50. The spacious firmament on high
Joseph Addison, 1672-1719
This hymn was praised by Lord Selbourne as “a very perfect and finished composition, taking rank among the best hymns of the English language.” The author, Joseph Addison, was an eminent Englishman of letters. Dr. Samuel Johnson said of him, “Whoever wishes to attain an English style, familiar, but not coarse, elegant but not ostentatious, must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison.” In 1712, Addison wrote a series of essays in the Spectator, concluding each essay with a hymn. In the issue of August 23, this hymn, a free rendering of Psalm 19, formed the conclusion to an essay on “The Proper Means of Strengthening and Confirming Faith in the Mind of Man.”
MUSIC. CREATION is an adaptation of a part of the magnificent chorus (No. 14) in Haydn’s oratorio, The Creation. For comments on Haydn, see Hymn [No. 27].
51. For the beauty of the earth
Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835-1917
This delightful hymn of thanksgiving was originally written for the communion service to bring the note of joy into the solemn sacrament, making it truly an “eucharist.” It is now used frequently at Thanksgiving and children’s services. It names many causes for praise and thanksgiving, from the “beauty of the earth” to the “church that lifteth holy hands.”
The author, Folliott S. Pierpoint, was born at Bath, England, and educated at Cambridge. He was a teacher of the classics, published several books of poems, and made notable contributions to the hymnody of the church.
MUSIC. DIX appeared first in a collection of chorales edited and published by Kocher in Stuttgart in 1838, set to the hymn “Treuer Heiland, wir sind hier.” It has long been used with the words, “As with gladness men of old” ([530]), by W. C. Dix, hence the name “Dix.” It has a strong, joyous tune which marches with stately tread and is a favorite processional.
Conrad Kocher, 1786-1872, was a German student of church music, a composer and teacher. He studied at St. Petersburg and in Rome. He founded the School of Sacred Song in Stuttgart, which did much to improve German church music and popularize four-part singing in Germany.