Practica Poetica

Way to Zion

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:52:28 +0000

1. Farewell, deceitful pleasure, (repeat 3 times)
    I’m going home to God.
To see my blessed Jesus, (3 times)
    Who bought me with His blood.
I’m on my way to Zion, (3 times)
    To the New Jerusalem.

2. There I will sit and praise Him, (3 times)
    A crown He’s bought for me;
And sing the song of Moses (3 times)
    To all eternity.
I’m on my way to Zion, (3 times)
    To the New Jerusalem.

MP3

Text
Author: Unknown
Meter: 7s & 6s
Hesperian Harp: Page 242

Music
Yamaha PSS480 Instrumentation: Harpsichord, Cello, Harp
Time: 2:33

Evening Shade

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:46:49 +0000

The day is past and gone,
The evening shades appear;
Oh! May we all remember well,
The night of death is near.

MP3

Text
Author: John Leland, 1835
Meter: SM
Hesperian Harp: Page 199

Music
Yamaha PSS480 Instrumentation: Four Violins, Cello
Time: 0:49

The Family Bible

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:43:48 +0000

1. How painfully pleasing the fond recollection
    Of youthful connections and innocent joy,
While blessed with parental advice and affection,
    Surrounded by mercy and peace from on high;
I still view the chairs of my father and mother,
    The seats of their offspring arranged on each hand,
And the richest of books, which excels every other–
    The family Bible that lay on the stand.

2. Ye scenes of enjoyment, long have we been parted,
    My hopes almost gone, and my parents no more;
In sorrow and sadness I live broken-hearted,
    And wander alone on a far distant shore;
But why should I doubt a dear Saviour’s protection,
    Forgetful of gifts from His bountiful hand?
O let me with patience receive His correction,
    And think of the Bible that lay on the stand.

MP3

Text
Author: Unknown
Meter: 12s & 11s
Hesperian Harp: Page 310,311

Music
Instrumentation (real): Two Flutes, Two Guitars
Time: 1:48

All Glory Be To God On High

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:38:13 +0000

1. All glory be to God on high,
    Who hath our race befriended!
To us no harm shall now come nigh,
    The strife at last is ended;
God showeth His goodwill to men,
And peace shall reign on earth again;
    O thank Him for His goodness!

2. We praise, we worship Thee, we trust
    And give Thee thanks forever,
O Father, that Thy rule is just
    And wise, and changes never;
Thy boundless grace o’er all things reigns,
Thou dost whate’er Thy will ordains;
    ’Tis well Thou art our Ruler!

3. O Holy Ghost, Thou precious Gift,
    Thou Comforter unfailing;
Do Thou our troubled souls uplift,
    And let Thy pow’r availing;
Avert our woes and calm our dread:
For us the Savior’s blood was shed;
    We trust in Thee to save us.

MP3

Text
Author: Nikolaus Decius, 1525 (translated 1865)
Meter: 8787887

Music
Author: Incertus, 1539 (based on Plainsong setting of the ‘Gloria in Excelsis’ from the Mass of 1524 by Thomas Müntzer. Harmonized by J.S. Bach)
Yamaha PSS480 Instrumentation: Pipe Organ, Tubular Bells
Time: 1:37

Be Not Dismayed, Thou Little Flock

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:29:01 +0000

1. Be not dismayed, thou little flock,
Although the foe’s fierce battle-shock
Loud on all sides assail thee;
Though o’er thy fall they laugh secure,
Their triumph cannot long endure,
Let not thy courage fail thee.

2. Our hope is sure in Jesus’ might,
Against themselves the godless fight,
Themselves, not us, distressing;
Shame and contempt their lot shall be,
God is with us, with Him are we,
To us belongs His blessing.

MP3

Text
Author: Jakob Fabricius, 1631 (translated 1858)
Meter: 887 887

Music
Author: Anon. 1530 (harmonized by J.S. Bach)
Yamaha PSS480 Instrumentation: Four Recorders, Cello, Glockenspiel
Time: 1:16

Wesley

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:23:22 +0000

With inward pain my heartstrings sound,
My soul dissolves away;
Dear Sov’reign, whirl the seasons round,
And bring the promised day.

MP3

Text
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: CM
Hesperian Harp: Page 66

Music
Instrumentation (real): Three Guitars, Three Voices
Time: 3:17

Grafton

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:18:46 +0000

Jesus! The vision of Thy face
    Hath overpow’ring charms;
Scarce shall I feel death’s cold embrace,
    If Christ be in my arms.
Then, while you hear my heartstrings break,
    How sweet the minutes roll;
A mortal paleness on my cheek,
    And glory in my soul.

MP3

Text
Author: Unknown
Meter: CMD
Hesperian Harp: Page 132

Music
Instrumentation (real instruments): One Soprano, Two Alto, Two Tenor, & Two Bass Recorders
Time: 2:16

Lamberton

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 08:14:07 +0000

1. Is this the kind return,
And these the thanks we owe,
Thus to abuse eternal Love,
Whence all our comforts flow?

2. Let past ingratitude
Provoke our weeping eyes;
And hourly, as new mercies fall,
Let hourly thanks arise.

MP3

Text
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: SM
Hesperian Harp: Page 253

Music
Yamaha PSS480 Instrumentation: Oboe, Clarinet, Recorder, Bassoon, Glockenspiel
Time: 1:49

Pilgrim’s Prayer

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:56:08 +0000

1. Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
    Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
    Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of Heaven! Bread of Heaven!
    Feed me till I want no more.

2. Open now the crystal fountain,
    Whence the healing stream do flow;
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
    Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer! strong Deliverer!
    Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.

3. Feed me with the heav’nly manna,
    In this barren wilderness;
Be my sword, and shield, and banner–
    Be my robe of righteousness;
Fight and conquer, fight and conquer,
    All my foes by Sovereign grace!

MP3

Text
Author: W. Williams
Meter: 8s, 4s, & 7s
Hesperian Harp: Page 237

Music
Yamaha PSS480 Instrumentation: Four Trumpets, Tuba, Harpsichord
Time: 1:37

New Concord

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:49:51 +0000

1. How happy are they
Who their Saviour obey,
And have laid up their treasure above!
Tongue cannot express
The sweet comfort and peace
Of a soul in its earliest love.

2. That comfort was mine,
When the favor divine
I first found in the blood of the Lamb;
When my heart it believed,
What a joy it received,
What a heaven in Jesus’s Name!

3. ‘Twas a heaven below,
My Redeemer to know,
The angels could do nothing more,
Than fall at His feet,
And the story repeat,
And the Lover of sinners adore.

MP3

Text
Author: Charles Wesley, Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1749
Meter: 6s & 9s
Hesperian Harp: Page 227

Music
Yamaha PSS480 Instrumentation: Four Clarinets
Time: 1:13