The Story of the Hymns and Tunes | Page 7

Saxe Weimar, was born in
Weimar, March 14, 1714. He early devoted himself to music, and
coming to Berlin when twenty-four years old was appointed Chamber
musician (Kammer Musicus) in the Royal Chapel, where he often
accompanied Frederick the Great (who was an accomplished flutist) on
the harpsichord. His most numerous compositions were piano music
but he wrote a celebrated "Sanctus," and two oratorios, besides a
number of chorals, of which "Weimar" is one. He died in Hamburg,
Dec. 14, 1788.
THE MAGNIFICAT. [Greek: Megalunei hê psuchê mou ton Kurion.]
Magnificat anima mea Dominum, Et exultavit Spiritus meus in Deo
salutari meo. Luke 1:46-55.
We can date with some certainty the hymn itself composed by the
Virgin Mary, but when it first became a song of the Christian Church
no one can tell. Its thanksgiving may have found tone among the
earliest martyrs, who, as Pliny tells us, sang hymns in their secret
worship. We can only trace it back to the oldest chant music, when it
was doubtless sung by both the Eastern and Western Churches. In the
rude liturgies of the 4th and 5th centuries it must have begun to assume
ritual form; but it remained for the more modern school of composers
hundreds of years later to illustrate the "Magnificat" with the melody of
art and genius. Superseding the primitive unisonous plain-song, the old
parallel concords, and the simple faburden (faux bourdon) counterpoint
that succeeded Gregory, they taught how musical tones can better assist
worship with the beauty of harmony and the precision of scientific taste.
Musicians in Italy, France, Germany and England have contributed
their scores to this inspired hymn. Some of them still have place in the
hymnals, a noble one especially by the blind English tone-master,

Henry Smart, author of the oratorio of "Jacob." None, however, have
equaled the work of Handel. His "Magnificat" was one of his favorite
productions, and he borrowed strains from it in several of his later and
lesser productions.
George Frederic Handel, author of the immortal "Messiah," was born at
Halle, Saxony, in 1685, and died in London in 1759. The musical bent
of his genius was apparent almost from his infancy. At the age of
eighteen he was earning his living with his violin, and writing his first
opera. After a sojourn in Italy, he settled in Hanover as Chapel Master
to the Elector, who afterwards became the English king, George I. The
friendship of the king and several of his noblemen drew him to England,
where he spent forty-seven years and composed his greatest works.
He wrote three hymn-tunes (it is said at the request of a converted
actress), "Canons," "Fitzwilliam," and "Gopsall," the first an invitation,
"Sinners, Obey the Gospel Word," the second a meditation, "O Love
Divine, How Sweet Thou Art," and the third a resurrection song to
Welsey's words "Rejoice, the Lord is King." This last still survives in
some hymnals.
THE DOXOLOGIES.
Be Thou, O God, exalted high, And as Thy glory fills the sky So let it
be on earth displayed Till Thou art here as there obeyed.
This sublime quatrain, attributed to Nahum Tate, like the Lord's Prayer,
is suited to all occasions, to all Christian denominations, and to all
places and conditions of men. It has been translated into all civilized
languages, and has been rising to heaven for many generations from
congregations round the globe wherever the faith of Christendom has
built its altars. This doxology is the first stanza of a sixteen line hymn
(possibly longer originally), the rest of which is forgotten.
Nahum Tate was born in Dublin, in 1652, and educated there at Trinity
College. He was appointed poet-laureate by King William III. in 1690,
and it was in conjunction with Dr. Nicholas Brady that he executed his
"New" metrical version of the Psalms. The entire Psalter, with an

appendix of Hymns, was licensed by William and Mary and published
in 1703. The hymns in the volume are all by Tate. He died in London,
Aug. 12, 1717.
Rev. Nicholas Brady, D.D., was an Irishman, son of an officer in the
royal army, and was born at Bandon, County of Cork, Oct. 28, 1659.
He studied in the Westminster School at Oxford, but afterwards entered
Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated in 1685. William made
him Queen Mary's Chaplain. He died May 20, 1726.
The other nearly contemporary form of doxology is in common use, but
though elevated and devotional in spirit, it cannot be universal, owing
to its credal line being objectionable to non-Trinitarian Protestants:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here
below, Praise Him above, ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son and
Holy Ghost.
The author, the Rev. Thomas Ken, was born in Berkhampstead,
Hertfordshire, Eng., July, 1637, and was educated