ordained minister. After graduation Benson preached at Presbyterian Church of the Redeemer in Germantown, Pennsylvania, where he worked until he decided to resign and dedicate his life to literary work, and hymnology. By the time of his death in 1930, his library had grown to hold 9,000 volumes.

Historical setting

- English Folk tune, set to a hymn text.

Cultural setting

- English.

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1000 Songs

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