MUSIC. WENTWORTH was composed for this hymn in The Bristol Tune Book, 2d series; 1876. The middle section of the tune, lines 3 and 4, passes from the Key of C to A minor, D major and G major, making an effective contrast to the opening and closing lines, in the key of C.
For comments on the composer, Frederick C. Maker, see [Hymn 112].
178-9. [Love] divine, all loves excelling
Charles Wesley, 1707-88
The hymn appeared in the curiously named collection, Hymns for those that seek and those that have Redemption in the Blood of Christ, 1747, and was entitled “Jesu, show us Thy salvation.” It dwells upon the thought of God as love, an idea not too common in the early hymns. The thought of the hymn is complete without stanza 2 and many hymnals omit it. Some have objected to this stanza because of the line, “Take away our power of sinning.” Literally interpreted this would be a prayer to have taken away the power of free moral choice, which is hardly what Wesley intended. To obviate this difficulty, the line has been changed to “Take away the love of sinning.”
For comments on Wesley see [Hymn 6].
MUSIC. BEECHER was composed by John Zundel, 1815-82, German-American organist and composer who rendered distinguished service as minister of music in the Plymouth Congregation Church, Brooklyn, of which Henry Ward Beecher was pastor. He assisted Beecher in the production of the famous Plymouth Collection of hymns published in 1855. The tune, now known throughout the world, was named after the great pulpiteer.
SONATA (179) is an adaptation of the theme-melody in Mozart’s piano Sonata No. 16, where it is marked, Andantino grazioso. Dudley Buck writes:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756-91, composed 972 pieces of which we know. He is considered the greatest composer the world has ever seen, judged by the versatility and power of his genius. In every sort and kind of composition he was equally excellent. Beside being a great composer he was also a great performer, being the most accomplished pianist of his day. He was also an excellent player on the violin.