Click on the hymn's title to read the story of how it came to be written, or,simply scroll down the page,as the links are all located on this page. (also included are anecdotes from Patricia White, explaining why each selection was chosen)     I Need Thee Every Hour         Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus         Fairest Lord Jesus         Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring         Nearer My God To Thee         Nearer Still Nearer         Be Still My Soul         It Is Well With My Soul         Nothing Between         What A Friend We Have In Jesus         My Jesus I Love Thee         O Sacred Head Now Wounded         When I Survey The Wondrous Cross         Holy Holy Holy         Amazing Grace         The Classical Selections         ~ I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR~     words: Annie S. Hawks circa 1850 "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee..." --Psalm 63:1 music: Robert Lowry 1872     Annie Hawks wrote: "One day as a young wife and mother of 37 years of age, I was busy with my regular household tasks. Suddenly, I became so filled with the sense of nearness to the Master that, wondering how one could live without Him, either in joy or pain, these words, 'I Need Thee Every Hour,' were ushered into my mind, the thought at once taking full possession of me." After writing the lyrics, Hawks gave them to her pastor, Robert Lowry, who added the tune and refrain. The hymn was first published in 1872. Some years later, after the death of her husband, Hawks wrote: "I did not understand at first why this hymn had touched the great throbbing heart of humanity. It was not until long after, when the shadow fell over my way, the shadow of a great loss, that I understood something of the comforting power in the words which I had been permitted to give out to others in my hour of sweet serenity and peace." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ from Patricia White: It seemed right to start this recording with the hymn "I Need Thee Every Hour". It's a very true admission from my own heart, and undoubtedly one that is echoed in the heart of many others. This particular arrangement was conceived by Deborah Wilson and myself, and was used as an offertory special at First Baptist Church. *click your browser's back arrow to return to the menu* (photo from my own garden)               ~TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS~     words: Helen H. Lemmel "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith... Hebrews 12:2 music: Helen H. Lemmel     This hymn was first published in Glad Songs, by the British National Sunday School Union. Its lyrics were inspired by the Gospel tract 'Focused', by Lillian Trotter, which included these words: "So then, turn your eyes upon Him, look full into His face and you will find that the things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness." These words made a deep impression upon Helen Lemmel. She could not dismiss them from her mind. She recalls this experience following the reading of that tract: “Suddenly, as if commanded to stop and listen, I stood still, and singing in my soul and spirit was the chorus, with not one conscious moment of putting word to word to make rhyme, or note to note to make melody. The verses were written the same week, after the usual manner of composition, but none the less dictated by the Holy Spirit.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ from Patricia White: Another arrangement born of an offertory special, this hymn is played by the violin on one track with the cello doing multiple layered tracks. The verses we had in mind were the first ("O Soul, are you weary and troubled?") and the third ("His Word will not fail you -- He promised!") *click your browser's back arrow to return to the menu* (photo from my own garden)               ~FAIREST LORD JESUS~     words: 16th Century Jesuits "In that day shall the Branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious..." --Isaiah 4:2 music: Silesian Folk Melody     The words of this hymn were written by German Jesuits as Schönster Herr Jesu in the 17th Century. It was originally published in the Münster Gesangbuch in1677, and translated from German to English by Joseph A. Seiss in 1873. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ from Patricia White: The words alone are responsible for the inclusion of this hymn. What a moving homage to our Saviour. Harry and I were driving home from church one night and the moon was particularly beautiful. The verse: "Fair is the sunshine, Fairer still the moonlight, And all the twinkling starry host; Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer Than all the angels heaven can boast." came to our minds and Harry commented, "No one talks like that -- those are beautiful words." Played on cello alone, with layered tracks, I thought this hymn would make a proper introduction to the classical one I paired it with, "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring." Incidentally, the tune to "Fairest Lord Jesus" is called a Silesian Folk Tune. Silesia is a region of Poland. *click your browser's back arrow to return to the menu* (photo from my own garden)               ~JESU, JOY OF MAN'S DESIRING~     words: Martin Janus, 1661 "And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts." --Haggai 2:7 music: Johann Schop arranged by J. S. Bach     Written in 1723, "Jesu, Joy of man's Desiring" was originally the 10th movement of Bach's Cantata No. BWV 147 entitled "Heart and Mouth and Deed and Life" The hymn has taken on a life of its own and has been arranged for countless instrumental and vocal combinations. It is a joyous piece of music -- a beautiful melody full of rich counterpoint, all played on top of a simple yet perfectly brilliant bass line. The hymn is timeless and stately. