Hatrack River Forum: Great religious songs

This is topic Great religious songs in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :

Though I'm an atheist/agnostic I still love to sing church music. Here are a few of my favs:

My God How Great Thou Art
Distant Land
God Be With You Till We Meet Again
On Eagles Wings
Amazing Grace
Let There Be Peace
Battle Hymn of the Republic (more of a patriotic song but it's got God in it)
Ave Maria & Kyrie Eleison in their many versions
Vivaldi's Gloria

What are some of your favorites?

Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :

Amazing Grace
All religious Christmas music
Battle Hymn the Republic
Ave Maria

A lot of old church music from Mozart and other composers.

The Hallelujah Chorus, Handel's Messiah.

Amazing Love, which isn't church music so much as Christian Rock, really, is a song I get stuck in my head a lot. And I don't even go to church anymore.

Posted by Madb (Member # 10532) on :

<Removed.>

[ June 07, 2007, 04:05 PM: Message edited by: Papa Janitor ]

Posted by Epictetus (Member # 6235) on :

Lead Kindly Light and Amazing Grace at the top of my list.

Posted by Madb (Member # 10532) on :

<Removed.>

[ June 07, 2007, 04:05 PM: Message edited by: Papa Janitor ]

Posted by martha (Member # 141) on :

I love the song "Great Day" by Eddie From Ohio. I am also an atheist, but this song is beautiful.

Posted by Qaz (Member # 10298) on :

Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Jehovah Reigns
To God Be the Glory
Almost all the traditional Christmas carols

Posted by Nathan2006 (Member # 9387) on :

She's written more contemporary Christian Music, rather than hymns, but I love Sara Groves' music. She's awesome. The best lyricist I've had the pleasure of listening to extensively.

Posted by vonk (Member # 9027) on :

One Tin Soldier! That's the only one I remember from camp, plus the Me First cover is great. Ooh, I remember one about black socks that don't get dirty, but I don't think it was terribly religious.

Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :

Slane (Be Thou My Vision)
Finlandia (often Be Still My Soul, but especially with these words:

This is my song, O God of all the nations,
a song of peace for lands afar and mine;
this is my home, the country where my heart is;
here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine:
but other hearts in other lands are beating
with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,
and sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine;
but other lands have sunlight too, and clover,
and skies are everywhere as blue as mine:
O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,
a song of peace for their land and for mine.

My favorite "patriotic" hymn.)

St. Columba (O Breathe on Me or The King of Love)

How Can I Keep From Singing

Many more, but those come to mind and haven't already been mentioned.

Posted by Shawshank (Member # 8453) on :

The Old Rugged Cross
Victory in Jesus
All Hail the Power of Jesus's Name
Great is Thy Faithfulness
To God Be The Glory
How Marvelous
How Can I Keep from Singing

And many more hymns and other "older" music.

In terms of contemporary stuff- don't even ask- I've way too long of a list.

Posted by porcelain girl (Member # 1080) on :

Anything with minor keys, and black spirituals.

I also love How Great Thou Art and For the Beauty of the Earth.

Come Thou Fount is definitely one of my favorite hymns/religious songs ever. The words are beautiful, and the meaning so deeply empathized.

Posted by Nathan2006 (Member # 9387) on :

I know my mom loved minor keys... She really like Jewish Cantor music and stuff. I like it too, but my Sara's still my favorite.

Be thou my Vision is my personal favorite hymn. So beautiful!

Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :

Jewish Cantor music, that I've heard, is absolutely beautiful.

I'd never heard any before that one episode of West Wing where the girl sings (spelling is way off sorry) Hashkevenu, and it's a totally mesmerizing song. I just don't know any of the names of the songs, and not being Jewish I don't go to Synagouge, so I don't get much of it, but what I've heard is wonderful.

Anyone have any suggestions on CDs that I could get? (or how to get an MP3 of that girl from West Wing singing it).

Posted by David Bowles (Member # 1021) on :

For contemporary Christian music, Daniel Amos is the only band that matters, IMO.

Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :

I really enjoy the music of Eden's Bridge and Iona, both. Celtic-Contemporary style. I love singing them.

