# What is your favorite Hymn? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 21, 2016, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772 "2016-01-21T13:14:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/61 "2016-01-21T21:21:51Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Thine is the Glory(Sung to the tune of Ode to Joy) Are you sure about this? I think this was a work by Haendel, not Beethoven. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gZz5fO2e1Cc/hqdefault.jpg "George Frideric Handel - Thine be the Glory (choral)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZz5fO2e1Cc) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/62 "2016-01-21T21:44:05Z")
Is _ **I Vow to Thee** _ a hymn? It gets played at a lot of state funerals… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/87Xkr8z3lEo/maxresdefault.jpg "Sir Winston Churchill - Funeral (I Vow To Thee) - The Nation's Farewell") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87Xkr8z3lEo) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/63 "2016-01-21T21:50:46Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > This is the definitive version of Silent Night. It is achingly beautiful: > > [Stille Nacht](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4puLybRGSAw) This one is also gorgeous: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbhxZOOXLvU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbhxZOOXLvU) ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/64 "2016-01-21T21:52:29Z")
Some excellent suggestions here. I’ll add: _Christ triumphant, ever reigning_ to the magnificent tune “Guiting Power” _sic_ _Lift high the Cross_, to another magnificent tune “Crucifer” (and it’s probably no coincidence that I’ve picked two that have a sort of organ “fanfare” punctuating the tune) I have a soft spot for _Hail, gladdening Light_ which is sung with a psalm-like recitative. Haven’t sung it in forty years, though… ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/65 "2016-01-21T22:27:07Z")
I have some favorites that are more or less tied to the church calendar. They are made more dear by the fact that we only sing them once a year: _O How a Rose E’er Blooming_ (Christmas) _Go Tell It On the Mountain_ (Christmas) _Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning_ (Epiphany) _Drop, Drop Slow Tears_ (Lent / Holy Week) _Were You There_ (Lent / Holy Week) _Hail Thee, Festival Day_ (various depending on the Festival) _The Church’s One Foundation_ (usually Pentecost) _For All the Saints_ (All Saint’s Day) _I Sing a Song of the Saints of God_ (All Saint’s Day) ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2016, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/66 "2016-01-21T23:10:11Z")
Holy God We Praise Thy Name Ave Maria Be Thou My Vision Lord of all Hopefulness Alleluia, Alleluia Let the Holy Anthem Rise Tantum Ergo O Salutaris O Sanctissima Panis Angelicus Bring Flowers of the Rarest Hail Holy Queen Also Catholic, but not a 70s or 80s kid. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/67 "2016-01-22T04:50:58Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > How Great Thou Art. Sung at my dad’s funeral. Reduces me to a wet blob. Picture it – middle of the night in the hospital. Mom turns to Pop: Am I dying? Yes, I’m afraid so. OK, then here are the songs I would like at my funeral. 🙂 How Great Thou Art was one, and also In Paradisum as a solo by the cantor and I believe Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence. > [@Pai325](#): > > Hail Holy Queen Grr. Maybe it’s a cliché but I expect Immaculate Mary processional and Hail Holy Queen recessional at Mary feasts. Nah, our current organist feels she must buck tradition and do unfamiliar and meh stuff like “No Wind At The Window”. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/68 "2016-01-22T05:14:10Z")
Cradle Episcopalian here. Too many favorite hymns to mention, but one that springs to mind at once is “Crown Him With Many Crowns.” http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh327.sht ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/69 "2016-01-22T06:22:56Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition Amen, brother. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/70 "2016-01-22T06:34:38Z")
And of course, there’s always [In the Garden of Eden](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSCUhqsy4Nk) by I. Ron Butterfly… ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/71 "2016-01-22T06:57:40Z")
It is Well With my Soul How Great Thou Art His Eye is on the Sparrow Softly and Tenderly In the Garden All my Trials I love that Alan Jackson “Precious Memories” CD. I don’t go to church much anymore, but it was a huge part of my upbringing. When I listen to the old hymns sometimes I can hear my grandmother singing along in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/72 "2016-01-22T13:23:32Z")
_ **O Come, All Ye Faithful** _ in Latin (_ **Adeste Fideles** _). ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/73 "2016-01-22T16:16:24Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > _I Sing a Song of the Saints of God_ (All Saint’s Day) Hee! I always considered this a children’s hymn, but once in (adult) choir we were called to sing it in a regular service. We had to rehearse it downstairs and were sternly told to get all the laughter out of our system beforehand, so we could do it in church with a straight face: > [@](#): > > _You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, > In church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea_ (with the proper British double-sounded “t”, of course)😛 > [@Skammer](#): > > _For All the Saints_ (All Saint’s Day) This is properly known as “Bump for all the saints” because of its start on the off-beat: (under the breath: “_2 - 3 - 4 - Bump_) FOR ALL THE SAINTS…” ---
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/74 "2016-01-22T16:22:09Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Cradle Episcopalian here. Too many favorite hymns to mention, but one that springs to mind at once is “Crown Him With Many Crowns.” > > http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh327.sht Excellent. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/75 "2016-01-22T16:24:38Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > “Here I Am, Lord” is probably the winner. I always hear the “Brady Bunch” theme during that one. “Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? Who was busy with three boys of his own…” ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/76 "2016-01-22T16:26:12Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > _My Song Is Love Unknown_. [Seconded](https://youtu.be/HMart4wXsI0?t=2m13s). What heartbreaking beauty. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/77 "2016-01-22T17:42:19Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > “Here I Am, Lord” is probably the winner. I really like this version. > [@terentii](#): > > _ **O Come, All Ye Faithful** _ in Latin (_ **Adeste Fideles** _). And this version of O Come, [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/vmEfFlbqbbY/maxresdefault.jpg "Twisted Sister - Oh Come All Ye Faithful") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmEfFlbqbbY) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/78 "2016-01-22T18:16:20Z")
> [@bup](#): > > I always hear the “Brady Bunch” theme during that one. > > “Here I am, Lord. > Is it I, Lord? > Who was busy with three boys of his own…” Hah! I’ve never thought of that but now I won’t be able to get it out of my head. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/79 "2016-01-22T21:12:27Z")
I’m a confirmed agnostic, but I sing in a choir that does a lot of sacred music. Two of my favorite recent-ish (20th century) compositions: [A Prayer for the Middle Ages](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwJxLLsEBE8) by Howard Hanson. It’s a medieval sacred text set to music for a capella choir. It starts out a bit atonal and modern sounding, and then transitions partway through into just glorious pure chords. A lovely piece. [Franz Biebl’s Ave Maria (Angelus Domini)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9pYXC04K5I), popularized by Chanticleer. One of the few things we’ve performed which has brought the audience to mass tears. And a wonderful (and not too weird) modern arrangement of [Amazing Grace](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GCzK02gmdM) by Eric Esenvalds. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2016, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772/80 "2016-01-22T22:34:22Z")
> [@Briny\_Deep](#): > > Hee! I always considered this a children’s hymn, but once in (adult) choir we were called to sing it in a regular service. We had to rehearse it downstairs and were sternly told to get all the laughter out of our system beforehand, so we could do it in church with a straight face: Somehow I can’t find it, but our current organist regularly plays something like “Moved By the Spirit, Let Us Move” or some such, which references praising God through art and dance, etc. When it gets to the part about mimes, I :rolleyes: and put the hymnal down. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-hymn/743772.md?page=5)