The Story of the Hymns and Tunes | Page 9

melody of mingled dignity and sweetness known as
"Tallis' Evening Hymn."
Thomas Tallis was an Englishman, born about 1520, and at an early
age was a boy chorister at St. Paul's. After his voice changed, he played
the organ at Waltham Abbey, and some time later was chosen organist
royal to Queen Elizabeth. His pecuniary returns for his talent did not
make him rich, though he bore the title after 1542 of Gentleman of the
Chapel Royal, for his stipend was sevenpence a day. Some gain may
possibly have come to him, however, from his publication, late in life,
under the queen's special patent, of a collection of hymns and tunes.
He wrote much and was the real founder of the English Church school
of composers, but though St. Paul's was at one time well supplied with
his motets and anthems, it is impossible now to give a list of Tallis'
compositions for the Church. His music was written originally to Latin
words, but when, after the Reformation, the use of vernacular hymns,
was introduced he probably adapted his scores to either language.
It is inferred that he was in attendance on Queen Elizabeth at her palace
in Greenwich when he died, for he was buried in the old parish church
there in November, 1585. The rustic rhymer who indited his epitaph
evidently did the best he could to embalm the virtues of the great
musician as a man, a citizen, and a husband:
Enterred here doth ly a worthy wyght, Who for long time in musick
bore the bell: His name to shew was Thomas Tallis hyght; In honest
vertuous lyff he dyd excell.
He served long tyme in chappel with grete prayse, Fower sovereygnes

reignes, (a thing not often seene); I mean King Henry and Prince
Edward's dayes, Quene Marie, and Elizabeth our quene.
He maryed was, though children he had none, And lyv'd in love full
three and thirty yeres With loyal spowse, whose name yclept was Jone,
Who, here entombed, him company now bears.
As he dyd lyve, so also dyd he dy, In myld and quyet sort, O happy
man! To God ful oft for mercy did he cry; Wherefore he lyves, let Deth
do what he can.
"THE GOD OF ABRAHAM PRAISE."
This is one of the thanksgivings of the ages.
The God of Abraham praise, Who reigns enthroned above; Ancient of
everlasting days, And God of love. Jehovah, Great I AM! By earth and
heaven confessed, I bow and bless the sacred Name, Forever blest.
The hymn, of twelve eight-line stanzas, is too long to quote entire, but
is found in both the Plymouth and Methodist Hymnals.
Thomas Olivers, born in Tregynon, near Newtown, Montgomeryshire,
Wales, 1725, was, according to local testimony, "the worst boy known
in all that country, for thirty years." It is more charitable to say that he
was a poor fellow who had no friends. Left an orphan at five years of
age, he was passed from one relative to another until all were tired of
him, and he was "bound out" to a shoemaker. Almost inevitably the
neglected lad grew up wicked, for no one appeared to care for his
habits and morals, and as he sank lower in the various vices encouraged
by bad company, there were more kicks for him than helping hands. At
the age of eighteen his reputation in the town had become so unsavory
that he was forced to shift for himself elsewhere.
Providence led him, when shabby and penniless, to the old seaport
town of Bristol, where Whitefield was at that time preaching,[4] and
there the young sinner heard the divine message that lifted him to his
feet.

[Footnote 4: Whitefield's text was, "Is not this a brand plucked out of
the fire?" Zach. 3:2.]
"When that sermon began," he said, "I was one of the most abandoned
and profligate young men living; before it ended I was a new creature.
The world was all changed for Tom Olivers."
His new life, thus begun, lasted on earth more than sixty useful years.
He left a shining record as a preacher of righteousness, and died in the
triumphs of faith, November, 1799. Before he passed away he saw at
least thirty editions of his hymn published, but the soul-music it has
awakened among the spiritual children of Abraham can only reach him
in heaven. Some of its words have been the last earthly song of many,
as they were of the eminent Methodist theologian, Richard Watson--
I shall behold His face, I shall His power adore, And sing the wonders
of His grace Forevermore.
THE TUNE.
The precise date of the tune "Leoni" is unknown, as also the precise
date of the hymn. The story is that Olivers visited the great "Duke's
Place" Synagogue, Aldgate,