Knowing Hymn

This week, we talk about hymn #196, Jesus, Once of Humble Birth with text by Parley P. Pratt, and music by Giacomo Meyerbeer. We talk about the journey of this tune from a highly-acclaimed opera to a beloved hymn. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in Joseph Smith- Matthew, Matthew 24-25, Mark 12-13, and Luke 21. Join us as we take joy in the second coming of Jesus Chr...

This week, we talk about hymn #66, Rejoice, the Lord is King with text by Charles Wesley, and music by Horatio Parker. We talk about Wesley "methodical" way of living and Parker's disagreement with his composition student. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in Matthew 21-23, Mark 11, Luke 19-20, and John 12. Join us as we discuss Christ's triumphal en...

This week, we talk about hymn #96, Dearest Children, God is Near You with text by Charles L. Walker, and music by John M. Macfarlane. We talk about how the "Cotton Country" mission brought these two men together to write this piece and what can happen when you get bored in Sunday School. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in Matthew 19-20, Mark 10, and Luke 1...

This week, we explore hymn #221, Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd, with text by Mary B Wingate, and music by William J Kirkpatrick. Join us in our discussion about what it means to be a true "under-shepherd". This week, our discussions aligns with the Come, Follow Me reading in Luke 12-17 and John 11. We especially focus on the parables in Luke 15. Connect with us! Website:  KnowingHymn...

In 2020, just before the pandemic, I had the chance to travel to Kenya as composer and conductor-in-residence for 2 weeks for the Jobel Chorale directed by Evans Mbinji. Prior to the trip, Evans asked me to compose something for his choir and suggested that I do an arrangement of Psalm 23 in Swahili, Bwana ni Mchungaji Wangu.

This week, we explore hymn #108, The Lord is My Shepherd, with text by James Montgomery, and music by Thomas Koschat. Hear the text Koschat originally used with this tune (warning: it's sad!) and learn how The Lord is My Shepherd and O Come, All Ye Faithful are connected. This week, we also begin aligning our discussions with the Come, Follow Me program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-...

This week on Knowing Hymn, Angi and Steve discuss hymn #192, He Died, the Great Redeemer Died, with text by Isaac Watts and music by George Careless. Explore the more common text and the many tunes associated with this hymn (and hear Steve attempt to play and sing them!). Connect with us! Website:  KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group:  Knowing Hymn Instagram:  KnowingHymn Twitter @  KnowingHymn...

Angi and Steve take a deep dive into our least-sung Easter hymn, #198 That Easter Morn, with lyrics by Marion D. Hanks and music by Richard Cundick. As you learn about these two men and about writing this hymn, you can learn to appreciate this hymn in ways you might not have before. Plus, learn which to current apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were heavily influenced by...

Angi and Steve close out the first season of Knowing Hymn by talking about one of the best-beloved gospel hymns of all time (#2 after Amazing Grace according to some charts), hymn #86 How Great Thou Art with words and music adapted from a Swedish folk song by Stuart K. Hine. Hear the fascinating journey from 19th century Sweden through Germany and Russia, a trip to India, then to California before...

Though unfamiliar to many, hymn #37 The Wintry Day, Descending to Its Close is one that you should get to know. This hymn with text by Orson F. Whitney and music by Edward P. Kimball boasts some of the most unique harmonies in the hymnbook (yes, Steve nerds out for a minute). Learn more about the poetry of Orson F. Whitney as well as a new hymn of gratitude set to the same tune. Plus, a quiz for A...

This week, join us as we talk about the history and our very personal feelings about the special hymn #301, I Am a Child of God, with text by Naomi Randall and music by Mildred Pettit. You'll learn about these remarkable women and how their song has touched millions of lives.  Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing Hymn Instagram: KnowingHymn Twitter @ Knowin...

Hymn #30 - Come, Come, Ye Saints (also found for men's choir as #326) - with words by William Clayton and based on an English folk song (maybe) is a special hymn beloved by the Mormon Pioneers as they crossed the plains while trekking to the Salt Lake Valley. Learn about the circumstances surrounding Clayton's writing of the text, the lyrics he used as a metric guide, and get a brief lesson about...

