Hymn Blog - December 18, 2011

December 18, 2011 – Advent IV

VU 9 – People, Look East. Born into a literary family in London, England in 1881, author Eleanor Farjeon earned her living as a poet, journalist and broadcaster. Author of over eighty works, including Nursery Rhymes of London Town (1916), she is probably best known for her hymn text, “Morning Has Broken”. “People, Look East” was commissioned for the Oxford Book of Carols (1928) to make use of the old Besançon carol tune “Chantons, bargiés, Noué, Noué.”

VU 7 – Hope Is a Star. Singing this hymn during the lighting of the advent candles has become a tradition at TSP. We sing the fourth stanza today. The text is by Brian Wren, and was written in 1985 for Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Chicago. The lovely setting, MOON BEAMS, was composed by Joan Collier Fogg in 1987.

MV 158 – Dream a Dream. Prolific New Zealand hymn poet Shirley Erena Murray wrote the text of this lovely Christmas hymn. Murray was born in Invercargill, New Zealand in 1931. Her texts have appeared in more than 100 collections worldwide and have been translated into several languages. She has been an editor with the New Zealand Hymnbook Trust and received international acclaim for her writing, including being made a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music (2006) and becoming a Member of the NZ Order of Merit (2001) for services to the community through hymn writing. She is the first citizen to be so honoured. Shirley has been the Erik Routley Fellow (PCUSA) in 1996 and her hymns have been included in the worship of the World Council of Churches' Assemblies. She was named a Fellow of the Hymn Society in 2009. The setting is by Canadian composer Ron Klusmeier. A prolific composer, Klusmeier has 17 of his tunes in Voices United and 10 in More Voices.

VU 27 Tomorrow Christ is Coming. Fred Kaan wrote this theologically rich hymn text in 1966 for Advent worship with his congregation at Pilgrim Church, Plymouth, Devon. The tune, LITTLE BADDOW, is by English composer Cecil Armstrong Gibbs, one of three he wrote in 1929 for use at Charterhouse School.