Posted by Fyfe (Member # 937) on :

I love "Morning Has Broken" and "Sing to the Mountains", and then Sidney Carter wrote two songs ("Lord of the Dance" and "Julian of Norwich") that I adore. And "We Walk by Faith". Oo, and zillions of others. For ages the singing was half the reason I went to church.

Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :

quote:
Originally posted by David Bowles:
For contemporary Christian music, Daniel Amos is the only band that matters, IMO.

Will have to check them. I find Jars of Clay to be a dramatically underrated group. "Worlds Apart" off their first and "Oh My God" off their latest are extraordinarily powerful songs to me, but there's very little by them that doesn't move me.

We might be leaving out some really great Christmas music. "The Holly and the Ivy", "O Come O Come Emannuel", "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen", and "Angels We Have Heard on High" are a few favorites.

A very talented church group that I once worked with featured some spectacular meditations for particular occasions. The pianist would play and sing "Breath of Heaven" for 3rd Advent every year and the percussionist would sing "Were You There" acapella on Good Friday. Both usually resulted in tears, even to those of us who had heard them many times before. Both had degrees in music from North Texas, so they were no slouches, though I don't think either managed to make the 1 o'clock lab band.

Posted by anti_maven (Member # 9789) on :

'There is a fountain filled with blood'*

Surely my favourite hymn.

Christmas carols are excellent fun though, and nothing is more beautiful than the opening solo part for Once in Royal David's City.

* There is a fountain filled with blood,
poured out from Jesse's veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
are washed of all their stains.

Cracking stuff!

Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :

My favorite hymns are:

Love At Home (Click on the links, then choose "words and music" and click > to hear performances of these hymns.) You have to hear the MoTabs sing this one to get the real effect. It's ethereally beautiful.

Love One Another Wow I can't listen to this one without getting chill bumps. Once is never enough, either. I want 12 verses to this song. [Smile]

All Creatures of our God and King (Sorry no link due to copyright restrictions.)

The Spirit of God always gives me strength and courage when I need it.

Teach me to Walk in the Light was played at my baptism, by suggestion of Porcelain Girl, and it's always been a favorite.

How Gentle God's Commands has really good harmonies, and is in 3/4 time when it seems constantly like it ought to be in 4/4. So it's surprising all the way through to me. [Smile]

Come, come ye Saints is a great work song. "No toil nor labor fear". I always picture the pioneers singing it as they trekked across the plains.

Nearer My God to Thee reminds me always of the Titanic, how the band stayed behind and played this over and over as the boat sank. It's a great hymn!

[ June 07, 2007, 11:47 AM: Message edited by: Tatiana ]

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

I also love "Finlandia." I have a CD with a recording of the Indigo Girls singing this song.

When I was a teenager and more aware of religious music, I very much liked "On Eagles Wings" and "We Are the Reason." I also still fondly remember hymns we sang in Spanish when I was growing up. For whatever reason, traditional English-language hymns tended to leave me cold, while I loved many Spanish ones. My favorite was probably "Pescador de Hombres." (Guitar tabs and lyrics here.) I have actually heard an English translation of it. It's so awkward, though, that I'm convinced the Spanish version came first.

Posted by David Bowles (Member # 1021) on :

I know this is odd for an atheist to say, but my favorite hymn has always been "Just a Closer Walk With Thee." I even collaborated on a version of the song.

Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :

We sing "Pescador de Hombres" pretty often. Usually in both English and in our probably badly-accented Spanish.

Posted by steven (Member # 8099) on :

"It is well with my soul".-Philip Bliss.

Mozart's Requiem, the "lachrymosa".

J.S. Bach, Bach, Bach. Some extra Bach, with a side order of Bach.

