The mythicization of hymns isn’t new. We learn this in this episode about a very common song we sing today. However, the story is still amazing and very applicable to our daily lives. Whether true or not, this story is uplifting and continues to praise God.
Here is a link to the hymn of this story being played in its alternate tune: https://youtu.be/cv4qQgiO5fQ — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stories-about-hymn/support
This is our first, of hopefully many, modern songs. This one comes straight from the Hamilton Family. In this episode, you’ll learn how tragic events led to one of the most sung Hamilton songs, and how we are reminded that God is always good. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stories-about-hymn/support
In this episode you’ll listen to the story of a song from one of my favorite hymn authors and composers, because this man did both. His life ended tragically and earlier than this world deserved, but through modern inventions, his work lives on and continues to glorify God. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stories-about-hymn/support
It is time for an origin story, that is, MY origin story. In this episode, you’ll learn how a Christmas hymn from France, which has its own story, helped create the Stories about Hymn podcast.
Here is the link to the video of Joan Baez singing this hymn in its original language: https://youtu.be/Mxfmnk7l_pI — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stories-about-hymn/support
Learning about music has also increased my desire to play music, that is, via an instrument. However, not just any one will do. For a long time I’ve wanted to learn how to play the most transportable instrument in the world: the harmonica. I’ve mentioned it a few times in my podcast; I’ve fiddled with an instrument that I hope to master one day, and the harmonica is it.
Well, I’ve played a few notes on the piano too, but this is only because I can read music and I know which notes are which. So, I can painstakingly play one note at a time as I count my way up or down the scale before playing the next. If I do it enough, I can become familiar with it enough to speed up, but I’m not playing chords in any way. It’s just something fun to do.
But the harmonica, I’ve played a few full songs. But before I get there I want to discuss a few major issues I face when playing the instrument.
Number one: it’s not accepted among most classical, Christian music groups or churches. Honestly, and understandably, it has a bad… testimony. The harmonica is known as a blues, rocks, and/or country instrument. Sure, I’ve heard it played in a few classical hymns, but only as a supporter, never as the lead instrument. When I mention my desire to play the harmonica to other Christians, most shy away from the idea and most have never heard it played classically. It nearly never happens and is usually reserved for the bar room.
So was the piano at a point in history…
The second issue I face is a result of the first: I cannot find anyone, secular or Christian, who teaches or instructs how to play the harmonica in a classical style. All worldly instructions are bluesy, and there are no Christians that I have found who teach it. It’s just not there.
So, I’m left to teach myself. Luckily, I can read music and I understand timing. But we all know it’s not that easy. I need to memorize which holes are which notes, which holes can be bended (creating sharps and flats), and how key signatures affect play, and when to play chords just for starters.
There are a few helpful charts I’ve found, but nothing that really instructs. It’s all memorizing, which is NOT learning. I seek instruction from someone who glorifies God, who intends to teach others to glorify God through their music. It’s all about Him anyway.
One of the most helpful tools I’ve found is a website that has sheet music mixed with the tabs. These help in learning which holes are which notes, and it’s generally good practice. There are, however, a few things I don’t understand. Sometimes, the sheet music will have Middle C as the 4 Hole and sometimes it’ll move an octave up to the 7 Hole. I don’t know the reason for this and I believe it’s crucial to.
So, for now I will continue on my own but also seeking. If you know of anyone willing to teach, please email me at storiesabouthymn@gmail.com. In the meantime, I’ll continue looking online and asking musically talented folks that I know.
This is another wonderful history that does not have a sad story behind it. It is simply about a man who was lost, got saved, and was so sure and thankful for his salvation that he made a song about it. It cannot get much better than that.
A few admin notes: The sound quality of the last episode, this one, and the next few are sub-par. I did not have access to my regular equipment; please bare with me. Also, this is a missionary awareness episode. To provide some more context, the missionary that will be discussed is Michael Shaver, who lost his wife to cancer late last year and to whom Episodes 6 and 7 were dedicated. This is the primary reason for his break from deputation.
Michael’s missionary website is https://icelandicmissions.com/michaelshaver.html
With that, please enjoy this episode with all of your heart! — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stories-about-hymn/support
Many of our song’s stories are epic by nature. Some of them are even too good to be believable. Often, this is the case. However, that does not mean there isn’t some truth worth retelling! Listen how one hymn took nearly one thousand years to be completed, from pen to music sheet. While this story may not be as good as well all would like it to be, we can still give God the glory! — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/stories-about-hymn/support
Sometimes, life is short. But that does not mean God should not get the glory. In this episode, we learn how a crippled young woman who died at an early age glorified God through her hymns. And it wasn’t just her life that led to the creation of this hymn, but it was also the death of another.
Further, we learn how this song was used in one of the greatest missionary stories ever recorded, and how one of those missionaries died at nearly the same age of the song’s author.
This song is performed by Grace Community Church of San Antonio, Texas. You can listen to more of their music here: https://gccsatx.com/hymns/
When I started singing as an adult in church, I thought I was doing it wrong. I mean, I know I sounded bad but I was concerned that I was singing too high. Listening to others around me, I sounded… womanly. I didn’t know what the “issue” was, do I attempted to rectify it by singing in a more manly voice. I couldn’t understand how someone who loves typical manly things (hunting, fishing, shooting, outdoors, etc) could sound so soft when singing. It was a perspective.
This was, of course, before I knew really anything about music. I couldn’t read it, and while I knew the names of notes, I didn’t know what their placement meant. It would be many years before I heard and learned about the four standard singing voices: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. It was then that I realized that I didn’t sing too high, but actually just right for a tenor.
After hearing someone sing, who quickly became one of my favorite singers, I was enthralled with the idea of singing high as a man and it still sounding good. But I embraced it.
Maybe too much at times. When I first started singing, my highest limit was the G above middle C. It quickly developed to B and now rests comfortably at D. I’ve embraced it so much that I want to sing the soprano high G, but that’s probably too much of a stretch and really serves no purpose. But we’ll see.
So now that I know why I sing high, and I have a great role model to follow and learn from, and I’ve learned how to expand my range, I’m totally settled in my role as a tenor. The biggest problem now, though, is that I still sound terrible!
If you’ve had an issue with accepting your position on the scale, please share. You can comment here or send me an email. I’d love to connect and hear your stories.
Stories about Hymn