HYMN DESCRIPTIONS This is My Father’s World is a hymn based on an adaptation from a traditional English melody. The text was written by Maltbie D. Babcock 1901. The Ash Grove Medley is a traditional Welsh folk tune. Text was added to it in 1892 and it is sung as Let All Things Now Living. Lord Whose Love in Humble Service is a hymn that I learned years ago, but had forgotten its name. When I passed around preproduction copies of the CD, no one was able to name this hymn. Finally I called John Snider, Pastor in West St. Paul and he was able to name the hymn immediately. The original tune is Beach Spring and in 1901 text was added and it became Lord Whose Love in Humble Service. Simple Gifts is a traditional eighteenth century Shaker tune. This is quite a popular tune in and outside of the church. I played and sang this song at my father’s funeral. Other text has been added to this popular tune. Wondrous Love is a tune that was written in 1835 by William Walker. I knew it as a folk song long before I had heard it sung in church as “What Wondrous Love is This?” Wondrous Love is considered an American Folk hymn. Sweet Hour of Prayer is one of my favorite tunes on Solace & Grace. This hymn was written by a blind preacher, William Walford in 1845. It was taught to me by my mother for the sole purpose of recording it for this project. I had not heard it before, but she thought it would be a nice addition to my repertoire of hymns. She sang Sweet Hour of Prayer to me in her living room and I worked it out with her help in a very short amount of time. I like the simplicity and the calming effect that this tune has. Nearer My God to Thee was written in 1856 by Lowell Mason and was said to have been played on the Titanic by a small string ensemble as it sank. It was part of the sound track to the movie “Titanic” and was part of a very moving scene in that movie. Be Thou My Vision is based on an Irish folk melody named Slane written in the eighteenth century. This hymn has been one of my favorites for sometime. I also like the words of the hymn, Lord of all Hopefulness which is of the same melody. If my memory serves me correctly, I believe this tune was used in the movie “A River Runs Through It.” Christ the Lord Has Risen Today is the Easter hymn written in 1739. This is a very uplifting tune that had to be recorded several times. Each time, the tempo was slowed in an attempt to retain the calming feel for Solace & Grace. Ye Watchers & Ye Holy Ones/Borning Cry was performed on high strung guitar. (I just also found my first typo on the CD, as I put Ye Fathers instead of Ye Watchers). This is a fun tune to perform and it dates back to 1623. Borning Cry or I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry is the only nontraditional hymn on Solace & Grace. It was written by John Ylvisaker. Originally it was a tune called the Water Song, but John later added words. At Grace Lutheran Church in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, this was used regularly for a baptismal song and I have also heard it played at weddings. I believe it has a very strong melody and lyrics. These tunes were also performed on high strung guitar. Hail Holy Mother is a beautiful traditional hymn. It is also known as Hail Holy Queen or Salve Regina and has been used in the Catholic Church since the 14th century. It was one of my favorite arrangements from the movie “Sister Act”. We Gather Together is known to me as the Thanksgiving hymn. It is another tune that is a joy to play in a spirited up tempo manner. Once again, I purposely attempted to keep the tempo in check for Solace & Grace. It is based on a 16th Century Dutch melody. Holy, Holy, Holy was written by John B. Dykes in 1826. This is another very familiar hymn that was performed on the three Gibson guitars. Amazing Grace was the first hymn I ever learned on guitar and it is probably one of the most popular of all hymns. It is also my mother’s favorite. The tune was written in 1779 and John Newton added text later. Jesus Loves Me was performed on high strung guitar. I remember as a child the children’s choir would walk in procession to this music as they lined up for their performance at the First Congregational Church in St. Johns, Michigan. I like this hymn for its simplistic nature of the tune and words. I can visualize the children processing with such innocence. I also love the sound of Eldon’s Smeck on this tune. The overtones are abundant on this one.