1000 Songs/WONDROUS LOVE

WONDROUS LOVE/What Wondrous Love Is This

Text

Author

The text is considered to be an American Folk hymn, with no concretely sure writer. The text is sometimes associated with a poem by [Means]

Translations/Challenges

The text originated in the United States, so there are no translation challenges.

Editor's Choice

In the Hymnal for Worship and Celebration, What Wondrous Love Is This is number 177. The text reads:
1.
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

2.
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down
Beneath God's righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

3.
To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing,
To God and to the Lamb I will sing,
To God and to the Lamb Who is the great "I Am,"
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

4.
And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, I'll sing on,
And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on,
And when from death I'm free, I'll sing and joyful be,
And thro' eternity I'll sing on, I'll sing on
And thro' eternity I'll sing on.

Music

Tune

The music was written by William Walker. The hymn tune is called WONDROUS LOVE, and the hymnic meter is 12.9.6.6.9.12, which is quite unusual.
The tune itself is in D Dorian, characterized by the raised sixth scale degree. The melodic range of the song is a major 9th, reaching D to D with a C on the bottom of the range. The original time signature is 2/2.

Arrangements

There are not very many arrangements of this song. One of the few is an arrangement for solo voice and piano, but the piano accompaniment is the original hymn's music.

Editor's Choice

The version in the Hymnal for Worship and Celebration is very concise and is a good example of the hymn.

Background

Cultural setting

This gospel song is seen as one of the slower "black gospel" songs. It is also very early in the gospel period (written in the 1830's), so some characteristics that are staples for most gospel songs are not present. There's no use of schmaltzy harmonies or common-tone diminished chords. The rhythm is also very straight. It is very slow and meditative.

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