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ from Patricia White: My quartet plays this selection at weddings quite often, and it didn't immediately suggest itself for inclusion on this recording. However, Junior High School Orientation came around, and I found myself sitting near Abbey Sloan. I had not previously known Abbey, but she started enthusiastically talking with me and kindly sharing her own appreciation of my cello playing. When she asked if I was planning to record a cd, I was able to tell her I had just begun, which increased her excitement. She wanted to know what selections were planned, and she peppered me with ideas of her own! I did still need one last arrangement -- all the tracks were planned but I wanted to include one more track for cello alone, and I felt that "Fairest Lord Jesus" needed to be paired with something. Abbey asked about "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", which at the time I was not planning to include so I said, "No," and she seemed a little disappointed. But her suggestion worked on me to the point where I realized it would be lovely to have "Fairest Lord Jesus" followed by "Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring." Thank you, Abbey! *click your browser's back arrow to return to the menu* (photo from my own garden)               ~NEARER MY GOD TO THEE~     words: Sarah F. Adams "My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me." --Psalm 63:8 music: Lowell G. Mason     Sarah Flower Adams (1805 - 1848) wrote this beloved hymn. There is no specific story behind its writing, save that Mrs. Adams originally pursued a career as a serious actress who even portrayed Lady Macbeth before ill health caused her to redirect her talents. She turned to writing, and this hymn is her crowning achievement. The music was written by Lowell Mason, who had this to say of his own inspiration:   "One night, sometime after lying awake in the dark, eyes wide open, through the stillness in the house the melody came to me, and the next morning I wrote down the notes." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ from Patricia White: My own reason for including this hymn is again that the arrangement of it, as well as the pairing of it with the following hymn, "Nearer, Still Nearer" was originally played by Deb Wilson and myself as an offertory special at church. Inspiration is a mysterious blessing from God. It seems He enjoys making suggestions to us in creative ways. When I am asked to prepare an offertory special, I try to keep myself open to the signals of suggestion. *click your browser's back arrow to return to the menu* (photo from my own garden)               ~NEARER STILL NEARER~     words: Leila N. Morris 1898 "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." -- James 4:8 music: Leila N. Morris 1898     As a child, Leila Naylor lived in Ohio. In 1881, she married Charles H. Morris. Leila was active in the Methodist church. A prolific song writer, she authored more than 1,000 Gospel songs. When her eyes began to fail, her son built a 28-foot blackboard with oversized staff lines, so she could continue to compose. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ from Patricia White: The hymns "Nearer My God To Thee" and "Nearer Still Nearer" are right next to each other in our hymn book, and the pairing works beautifully. Deb Wilson has a unique talent for connecting one hymn to the next. It's wonderful to play with her. *click your browser's back arrow to return to the menu* (photo from my own garden)               ~BE STILL MY SOUL~     words: Katherina von Schlegel "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." --Psalm 46:10 music: Jean Sibelius, in 1889     Katharina von Schlegel was born in 1697, and she is thought to have been attached to the ducal court in Köthen. She wrote at least 20 hymns, contributing a number to the 1774 Cöthnische Lieder. Although not much is known about her, the beautiful words she wrote as "Be Still My Soul" are a lasting legacy. The music itself is composed by the Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius in 1899. Originally part of a tone poem of nationalistic fervor, the hymn has taken on a life of its own. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ from Patricia White: This melody is beloved to any classical musician, and I knew it for many years before I ever became a Christian. When I began to learn the hymns of the faith, I was very happily surprised to find that this beautiful melody has equally beautiful words. How did it become the title of the cd? Originally, I was planning to call the recording, "I Need Thee Every Hour" and I had started to record it with that plan in place. Then, my friend Penny Owens announced to me that she thought I should make a cd and that I should call it, "Be Still My Soul." Without telling her, I took her suggestion and waited to reveal it to her as a surprise! Thanks, Penny!               ~IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL~     words: Horatio G. Spafford "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." --Isaiah 26:3 music: Philip P. Bliss        Horatio Spafford wrote this hymn in 1873, after two major traumas in his life. The first was the great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially (he had been a wealthy businessman). Shortly after, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford’s daughters died in a collision with another ship. Spafford’s wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, “Saved alone.” Several weeks later, as Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, the Holy Spirit inspired these words. They speak to the eternal hope that all believers have, no matter what pain and grief befall them on earth. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ from Patricia White: This great hymn -- I strongly felt it should be on this recording. Yet, I never could seem to get any inspiration as to how to arrange it. Gradually I realized I could not receive any inspiration because I should not play it! Instead, it was to be a solo piano track, arranged and played beautifully by Deb Wilson. *click your browser's back arrow to return to the menu* (photo from my own garden)               ~NOTHING BETWEEN~     words: Charles A. Tindley " ... let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." -- Hebrews 12:1 music: Charles A. Tindley     Charles A. Tindley is known as one of the “founding fathers of American Gospel music.” The son of slaves, he taught himself to read and write at age 17. He was a driven young man, working as a janitor while attending night school, and earning his divinity degree through a correspondence course. In 1902, he became pastor of the Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- the very church where he had earlier been the janitor! At the time of Tindley’s death, his church had 12,500 members. The Tindley Temple United Methodist Church in Philadelphia was named after him. One day, Tindley was in his study, working on a sermon, when a gust of wind blew some papers over top of his work. “Now, now,” he thought to him­self, “let nothing between.” And the theme of this hymn suggested itself. