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9 Comments

  1. Evangeline
    14 December 2009 @ 11:08 am

    I’m glad you found my blog and pointed me to yours! There is always more to learn about hymns.

    Thank you for writing about Henry Barraclough’s hymn. I have not heard it for a very long time; my mom and my sister used to sing this as a duet and it holds wonderful memories for me. Beyond that, it is good to hear the story behind its origin and the scripture which inspired it.

    • rcottrill
      14 December 2009 @ 11:34 am

      Thanks for sharing. “Ivory Palaces” is one of those hymns whose meaning is greatly enhanced by knowing the Scripture behind it.

      Y’all come back!

  2. ivoryspring
    14 December 2009 @ 2:07 pm

    Thank you for leaving the comment on my blog to direct me to yours! I absolutely love your blog and all the resources. This generation desperately needs to discover the riches in the hymns that teach sound doctrine. Thank you, and may God bless and multiply the fruits of your ministry.

    • rcottrill
      14 December 2009 @ 2:09 pm

      Thanks for your kind words. I agree there is a need for renewed interest in our traditional hymns and gospel songs, and I’m doing my best to encourage it!

  3. ivoryspring
    14 December 2009 @ 2:08 pm

    Oh, one more thing – is there anyway you might be able to post the score? I would dearly love to learn how to sing these hymns.

    • rcottrill
      14 December 2009 @ 2:16 pm

      Yes I think I can help with that. My friend Dick Adams will give you what you want on the Cyber Hymnal. Call up the hymn you want, and you’ll see all the words, plus information about authors and composers.

      Click on the MIDI link and you’ll hear the music, and click on the PDF link and you’ll see the actual score (which you can print).

  4. Carol Blair
    14 December 2009 @ 4:28 pm

    Ivoryspring,

    I would encourage you to obtain a good solid traditional hymnal. My top recommendation is the Worship and Service Hymnal, published by the Hope Publishing Company in 1957/61. This hymnal is still in print and is available on Hope’s website ($13); used copies are also available online (go to abebooks.com). I frequently find copies of this hymnal in thrift shops and used book stores, and I snap them up.

    I grew up singing “Out of the Ivory Palaces” (# 69 in W & S), but I haven’t sung or heard it for a long time. It’s one of those hymns (among many) that has been lost to the Church, because of the way that contemporary music has taken over most churches. And Frances Ridley Havergal’s hymns – all wonderful. We sang “Take My Life and Let it Be” yesterday in our morning service.

    • rcottrill
      14 December 2009 @ 4:59 pm

      Well, actually, I have two copies of the Worship and Service Hymnal–along with dozens of other hymnals dating back over 200 years. And yes, it is one of the best. It set the standard 50 years ago, but has probably fallen by the wayside because it has none of the newer songs in it.

      Another that I recommend from around the same date is Great Hymns of the Faith–which is still in print. It has pitched some of the hymns in a little lower key, making it easier for the average singer to reach the high notes of the melody.

      Then, a third favourite is Living Hymns. They have recently come out with a new edition that boosts the total number of songs to nearly 900.

      Each of these books has something to recommend it. And since most of our traditional hymns and gospel songs are now in the public domain, they can be copied freely. When I want to lead a hymn that is not in the book our church uses, I simply produce a bulletin insert for it.

  5. Nona Mills
    22 December 2010 @ 2:43 pm

    Thanks for your kind words. I agree there is a need for renewed interest in our traditional hymns and gospel songs, and I’m doing my best to encourage it!