Dulcimer Arrangement of "Holy God, We Praise Your Name"

Hello everyone,

              This week we are going to look at a hymn that uses a Christian text from the 4th century; Te Deum. This week's hymn is called "Holy God, We Praise Your Name." Below is a great article aboue this hymn that can be found at ReformedWorship.org. I hope you all enjoy this week's hymn arrangement.

-Ben

This fine hymn is a paraphrase of the great fourth-century Latin hymn, "Te Deum Laudamus." Ignaz Franz (1719-1790) prepared the German versification for a collection entitled Katholisches Gesangbuch Clarence Walworth, an influential missionary translated the German words into English.

For centuries the Te Deum has held an important place in Matins for the Roman liturgy and in Morning Prayer for the Anglican service, which is one reason many composers have been inspired to set these words. The Te Deum has also been widely used for occasions of thanksgiving and praise outside the worship setting.

October is a month in which many special services are held (including World Communion Sunday, All Nations Heritage Sunday Thanksgiving Day in Canada, and Reformation Day) and "Holy God, We Praise Your Name" is very fitting for all of these. In the words of this hymn, one can join the church of all ages in proclaiming God's rule (sovereignty) but also angels, cherubim, and seraphim in proclaiming God's holiness. We also remember that prophets, apostles, and martyrs from all nations take up this song while we, ourselves, stand in awe as part of this great throng of praise!

The melody (GROSSER GOTT, WIR LOBEN DICH) is straightforward and powerful. The comfortable singing range and the scalewise motion make it possible for congregations to learn it very easily.

This hymn works well as a choral processional at the opening of the service. In the early church, the people sang as the faithful brought gifts to the altar for consecration. Today the processional hymn can add drama to the opening and closing of worship.

Symbolically, the choir represents the entire congregation coming into God's presence to bring adoration to God in song. It is both corporate and individual. Yes, we unite our voices in one glorious sound, but we also use that most personal signature of who we are, the human voice! Instead of aimlessly sauntering to the choir chancel area during the organ prelude, the choir moves from the "world" into God's house in an orderly dignified fashion, singing in unison. Ideally the choir should also recess on the closing hymn in order to complete the symbolic nature of this drama (moving back into the world for Christian service). This kind of processional signifies the true function of a church choir-—a body that leads people in singing hymns rather than merely performing elaborate church music.