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ from Patricia White: The inspiration behind inclusion of this hymn is that I found out it is a favorite of my Sunday School class teacher, Mr. Dan Wolfe. We do so enjoy being a part of the Crossroads Adult Bible Class at First Baptist, led so devotedly by Brother Wolfe. *click your browser's back arrow to return to the menu* (photo from my own garden)               ~WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS~     words: Joseph M. Scriven "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." --John 15:13 music: Charles C. Converse     Joseph Mendlicott Scriven graduated from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. In 1846, he moved to Canada after his fiancée tragically drowned the night before they were to marry. There he was a tutor. He met and became engaged to a Miss Eliza Roche. In what seems too amazing to be coincidence, Eliza died shortly before their wedding. Following the death of this second fiancée, Scriven joined the Plymouth Brethren, and devoted his life to helping the aged. Joseph Scriven wrote the hymn, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" to comfort his mother, who was back in Ireland, across the sea. It was originally published anonymously, and Scriven did not receive full credit for almost 30 years. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ from Patricia White: This tender and comforting hymn could only have been written by one for whom the words were a reality. The heartache experienced by Scriven produced a hymn that has touched the heart and comforted countless thousands. Here it is played as tenderly as we knew how, in order to convey our own appreciation of this wonderful hymn. *click your browser's back arrow to return to the menu* (photo from my own garden)               ~MY JESUS, I LOVE THEE~     words: William R. Featherston "We love him, because he first loved us." -- I John 4:19 music: Adoniram J. Gordon      Not much is known about William Featherston, who wrote this hymn, other than the fact he wrote it at the age of 16, shortly after his conversion. Featherston died before he reached the age of 30. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ from Patricia White: This hymn is included because it is the favorite of my friend, Janice Wolfe. Through our Sunday School class, Crossroads, we have become friends with Dan & Janice Wolfe, and it is a treasured friendship. *click your browser's back arrow to return to the menu* (photo from my own garden)               ~O SACRED HEAD NOW WOUNDED~ ~WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS~ ~HOLY HOLY HOLY~         "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. --Isaiah 53:5         From Patricia White: The three hymns that I put together as a medley are, "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded," "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross," and "Holy, Holy, Holy". These are extremely familiar, beloved, and well-known hymns. Add to that the fact I followed them with what is probably the single-most recognized hymn, "Amazing Grace", and you have a series of four traditional & well-known hymns. There is a reason I chose to put them in the order I did. The order is symbolic of the journey I took through life. "O Sacred Head Now Wounded" is a familiar hymn, but it is not one that is sung in the Independent Baptist Church. I knew this hymn from two sources, for many years before I ever became a born-again Christian. Growing up, my cello teacher (who was Jewish), had all her cello students play this hymn (but we called it by the more formal name, 'Chorale') at the end of each cello recital as a large group. The blend of sound was absolutely gorgeous. I also knew this as a Catholic hymn. So, in addition to the beauty of this hymn, I wanted to include it as a representation of myself before I was saved. Then, the hymn "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross" is played through three times. The first time, very simply. The second, a little more urgently and the third time with urgency and excitement. I used this to represent the three times I was presented with the gospel. I was unsure the first time, closer to accepting it the second time, and I embraced and accepted it the third time, and was gloriously saved. The hymn "Holy Holy Holy" is a particular favorite of my husband, and while that is a primary reason for its inclusion, it also represents the reality that a new believer faces: We serve a God who is Holy, and we as believers are called to that Holiness. *click your browser's back arrow to return to the menu* (photo from my own garden)               ~AMAZING GRACE~     words: John Newton "And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." -- John 1:16 music: Traditional       John Newton, who penned the words to "Amazing Grace," wrote his own epitath prior to his death. It reads: JOHN NEWTON, Clerk Once an infidel and libertine A servant of slaves in Africa, Was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the Gospel which he had long laboured to destroy. He ministered near sixteen years in Olney, in Bucks, And twenty-eight years in this Church. John Newton was a hardened man, having lost his mother when he was 7, which resulted in his going off to sea with his father. A slave trader who was even enslaved himself for some time, his life was one of debauchery and cruelty. During a particularly stormy night, one in which he feared for his life out at sea, he did turn to Christ. Then, gradually over a period of years he grew stronger in his faith to the point where he gave up the slave trade and became a minister. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ from Patricia White: The hymn "Amazing Grace" aptly summarizes the life of any believer with the words: 'I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see.' In my own Christian experience, I now see so clearly how all things DO work together for good and how God was working in my life long before I ever understood enough to acknowledge Him. And, like the songwriter, I do marvel at how precious did that grace appear, the moment I first believed. *click your browser's back arrow to return to the menu* (photo from my own garden)