Prayers from me

This is a really good arrangement of this hymn by Bob Walters. Thomas O. Chisholm wrote the lyrics of this hymn in 1923 about God's faithfulness over his lifetime. Chisholm sent the song to William Runyan in Kansas, who was affiliated with both the Moody Bible Institute and Hope Publishing Company. Runyan set the poem to music, and it was published that same year by Hope Publishing Company and became popular among church congregations. Chisholm's lyrics reference the Bible verses of Lamentations 3:22-23. The hymn gained a wide audience after becoming successful with Dr. William Henry Houghton of the Moody Bible Institute and Billy Graham, who used the song frequently on his international crusades. Since the mid-20th century, this song has been the university hymn of Cairn University which was previously Philadelphia Biblical University after being Philadelphia College of Bible, established in 1913. I enjoy it very much and hope you can enjoy it as well.

The origins of this folk hymn, appropriate for Holy Week, are shrouded in obscurity. It first appeared in U.S.A. hymnals during the second half of the twentieth century. Its frequency of inclusion increased by the end of the last century and continues into the current one. Although listed as an American folk hymn in most hymnals, it appears that its origins may be found in a conflation of the Appalachian folk song tradition and the African American spiritual. The song, known as part of a group under the theme of “journey songs,” appears in The Faith We Sing as one of many variants, much simplified and adapted both in text and melody. I hope you enjoy it.

This is a popular song first recorded by Kamahl in 1982 for a country and western album he was recording. It wasn't commercially released because it was felt he did not suit the country and western style. So eventually it was also recorded by others, including Roger Whittaker, Sheena Easton and Lee Greenwood. It is a popular request at Mayo Clinic. I hope you enjoy it.

This is a piece I used to sing a lot when I was young. The words are likely inspired by Psalm 45:8, in which Christ is pictured "coming out of the ivory palaces of heaven to redeem the world, clothed in garments that are perfumed with myrrh for beauty, with aloes for bitterness, and with cassia for healing, the fragrance of which remains to tell of His near presence". The arranger of this version is a bit of a mystery. It only shows his first name and there does not seem to be much out there on the internet. This is a great arrangement though. I hope you enjoy it.

The arranger of this hymn is known as Clara Harriett Fiske Jones Scott, born in Elk Grove, IL. She was the daughter of a farmer, and the family moved to Chicago in 1856. Clara was the first woman to publish a volume of anthems, ‘The Royal anthem book’ in 1882. Horatio Palmer, a friend, helped her publish her songs. In 1897, she died in a horse-drawn buggy accident and her funeral was well-attended by music writers, teachers, professors, publishers, and friends. This hymn has a bit of a dancing theme that joins with the lyrics to help us, as we learn to see, hear and speak the truth from our hearts. I hope you enjoy it.

Alex North wrote the music for this song as a theme for a mostly unknown 1955 prison film called, Unchained. Eventually it became one of the most recorded songs, famously recorded by the Righteous Brothers in 1965. I am playing this, as it was a request from someone at Mayo Clinic. I hope you are all well and enjoy this recording.

The family of Joanne Estelle Carleton asked me to play it for her memorial service a few weeks ago. And I wanted to put it on the web site so that her family could hear it whenever they wanted. The song is performed by MercyMe and has become quite popular. Much love to the Carleton family. I hope you enjoy this piano version of it.

There was a wonderful couple that I would play this for at the Marquesa, every time they came in. Eventually the Marquesa lost their piano, but I still play this frequently at Mayo Clinic. Her husband passed away, but I'm still very thankful for them and how kind they were. This one is for them. It's my own arrangement. I hope you enjoy it.

This is a request from someone at Mayo Clinic. It's a song by the American rock band, the Eagles and was based on a song Henley originally wrote about a friend named Leo. The original began with "Leo, my God, why don't you come to your senses..." Eventually this song was written together with Henley inspired by Ray Charles, Stephen Foster and the Southern Gothic style. They just made it a bit more Western. This was the start of Frey and Henley's songwriting partnership. I hope you enjoy it.

This is a hymn, by Mabel Johnston Camp, that was written in the setting of Mendelssohn's song, Without Words, op.19, no.1. The lyrics have a bit of a story behind it because they were written by Jean Perry, who gave Mabel the poem, but Mabel did not like the poem, tore it up, and tossed it in the trash. Mabel's husband, Norman Camp, salvaged the poem and thought it was fitting, so he convinced Mabel to have it published.

Lyrics:
I know of a name,

A beautiful name,

That angels brought down to earth;

They whispered it low,

One night long ago,

To a maiden of lowly birth.

That beautiful Name,

That beautiful Name,

From sin has power to free us!

That beautiful Name,

That wonderful Name,

That matchless Name is Jesus!

I know of a Name,

A beautiful Name,

That unto a Babe was given;

The stars glittered bright

Throughout that glad night,

And angels praised God in Heav'n.

That beautiful Name,

That beautiful Name,

From sin has power to free us!

That beautiful Name,

That wonderful Name,

That matchless Name is Jesus!

The One of that Name,

My Savior became,

My Savior of Calvary.

My sins nailed Him there;

My burdens He bare.

He suffered all this for me.

That beautiful Name,

That beautiful Name,

From sin has power to free us!

That beautiful Name,

That wonderful Name,

That matchless Name is Jesus!

I love that blest Name,

that wonderful Name,

Made higher than all in Heav'n

'Twas whispered, I know,

In my heart long ago

To Jesus my life I've giv’n.

That beautiful Name,

That beautiful Name,

From sin has power to free us!

That beautiful Name,

That wonderful Name,

That matchless Name is Jesus!