CONSECRATION (David Howard, baritone)

Often the music closest to our hearts is the music we sing with others as an expression of unified faith. It is for this reason that Dr. Howard and harpist, Jill Justice, chose to include accompanied solo arrangements of several well-beloved hymns on this recording. These elegant arrangements preserve the simple, heartfelt nature of the hymns while offering the musicians opportunities to interpret their texts through a wide range of expressive gestures. Several of the hymns arranged for this recording originated in England or France and their texts stem from as early as the twelfth century, although the tunes with which they are paired are newer. They were written to serve the needs of diverse churches from the Roman Catholic Church to the Church of England, to the variety of Protestant churches that rose after the reformation of the mid-sixteenth century. Some older hymns were given either new text settings or new tunes to meet the changing needs of worshippers who ventured to American shores.

Let All the World in Every Corner Sing
George Herbert/Robert McCutchan – arr. Justice

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Robert Robinson/’Nettleton’ – arr. Walters

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
S. Trevor Francis/’Ebenezer’ Thomas Williams – arr. Justice

I Sing the Mighty Power of God
Isaac Watts/’Forest Green’ – arr. Justice

How Firm a Foundation
George Keith/’Foundation’ – arr. Walters

Jesus What A Friend for Sinners
J. Wilbur Chapman/’Hyfrydol’ Rowland Prichard – arr. Justice

The Penitent
Beardsley Van de Water

The Lord’s Prayer
Albert Hay Malotte

Look Ye Saints, The Sight is Glorious
Thomas Kelly/’Bryn Calfaia’ William Owen - arr. Justice

Jesus, The Very Thought of Thee
Bernard of Clairvaux/’St. Agnes’ John Dykes – arr. Justice

The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Charles Gounod

Give Me Jesus
arr. Moses Hogan

The Lord is My Light
Mary Frances Allisen