Posted by Cashew (Member # 6023) on :

Most of Tatiana's, plus:
O My Father
High on a Mountain Top
The Lord is My Shepherd
Abide With Me
and
A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief
(you HAVE to hear David Johansson's version of this from the DVD New York Doll - I found it really moving, and quite beautiful)

Posted by Nathan2006 (Member # 9387) on :

Another Jars of Clay fan... Yeah. I like them too!!! Sara Groves opened up for them on one of their more recent tours.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

In no particular order, just as I think of them:

Be Thou My Vision
Holy, Holy, Holy (amusing to me to hear the MoTab sing it, though, because obviously they change the end of the first verse)
Amazing Grace (probably the hymn with the most memories attached for me)
Bringing in the Sheaves
Rock of Ages
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Softly and Tenderly
Sweet Is the Work
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Higher Ground (though I like it in 4/4 instead of 3/4 time)
Good King Wenceslas
Adeste Fidelis/O Come, All Ye Faithful
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
How Can I Keep From Singing?
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
When the Morning Comes
Prayer of Thanksgiving (We Gather Together)
This World Is Not My Home (Glory Land)
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
A Child is Born in Bethlehem (but not any of the sets of lyrics that are available on the web.)
The Spirit of God
I Know that My Redeemer Lives
O Savior, Thou Who Wearest a Crown (love the Passion Chorale and this is my fave set of words to it)
The Doxology (Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow)
All Creatures of Our God and King
Easter Hosanna
Growing up we sang a hymn to Darwall's 148th that was a lot of Rejoice, the Lord is King, but different-- it began "All glory be to God, who reigns in Heav'n above, and rules over the earth with everlasting love..." That's one of my favorites but I can't find that version anywhere.
By the Mark, by Gillian Welch
Simple Gifts
Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah (I actually like this version better than the one I grew up with but in any case the tune has always been a favorite; I like the Welsh hymn with which the tune originated, too)
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
High On the Mountaintop

Okay, I could list more but I'm gonna stop now and read the thread (haven't yet) and see how many I listed that are other people's faves, too. [Smile]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

All right, the ones you listed that I didn't but also love:
Nearer my God to Thee
There Is a Fountain (Emma loves that, I sing her to sleep with it at night. It was the only song that would calm her down as a baby. I sing slightly different words, though. Almost these, but with a few differences.)
Lead Kindly Light
All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

My favorite Christmas hymn is "Oh Holy Night."

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

I like O Holy Night-- when it's accompanied by guitar and sung by a baritone (or baritone and tenor.) I've been flat-sopranoed out on it. (We always hear it at least twice in church around Christmas.)

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

And oh, gosh! How could I forget Silent Night?

Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :

It's been mentioned already, but "Come, Thou Fount of Ev'ry Blessing" is my very favorite hymn. My mother's favorite is "Lift High the Cross." At my wedding, we used the latter for mothers to process in, and the former for the wedding party to come in. [Smile]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Megan:
It's been mentioned already, but "Come, Thou Fount of Ev'ry Blessing" is my very favorite hymn. My mother's favorite is "Lift High the Cross." At my wedding, we used the latter for mothers to process in, and the former for the wedding party to come in.

That's just awesome. [Smile]

Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :

It was a nice moment. I enjoyed it standing at the back of the church waiting for my turn (which was not religious and so doesn't really fit the thread--"Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral" from Lohengrin). [Big Grin]

Posted by Nathan2006 (Member # 9387) on :

I can't believe I forgot 'O Holy Night', and 'O Come O Come Emmanuel'.

Posted by Launchywiggin (Member # 9116) on :

Gregorian Chant and Medieval motets. Palestrina, Ockeghem, Lassus.

Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :

quote:
Originally posted by David Bowles:
For contemporary Christian music, Daniel Amos is the only band that matters, IMO.

The David Crowder Band is pretty cool.

Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :

I like hymns and such in minor keys. It's a shame that so much of the church music I'm familiar with is major key. I like O Come, O Come Emmanuel for that reason.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Shigosei:
I like hymns and such in minor keys. It's a shame that so much of the church music I'm familiar with is major key. I like O Come, O Come Emmanuel for that reason.

You should check out some of the Welsh hymn tunes, there are some lovely minor ones.

Posted by anti_maven (Member # 9789) on :

"O holy night" has been forever ruined for me by Southpark. Two words, Cartman and Cattle-prod*.

Sorry for the mental imagery for those as yet un sullied.

*it's very funny tho'

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

So glad I don't watch South Park. [Smile]

They actually had a decent version of it on the Monk Christmas episode, I think it was 2 years ago.