Music

A few times during my adult life I have heard recordings of well-known classical music to which someone has written new religious-themed words. Because of my familiarity with the music, the added lyrics had a profound effect on me. A few years ago my friend and colleague Brent Jorgenson was compiling a book of old traditional songs and hymns, including many favorites written by early composers in the British Isles, and asked if I would be willing to write new religious-themed words to one of the hymns. I hesitated because I had always felt that words needed to come before music, but he urged me to make the attempt.

What happened next surprised me. I had grown up loving those beautiful melodies. I learned them on the piano and I heard them on the radio and they have stayed with me throughout my life. I found that I loved writing to a familiar melody and the words flowed so easily I wanted to continue and do more. I sent my assigned song to Brent and then started looking for other public domain songs of that era for which I could write new lyrics. There was no shortage of them and I became so caught up in the project that I did not quit until I had written fifteen sets of lyrics to these beloved melodies in an LDS-friendly (but not specific) vocabulary. I knew I wanted to record and share them with others but we were involved in other projects at the time.

A Mormon Times Article Offers Encouragement

As I was finishing my writing, a column by Jerry Johnston in Mormon Times caught my attention as it spoke of the history of writing new religious lyrics to old familiar tunes. Jerry wrote:

     When the early saints wanted to celebrate their leader

     (“We Thank Thee, O God, For a Prophet”) they put their

     words to one of the most rousing and memorable dance

     tunes of the era. I think there was a touch of genius in that.

     It was like splashing a dash of Tabasco on scrambled eggs.

     The saints took something well-known and time-tested and

     gave it new meaning and flavor.

     That happened when the text of “Who’s on the Lord’s Side”

     was linked with the melody of “Over the Bounding Main.”

     It happened again when the words to “Praise to the
     Man” were laid over the stirring battle anthem “Scotland the

     Brave,” a favorite of bag- pipers. (1)

I was aware of the early writers in the church combining the texts of their day with old, beloved melodies and had wondered why we had quit doing that. Jerry Johnston asks that question too, “Why did we stop using well-known and well-loved tunes as the melodies for our deepest religious feelings? . . . Was it because we’ve come to prize creativity’ so much that each songwriter is determined to reinvent the wheel-to fashion new tunes that rival the old?” (2)

New Texts to Old Melodies

When I began my writing project it was a revelation to me to realize that songs written so long ago could stir strong emotions within us in our day. I have written some 1300 songs and sometimes it’s hard to come up with something original! I found it very relaxing to have allowed an earlier composer to do the work of writing a nice melody, while I had only to sit back and ponder the new text. Although I wrote my lyrics before reading Jerry’s article, I agree with all he had to say: “There are plenty of tunes out there. All we have to do is put them to work. . .We have hundreds of catchy, well-known tunes that could be given a fresh life with a spiritual twist. Putting popular tunes to work for religious causes is a time-tested tradition. Taking the best pop culture has to offer and giving it a spiritual spin refreshes the world. Why not keep it going? After all, as Martin Luther said, “Why should the devil have all the good music.” (3)

Recording the Songs

Toward the end of 2013 we recorded these songs on a CD titled, “My Faith in Jesus Leads Me On.” Our arranger, Greg Hansen, used many instruments indigenous to the British Isles, and singers with a touch of the Celtic brogue in some cases. Our singers were perfect for the songs and I never tire of listening to this particular CD. I hesitate to say it is my favorite of all of our recordings (since I didn’t write the melodies) but I’m afraid it is so. I give praise in my heart to all of those composers from so long ago who came up with such memorable and soul-stirring melodies, some of which appear in our own latter-day hymnal. I have no doubt they were heaven-inspired.

Sample Song – “The Love of God”

I grew up learning “Londonderry Aire” as a piano solo and later “Oh Danny Boy” (same melody) as a solo or choir piece. I have sung this melody in many different choirs, including the Tabernacle Choir, some of which were accompanied by bagpipes. Could there be any more beautiful melody? I’m not sure there could be. When one can wed the song with the perfect singer the effect can be powerful. For me, Keith Evans’ rendition of this song, now titled “The Love of God,” is an example of the perfect wedding of song and voice.

Click here to listen  “The Love of God”

The Love of God
(Tune: Londonderry Aire/Oh Danny Boy)
Lyrics: Janice Kapp Perry
Soloist: Keith Evans

The love of God is fairest of all precious gems
A gift from heav’n that heals the sorrowing soul
It settles softly on the sad and lonely heart
And warms it with a flame that makes the spirit whole
In times of gloom or sadness He will comfort send
And help a wounded soul to rise again
His constant love is like a timeless melody
That sweetly whispers, I will always be your friend

The love of God is constant as the rising sun
The one pure fount from which our blessings flow
He walks beside us in our darkest hour of need
And when our faith grows dim He shares our pressing load
Our pleading prayers, ascending to His throne on high
Are heard and answered by our loving Friend
His kind compassion warms us as His wisdom comes
Hold on, my hurting child, the light will come again

The love of God endures when other love grows cold
His steady hand upholds us from afar
He changes not through days and years of endless time
He is our one sure rock, our true and guiding star
Above the din of life we strain to hear His voice
And by His gentle words of peace be blessed
His healing love is manna to a weary soul
He says, come unto me, for here you shall find rest
Come unto me, for here you shall find rest

Sample Song – “Jesus, My Savior”

The original song, “Be Thou My Vision,” is a traditional song from Ireland which is commonly attributed to Dalln Forgaill.

