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Hark the Herald – My Doxology Adaptation
Posted on December 11th, 2008 in Church Life, Music, Worship Leadership by Fred McKinnon
Hey Everyone,
What an incredible week we’ve had discussing the usage of Christmas Carols in our corporate worship services.
This Sunday I’ll be leading the traditional version of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley.
Years ago, I wrote a 4th “stanza” to this carol, and I call it my “Doxology Adaptation”. Feel free to use this as you wish.
I’m serious – try it .. hopefully, you can feel the meter and timing of the words below with the melody of the song. It works really well.
“The Doxology Adaptation”
(by Fred McKinnon, to the tune of Hark the Herald Angels Sing)
Praise God from all blessings flow
Praise Him creatures here below
Praise Him all ye heavenly hosts
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Praise Him for the Savior’s birth!
Praise Him, He who came to earth!
To redeem us from the fall
Son of God, the Maker of all
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King.
Can you hear it? Will you try it?
(TWC members, this is also being discussed in the forums at TheWorshipCommunity.com)
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13 Responses to “Hark the Herald – My Doxology Adaptation”
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It works. Closely! I like that second stanza.
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Yes I can hear it!
We won’t try it, but it’s a great idea! We’re limited in the time and styles of music we do so I don’t get a change to really work in traditional stuff. But…Good work!
Russs last blog post..iTunes Shuffle – What’s in Your Top 25 Most Played?
Thanks, Mandy – see a little “Trinity” action going on in there? Praise Him (God, the Father) for the Savior’s birth. Praise Him, He who .. (Jesus, the Son), and of course, the last line of the first half of the stanza, “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost”.
Question is – if you try to add that in, will those New Englanders stare at you like a “cow looking at a new gate” as we say in our parts!
Thanks, Russ …
I totally understand, though – I betcha … one day, some time, rare, but every now and then, if you were to throw down on something uber traditional like that … it would be huge. Even all that clan you have showing up … I bet they’ve sang the trad. carols before.
Not trying to change your mind, of course … just saying, I wonder what would happen if you pulled a very familiar, trad tune some day?
I really like that, Fred. We’re not doing “Hark…” this year, so I won’t get a chance to try it, but I would!
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My Doxology Arrangement to Hark the Herald – can you hear it? Check it out, try to sing it, and let me know at http://is.gd/b9yQ
My Doxology Arrangement to Hark the Herald – can you hear it? Check it out, try to sing it, and let me know at http://is.gd/b9yQ
My Doxology Arrangement to Hark the Herald – can you hear it? Check it out, try to sing it, and let me know at http://is.gd/b9yQ
My Doxology Arrangement to Hark the Herald – can you hear it? Check it out, try to sing it, and let me know at http://is.gd/b9yQ
It definitely works! I didn’t notice the re-write of the first line, and made “whom” fit by singing “Praise” as a pickup note and “God” on one.
I really like it!
Struggling to hear it, but probably because I have Surely We Can Change – David Crowder on headphones.
More than happy to try it. I’ll see where I can slot it in over the season.
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hearing it, and liking it…
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A different version of the Doxology would work better with the meter. Here’s the one from St. Ambrose/Martin Luther’s “Savior of the Nations, Come”:
Praise to God the Father, sing
Praise to God the Son, our King
Praise to God the Spirit be
Ever and eternally
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