It is that time of year when Christians around the world remember the death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. With Good Friday just around the corner, I've chosen the hymn "Alas And Did My Savior Bleed" as a prayerful…
While the weather outside has been frigid and cold this time of year, I though it would be appropriate to present the hymn, "Sunshine In My Soul". The lyrics were written by Eliza E. Hewitt in 1887. She was born in…
We begin this new year with the hymn, "Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus". The lyrics were penned by Anna B. Russell in 1921. Very little is known of Anna. She was born in Pine Valley, New York, in 1862 and lived with her…
Today's hymn is one of the more well-known Christmas carols. Often sung during Christmas pageants, "Away In A Manger" brings to mind young children dressed in costumes depicting sheep and cattle, standing around a manger singing this favorite song. The origin…
'Tis that time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Today's hymn comes from a German carol written in the 17th century. The original author of the text is unknown. We get our English translation from…
Today's hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross", is the most well-known of all the hymns written and composed by George Bennard. He was born in 1873 in Youngstown, Ohio and was raised in Lucas, Iowa. When Bennard was just 16 years old,…
Elvina Mable Hall is the author of today's hymn, "Jesus Paid It All". She was born in Alexandria, Virginia on June 4, 1820. One Sunday in 1865 she sat listening to a sermon by Pastor George Shrick on the crucifixion of…
Today's hymn, "Blest Be The Tie That Binds", was written by John Fawcett in 1772. It was published 10 years later in his collection of 166 hymns titled simply, Hymns. Born in Yorkshire, England in 1740, Fawcett was a tailor's apprentice…
In 1891, music publisher L. H. Biglow asked Fanny Crosby to write a hymn about grace. Within the hour she had completed the lyrics for the hymn, "Save By Grace". While speaking at one of Dwight Moody's evangelism conferences a few…
The hymn "Shall We Gather At The River?" was written and composed by Robert Lowry in 1864. Lowry was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 12, 1826. He was fascinated by any musical instrument he could get his hands on. At…
This week's video features the complete Sonatina in C Major Op. 36 No. 1 by Muzio Clementi. Clementi was one of the first classical composers to write works specifically to take advantage of the capabilities of the piano. He composed nearly…
The hymn "There is Power in the Blood" was written and composed by Lewis E. Jones in 1899. Jones was born in Yates City, Illinois in 1865. His family moved to a farm in Davenport, Iowa where he lived until he…
"Beneath the Cross of Jesus" was written by Scottish hymn writer Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane in 1868. She was born in Edignburgh, Scottland in 1830 and died in 1869 at the young age of 38. Her hymns appeared for the first time…
The hymn "Are You Washed In The Blood" was written and composed in 1878 by Elisha A Hoffmann. The son of an Evangelical minister, Hoffmann graduated from Union Seminary in New Berlin, Pennsylvania in 1868. Following his graduation he became ordained…
The second movement of Bach’s French Suite No. 5 in G major. This one presented some challenges for me. It’s not as tight as I would want, but I’ve decided to call it good enough and move on. Thank you for…
This week's hymn is the Christmas carol, "Joy to the World." The lyrics were written by Isaac Watts in 1719. Watts was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England, in 1674. Besides being a prolific hymn writer, he was also an English Congregational…
This week continues our focus on the birth of Christ with the hymn, “I Wonder As I Wander”, composed by John Jacob Niles in 1933. The hymn is based on fragments of an Appalachian folk song Niles heard while visiting the…
The Christmas season is finally here! This week's hymn, "Good Christian Men, Rejoice", speaks of the good news of the birth of Christ. Not much is known about this hymn. The lyrics are from a 14th century Latin carol. It was…
Today's hymn may not be one of the more traditional Thanksgiving hymns, but the lyrics for "Fairest Lord Jesus" remind us we have much to be thankful for. The author of this hymn is unknown. The hymn is thought to have…
The season of thanksgiving is upon us, and in celebration I'm presenting the hymn, “Count Your Blessings.” Johnson Oatman penned the lyrics in 1897. Oatman was born near Medford, NJ in 1856. His father was an accomplished singer and as a…