As a nice pairing to last week's discussion, Angi leads a discussion about #309, As Siters in Zion, with text by Emily H. Woodmansee and music by Janice Kapp Perry. We learn about Emily's amazing journey across the plains while pulling her sister in a handcart and Janice's journey from sportswoman to world-respected composer. Angi also turns the tables on Steve and gives him a quiz about all thing...

This week, Knowing Hymn visits one of Steve's favorites, #319 Ye Elders of Israel with words by Cyrus Wheelock and tune (possibly) by Thomas H. Bayly. Take a quiz about early missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, learn about Wheelock's last visit with Joseph Smith in Carthage Jail, and hear Steve sing a couple of Thomas Bayly hits from the 1840s.  Connect with us! W...

Steve shares his arrangement of Ring Out, Wild Bells for SATB a cappella choir. Sheet music can be found at http://sacredsheetmusic.org/song/Ring_Out_Wild_Bells_SATB_by_Steve_Danielson Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing Hymn Instagram: KnowingHymn Twitter @ KnowingHymn Email: knowinghymn@gmail.com

Knowing Hymn takes on #215, Ring Out, Wild Bells with words by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and music by Crawford Gates. Learn about the friendships and tragedies that inspired both of these men to write this hymn. Learn about the amazing accomplishments of both Tennyson and Gates - both of them writing very young and having a lasting impact on the world.  Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weeb...

Join us this week for another classic Christmas hymn (or is it?), Joy to the World with words by Isaac Watts, adapted by W.W. Phelps, and music by G. F. Handel, adapted by Lowell Mason. Hear about how the stars aligned for these four powerhouse creators to come together to bring us this hymn. Whether you are talking about Christ's first or second coming, this hymn should always be on your list! Co...

On this special bonus episode, Steve shares an arrangement of I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day written by his friend and colleague Stephen Weatherford, arranged for chorus, orchestra, and narrator. This recording is by the Ensign Symphony & Chorus in December 2018. 

This week on Knowing Hymn, Angi leads the discussion about hymn #214, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, with music by John Baptiste Calkin and words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Before you go see the movie, take a listen to learn about the background of this beloved Christmas hymn. Hear some other texts that have used the same tune, and learn about Steve's connection to Longfellow and the Song...

Ring in the season with the beloved Christmas hymn, #212 Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains - words and music by John M. Macfarlane. Written on a cold winter night in St. George, Utah, this hymn has spread to become a Christmas classic throughout the world. Listen and learn more about how and why this Christmas treasure was written.  Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Grou...

This week, we tackle a more unfamiliar hymn, #275 Men Are That They Might Have Joy. Pulling inspiration from 2 Nephi in Book of Mormon, this hymn was written by journalist and professor J. Marinus Jensen and composer and organist J.J. Keeler. Learn about the interesting connection between these two and dive into the scriptures that inspired this piece.  Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.w...

As we pass through Thanksgiving and head to the holiday season 2022, we are talking about #92 For the Beauty of the Earth. We start with a quick quiz to test Angi's knowledge of the hymn. Then, we take a journey from a hymn in German to a Christmas carol to the version that we all know and love today. We even have a special visit from John Rutter (well...at least from his music).  Connect wit...

This week on Knowing Hymn, we discuss #97, Lead Kindly Light with text by (Saint!) Cardinal John Henry Newman and music by John Dykes. We talk about the stressful life of John Dykes and how the famous Swedish soprano, Jenny Lind, shaped his career. We talk about how John Henry Newman went from teaching at Oxford to becoming a Catholic Cardinal. And of course, we talk about the text to this beautif...

Steve shares a hymn with lyrics written by John Taylor, 3rd President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The hymn, "O, Give Me Back My Prophet Dear," was written in remembrance of his friends, Joseph and Hyrum Smith, killed in Carthage Jail on June 27, 1844. Steve sings the 4-part setting as found in the 1927 Latter-day Saint Hymnbook.  For more about this hymn, listen to our...

This week on Knowing Hymn, we discuss hymn #29, A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief. We, of course, talk about the poet James Montgomery and the composer George Coles, but we also dive into the scriptural backing found in Matthew and the way this hymn features in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Steve attempts to sing it the way John Taylor sang it in Carthage jail - which...