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It was hard to find on Youtube the tune I know from my youth to "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind."
In North America, the prevailing tune used is 'Rest' by Frederick Charles Maker: .......which I've never heard until your link today. I doubt that there are any regular church goers in the UK (and probably Australia and NZ too) who knows it either.
'Rest' was the tune sung in the (Australian) Anglican church I attended in the 1960s. The hymn book we used was The Book of Common Praise which was nothing if not English. "Repton" is the tune we hear now - if you can find a church where they still sing hymns that is!
A recent takeover by Repton?
I just discovered that my old hymnal "The Psalter and Church Hymnary" (published in 1899 ) has the tune 'Campfields' by Mark James Monk (b.1858) to "Dear Lord and Father". It sounds somewhat bland compared to Repton and Rest.
Tranditional hymns are still sung in churches here, despite dwindling attendances and attempted takeovers by pop & gospel singers and others. It sometimes surprises me that most still have functioning pipe organs - many's the time when I've wandered into a little church almost in the middle of nowhere, when out on a hike in the green & (usually) pleasant land, and been able to play its organ......even though the only organ piece I can play from memory (sort of) is that Toccata & Fugue by - or attributed to - JSB.
"I don't play accurately - anyone can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression. As far as the piano is concerned, sentiment is my forte. I keep science for Life."
It sometimes surprises me that most still have functioning pipe organs - many's the time when I've wandered into a little church almost in the middle of nowhere, when out on a hike in the green & (usually) pleasant land, and been able to play its organ......even though the only organ piece I can play from memory (sort of) is that Toccata & Fugue by - or attributed to - JSB.
So many wonderful old churches in the countryside over there - I know, I watch Escape to the Country from time to time. That is surprising about the organs. Not that they're there, but that many are actually working. I had occasion to play for a wedding in a tiny little historic (for us! 1830-something...) rural church a few years ago. The organ was a real sweetie - one rank of little beautifully painted pipes, and one little manual. No G's sounded at all, but apart from working around that, rather fun.
The last hymn I recorded after the pandemic lockdown is “Morning Has Broken. turned into a Pop song by the English singer “Cat Stevens”. A lot of local churches are conducting their services online so not going to perform it in church for at least 6 mths.
Indeed! I grew up Methodist, and played in 2 baptist churches for about a year each. We played things like Blessed Assurance, His eye is on the sparrow, Power in the Blood, and Softly and Tenderly.
I have a real soft spot for them. I love a basic untrained church choir, singing with heart.
I like to play chorale preludes, which were used to introduce hymns in Lutheran liturgy. My repertoire includes chorale preludes of Walther (J.S. Bach's 1st cousin, and the uncrowned king of the chorale prelude), Pachelbel, Zachau (Handel's organ teacher), Scheidt, Johann Christoph Bach, and J. S. Bach.
While many have organ pedal parts, there also are many with minimal or no pedal parts, enabling them to be played on piano.
Play classical repertoire from score. Improvise blues.
The last hymn I recorded after the pandemic lockdown is “Morning Has Broken. turned into a Pop song by the English singer “Cat Stevens”. A lot of local churches are conducting their services online so not going to perform it in church for at least 6 mths.
The music for Morning Has Broken was actually composed by Rick Wakeman (most known for being the keyboard player of the band Yes).
Play classical repertoire from score. Improvise blues.
Sweelinvk Wasn’t ‘Morning Has Broken’ a 1931 hymn, later arranged by Rick Wakeman? Don’t believe he was the original composer
"Music, rich, full of feeling, not soulless, is like a crystal on which the sun falls and brings forth from it a whole rainbow" - F. Chopin "I never dreamt with my own two hands I could touch the sky" - Sappho
Sweelinvk Wasn’t ‘Morning Has Broken’ a 1931 hymn, later arranged by Rick Wakeman? Don’t believe he was the original composer
"Morning Has Broken" is a popular and well-known Christian hymn first published in 1931. It has words by English author Eleanor Farjeon and was inspired by the village of Alfriston in East Sussex, then set to a traditional Scottish Gaelic tune known as "Bunessan." It is often sung in children's services and in Funeral services."
Internet source, for what it may be worth. Seems plausible without further research.
Have to assume "Morning Has Broken" was based on words by Eleanor Farjeon with a Scottish tune. The other people including Rick Wakeman & Cat Stevens came later.
Wikipedia page on Rick Wakeman:
Wakeman played the piano on "Morning Has Broken" by Cat Stevens for his 1971 album, Teaser and the Firecat. Wakeman was omitted from the credits and for many years, was never paid for it; Stevens later apologised and paid Wakeman for the error.
Wikipedia page on Morning Has Broken:
Cat Stevens' recording, with a piano arrangement arranged and performed by Rick Wakeman, led to the song being known internationally.
When shaping "Morning Has Broken" for recording, Stevens started with the hymn, which took around 45 seconds to sing in its basic form. Producer Paul Samwell-Smith told him he could never put something like that on an album, and that it had to be at least three minutes, though an acoustic demo of an early Stevens version lasts almost three minutes. Prior to the actual recording Stevens heard Wakeman play something in the recording booth. It was a rough sketch of what would later become "Catherine Howard". Stevens told Wakeman that he liked it and wanted something similar as the opening section, the closing section and, if possible, a middle section as well. Wakeman told Stevens he could not as it was his piece destined for a solo album, but Stevens persuaded him to adapt his composition.
In 2000, Wakeman released an instrumental version of "Morning Has Broken" on an album of the same title. That same year he gave an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live in which he said he had agreed to perform on the Cat Stevens track for £10 and was "shattered" that he was omitted from the credits, adding that he never received the money either.
On his return to performance as Yusuf Islam, Stevens made a payment to Wakeman and apologized for the original non-payment, which he said arose from confusion and a misunderstanding on the record label's part. On a documentary aired on British television, Wakeman stated that he felt Stevens's version of "Morning Has Broken" was a very beautiful piece of music that had brought people closer to religious truth. He expressed satisfaction in having contributed to this. Wakeman included a 3:42 version on his 2017 album of piano arrangements, Piano Portraits.
Many years ago I played the harmonium in church services (mass) for a period before we moved house. Actually, a lot of the hymns were different from those I used to sing as a child. Very enjoyable to play, haven't played any since. One hymn I recall which was so different from what I was used to is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK1DVDSnLjg A small choir and some really nice tunes - happy times!
Sweelinck Wasn’t ‘Morning Has Broken’ a 1931 hymn, later arranged by Rick Wakeman? Don’t believe he was the original composer
The hymn is about 45 seconds in length. Wakeman composed piano solos for the opening, ending, and bridges to bring the Cat Stevens song length to about 3:20.
Stevens was waiting for a time slot in a recording studio and heard Wakeman recording the piano parts, which originally were to be part of a different composition, and asked if he could include them on his upcoming album. Wakeman ultimately agreed, and agreed to a fee of £10, presumably a perfunctory amount so that it technically could be a paid contract.
Not only was Wakeman left off of the album credits, but apparently the £10 fee was not paid. (Stevens apparently made good on the £10 years later).
Play classical repertoire from score. Improvise blues.
Occasionally a composer would write and set an original chorale tune. This one by Schumann (Album for the Young) is a good example. I've played it during church services.
) has the tune 'Campfields' by Mark James Monk (b.1858) to "Dear Lord and Father". It sounds somewhat bland compared to Repton and Rest.
