New text for a funeral hymn: "For All God's Children Fallen"
  • Anna_BendiksenAnna_Bendiksen
    Posts: 244
    Grace and peace, everyone. Here is a funeral-hymn text of mine: "For All God's Children Fallen." It is in 76. 76. D (iambic) and so works with several tunes, most notably PASSION CHORALE, though I also like it with the Norwegian folk melody OSLO.

    1. For all God's children fallen
    In this, the earthly fight,
    We sing with saints and angels
    As evening falls to night;
    O Jesus Christ, have mercy,
    O holy Mary, pray
    That soon their souls awaken
    To Your unending Day.

    2. By water they were baptized,
    O Christ, into Your death,
    And just as in Your Passion
    You drew Your final breath
    And rendered up Your spirit
    To God upon the Cross,
    Dear Lord, commend the fallen
    To Him Who knows our loss.

    3. For in those very waters
    The shadowlands of sin
    Are flooded by the glory
    Of wondrous Life again;
    So sing we Alleluia!
    For from that holy tide
    The rising Sun bears witness
    That God is on our side.

    4. O Jesus Christ, have mercy,
    O holy Mary, pray
    That when our lives are ended,
    We wake to endless Day
    Beside the faithful risen
    In Heaven's Sun to sing
    With all the saints and angels
    To God, our Lord and King.

    (c) 2020 Anna Bendiksen (1969-)
    Thanked by 9Kathy francis CHGiffen SrEleanor m_r_taylor ServiamScores Drake liampmcdonough Aristotle Esguerra
  • francis
    Posts: 10,821
    Here is one of my hymn tunes that I never released which I composed in the 80's. The tune and harmony are a bit melancholy and fit the text well. It was originally set to 'O Jesus, I Have Promised' which has a lot of the same sentiment. (https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/465)

    Congrats again, Anna. Wonderful composition.
    forAllGodsChildren.mp3
    2M
    forAllGodsChildren.pdf
    77K
    Thanked by 2Anna_Bendiksen SrEleanor
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    This sensitive text went straight to my heart, Anna, at a very meaningful time for me. Today (25th October) is the first anniversary of the passing of my second youngest son, Alexander. The music for the attached setting of this hymn was conceived and written yesterday, on the eve of Alex's passing. Thank you so much for this moving text.

    Note: I have just uploaded a slightly new version of the score (and sound file), with some improved voice leading & harmonic balance, mostly in the inner parts.
    Giffen-For all Gods children fallen.pdf
    68K
    Giffen-For all Gods children fallen.mp3
    1M
    Thanked by 1Anna_Bendiksen
  • Anna_BendiksenAnna_Bendiksen
    Posts: 244
    Oh my goodness, CHGiffen---what a beautiful tribute to your son.

    May Alexander rest in peace and rise in glory, and may he come to share in the inheritance of all the saints.

    Messaging you.

    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,193
    Thank you so much, Anna!

    I have replaced the original files by updated ones [ca. 4:00 pm, CDT].
  • francis
    Posts: 10,821
    CHG

    A most beautiful and poignant tribute to your son, and a wonderful text from Anna. I am blessed to have beheld it.
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen Anna_Bendiksen
  • Anna_BendiksenAnna_Bendiksen
    Posts: 244
    Bumping for November and the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
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