One of the fine metrical versions that have been made of the Twenty-third Psalm. It Is found in Montgomery’s Songs of Zion, being Imitations of Psalms, 1822. Another much-loved and widely used version of the same Psalm is that in the Scottish Psalter (See [579]).
James Montgomery, greatest of Moravian hymn writers, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, near the birthplace of Robert Burns. His father became a minister in the Moravian Church and finally went as a missionary to the West Indies where both he and his wife died. After spending a part of his youth in precarious and doubtful ways of living, and failing in several business ventures, James became the editor of The Sheffield Register, a position he held with honor and distinction for thirty-one years. He was twice imprisoned for expressing liberal political views in his paper. He is classed by the literati as a minor English poet, but in the writing of hymns he ranks with Wesley, Watts, and Doddridge. Of his 400 hymns, 100 are still in use. Eleven of his hymns are found in the Hymnary, exceeded in number only by those of Hosmer, Wesley and Watts. All of Montgomery’s hymns show a marvelous knowledge of the Scriptures on the part of their author. He found in the Psalms an inexhaustible source of devotional material and made metrical versions of many of them.
MUSIC. POLAND. The tune is unique in the Hymnary in that the melody in the first three lines is found in the alto. To bring the melody out with sufficient clearness, the altos might well be reenforced by some sopranos, or men’s voices, or both.
Thomas Koschat, 1845-1914, was an Austrian composer and singer. While a student of natural science at Vienna University he sang in the Court Opera Chorus, and soon became its leader. In 1875, Koschat organized the Kärnthner Quintet which became famous for its singing of Carinthian folk songs. He is known for his harmonization of Carinthian melodies and original songs in their style, for which he wrote the texts.
63. Father and Friend, Thy light, thy love
John Bowring, 1792-1872
A hymn on the omnipresence of God who reigns as Lord of life and cares for His children.
For comments on John Bowring see [Hymn 55].
MUSIC. ILLA, a simple long-meter tune within easy compass of the voices, is by the American composer, Lowell Mason, 1792-1872, an exact contemporary of Bowring. Mason’s tunes were popular at first and then for a time they were frowned upon by some of the “highbrow” musicians but in late years are returning with new favor into the hymn books. Mason’s name appears 24 times in our collection.
For further comments on Mason see [Hymn 12].