Sing to God new songs of worship

Here is music for praising our Saviour, King and Judge. At this point, traditionally Cantate Domino, we are again faced with a rich choice of versions, since the Scripture has prompted many effective paraphrases. Two are placed in this Psalm section, while Joy to the world comes at 363. Michael Baughen’s proved one of the most popular of the new texts in Psalm Praise (1973); it was written around 1969 while he was a Manchester rector, first drafted on sometimes stressful train journeys between there and Bristol. It was much sung as the book was launched in several venues up and down the country. In context, ‘marvellous’ implies ‘supernatural’. The Beethoven tune known as ODE TO JOY (among other names) is adapted from the main theme of the final movement of his Ninth Symphony, first heard in Vienna in 1824. Its first known arrangement as a hymn tune was by Edward Hodges in 1864, though others had borrowed and variously adapted it by 1846. In America it has long been the standard tune for Joyful, joyful we adore thee, and in 1990 The Worshiping Church set it to no fewer than 4 texts including that one. It has recently been recommended as the anthem of the European union.

b Borehamwood, Herts 1930. Bromley County Grammar Sch, Kent and (after brief spells at Martin’s Bank) Oak Hill Theol Coll (BD London). Ordained (CofE) 1956; curacies at Nottingham and Reigate (Surrey) were followed by 4 years as Candidates Sec of the Church Pastoral Aid Soc. He was then Rector of Holy Trinity, Platt (Manchester) 1964–70, Incumbent of All Souls Langham Place in central London, 1970–82, and Bishop of Chester from 1982 to his retirement to SE London’s docklands in 1996. While there he served as an Asst Bishop in London and regularly at St James’s Clerkenwell, before moving to Guildford, Surrey, in 2006. Among several popular paperbacks were The Prayer Principle (1981/96) and Your Marriage (with his wife Myrtle, 1994). He edited Youth Praise (1966 and 1969), chaired the committee for Psalm Praise (1973, an approach partly prompted by Paul Berg, then vicar of Rainham, Essex), and was consultant editor of Hymns for Today’s Church (1982) and general ed of Sing Glory (1999). He was the first chairman of ‘Jubilate Hymns’ which grew from work on these earlier books; he pioneered and led many ‘Prom Praise’ events at London’s Royal Albert Hall and other major centres. He loves mountains and railways; ‘causes dear to his heart are Christian congregational worship, evangelism and growth of Christians in spiritual maturity and trained service’. He has composed over 30 tunes and written many texts of Psalm versions, hymns and songs. 2 of his texts and 3 tunes are in the N American Worship and Rejoice (2001), while Come Rejoice! (published in UK and USA, 1989) took its title from the opening words of his version of Psalm 100 which features in at least 10 books. The 2004 CH has 3 of his texts and 6 tunes. Text Nos.98A, 335. See also Composers’ index.