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It is very popular among English-speaking churches around the world. It commonly appears in hymnals and choir books, and various sets of lyrics have been written to this memorable music. I chose the title “Jesus, My Savior” for our version of this song, which is beautifully performed by Tammy Simister Robinson.

Click here to listen  “Jesus, My Savior” 

Jesus, My Savior
(Tune: Be Thou My Vision)
Lyrics: Janice Kapp Perry
Soloist: Tammy Simister Robinson

Jesus, my Savior, my refuge, my friend
My comfort in weakness, my hope without end
Though troubled my pathway, though weary my soul
Thy word gives me solace, Thy love makes me whole

Jesus, my haven from sorrow and pain
Thy light in the darkness my soul doth sustain
In all tribulations that daily befall
Thou art my safe harbor, my courage, my all

Jesus, my shepherd, my shelter and shield
My heart to Thy kingdom forever is sealed
Thy essence surrounds me with marvelous light
Thy spirit doth lead me to paths that are right

Jesus, my Savior, my joy and my song
An unfailing beacon that still leads me on
I give Thee my worship, my will and my heart
Please lead me to heaven to be where Thou art

Sample Song – “When the Burdens of Life Press Upon Me”

I only remember this melody from a book of “Home Songs” that I used to sing from as a teenager.

I played guitar and would sit out on our porch at night and sing these interesting folks songs to the animals or the wheat fields, not really understanding all the words but somehow being touched by them nevertheless. The original song was “Sally Gardens.” Fortunately, our favorite “Irish” tenor, Daniel Beck, moved back to Utah just in time to record this song for us.

Click here to listen  “When the Burdens of Life Press Upon Me”

When the Burdens of Life Press Upon Me
(Tune: Sally Gardens)
Lyrics: Janice Kapp Perry
Soloist: Daniel Beck

When the burdens of life press upon me
And become more than I can bear
When the shadows of darkness surround me
There is one who is always there
I turn to Him with aching in my soul
And He hears my pleading prayer
Gentle Jesus is there to console me
And to rescue me from despair

When misfortune and heartache befall me
And my soul yearns to find relief
There is one voice of comfort that calls me
And invites me to feel His peace
He speaks to me in whispers still and small
And my flickering faith is fanned to flame
As His spirit refreshes and warms me
I find courage to rise again

Oh the heart that must bear secret sorrow
Shall find refuge in One alone
He has borne all our sin and our suff’ring
And our anguish to Him is known
He sees our tears, He hears our pleading prayers
And He waits to comfort and console
In the arms of His love we find healing
By His ransom we are made whole

Conclusion

Hymns have inspired us from the time our church was organized and Emma was given the assignment to make a collection of hymns for the saints. I have a copy of her tiny book which includes words only which were mostly sung to well-known tunes of the day-mostly from other denominations. Regarding our present hymnbook, author Karen Lynn Davidson says:

     Quite a few of our hymns have become so thoroughly

   assimilated into Latter-day Saint hymnody that we have

     almost lost sight of the fact that they were not originally

     our own. . . . Often a melody intended for a very different

     purpose has been adapted as a hymn tune. This practice

     was common among Christian denominations. (4)

I have always enjoyed simplicity in music and some of the old melodies are so beautiful to me in their simplicity. Writing new words to them has been a joy, and something I may want to continue.

I have written close to 160 new hymn tunes in the last decade, mostly writing to beautiful texts by other LDS authors and poets, but occasionally writing my own words. We have published these new hymns in five volumes of “Inspirational New Hymns for Choir and Home.” These hymns were written specifically for members of our church.

Now I am enjoying writing new words to public domain music from the past, while avoiding topics that strictly apply to the LDS Church (prophets, Joseph Smith, temples, Book of Mormon, etc). Most of the songs on this new album are Christ-centered, and address more general gospel topics. I hope others will find these songs uplifting and motivating in their homes and choirs.

 

Janice Kapp Perry: Composer, author, lecturer

(1) Jerry Earl Johnston, Mormon Times, November 29, 2012.
(2) Ibid.
(3) Ibid.
(4) Karen Lynn Davidson, Our Latter-day Hymns, Deseret Book, 1988, pp.5-6. 

All songs are also available on iTunes.

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Through the end of January you can purchase the CD for half price by clicking HERE. To get the half price discount make sure to enter the word CHRISTMAS in the shopping cart “promo code” box when checking out.