Product Description
This is the four-part hymn-style edition of this Eucharistic hymn, to facilitate congregational singing. As far as I am concerned, you may purchase the minimum amount of copies that SheetMusicPlus will allow, and then freely duplicate the song sheet for inclusion in worship bulletins.
Other editions are available:
A FESTIVAL CHOIR arrangement of this hymn is available here: https://www.arrangeme.com/title/436143
A PIANO/ORGAN Duet of the hymn is available here: https://www.arrangeme.com/title/436144
Here are some program notes:
Johann Franck (1618-1677) was born in Guben, Germany, the son of a lawyer.
Like his father, Johann studied law at the University of Konigsburg, wherein
addition to his studieshe developed a warm friendship with a group of hymnists
and poets. Returning home, he began his law practice and eventually became
mayor of Guben. As an avocation, the Lutheran politician wrote poemsand soon
became known as one of the leading hymnists of his time, ranked only behind
Gerhard. He is credited for the creation of a group of so-called "Jesus hymns,"
building the foundation for the pietistic hymn movement that would later sweep
through Europe. Franck once wrote that poetry should be "the nurse of piety, the
herald of immortality, the promoter of cheerfulness, the conqueror of sadness,
and a foretaste of heavenly glory." Indeed, his hymns echoed his own spirit of
encouragement.
Lyndell Leatherman (b. 1953) was born into a Nazarene parsonage in southeast Kansas. After studying church music and composition at Olivet Nazarene University (Kankakee, Illinois) and Illinois State University (Bloomington-Normal, Illinois), he launched into a life of music ministry. Since 1977 he has enjoyed a diverse career as church musician, editor, accompanist, composer, and arranger. In 1998 he became aware of Francks eucharistic / Advent hymn, translated either "Deck Thyself with Joy and Gladness" (Mattes) or "Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness" (Winkworth). Because the text was unique in its unusually exultant treatment of the sacrament of holy communion, Lyndell felt that the hymn was worthy of renewed consideration in the third millennium of Christian worship. So he updated the language and gave it the new musical setting used here.
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It has long been my passion and privilege to create customized arrangements for the churches and schools with whom I have been associated. Many were published; some were not. During the 2020 slowdown caused by Covid-19, I finally had the time to start posting the unpublished resources on Sheet Music Plus. If you are curious about what else is available, please navigate to my publisher page here on SMP < https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/leatherman-music-services/16718 > or slip over to Facebook < https://www.facebook.com/leathermanmusicservices >, where you can see and hear many of my published works. Thanks for your interest!
God bless!
Lyndell Leatherman, ASCAP
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