The Worship Review

The Worship Review

By Colin & TylerReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
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The Worship Review episodes

  • 120 - Savior of the Nations, Come - Christmas Special 3.2

    We are continuing our series on Christmas/Advent music. This week's episode discusses a poem by Ambrose of Milan, translated into German by Martin Luther, translated into English by William M. Reynolds. After crying out for the advent of the Savior, "Savior of the Nations, Come" invites us to marvel at the wonder of Christ's birth and the hypostatic union, to sing in awe at our King's great triumph over death and hell, and to offer praise to the three Persons of the Godhead. 


    English lyrics used in this episode:

    1 Savior of the nations, come;

    virgin's Son, make here your home.
    Marvel now, O heav'n and earth,
    that the Lord chose such a birth.

    2 Not by human flesh and blood,

    by the spirit of our God
    was the Word of God made flesh,
    woman's offspring, pure and fresh.

    3 Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child

    of the virgin undefiled,
    though by all the world disowned,
    still to be in heav'n enthroned.

    4 From the Father's throne he came

    and ascended to the same,
    captive leading death and hell.
    High the song of triumph swell!

    5 Praise to God the Father sing,

    praise to God the Son, our King,
    praise to God the Spirit be
    ever and eternally.


    Modernized German (Luther's) text with a good translation:

    https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Texts/Chorale016-Eng3.htm


    Latin (Ambrose's) text with a good translation:

    https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Veni_redemptor_gentium


    More about this text and tune: 

    Hymnary.org: https://hymnary.org/text/savior_of_the_nations_come_virgins_son


    Music used in this podcast:

    Stanza 1: Concordia Publishing House: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKO-C5NTNvA

    Stanza 2: Chris Brunelle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP_4YN7aRuM

    Stanza 3: David Tolk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWFyqYl57ec

    Stanza 4: Koiné: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsNPi71O7FI

    Stanza 5: David Tolk


    Other noteworthy versions:

    Cardiphonia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol78eWbhE1o


    Other notes:

    We also briefly sample "So Fresh So Clean" by Outkast (C) 2000

    39 min
  • 118 - We Have Been Healed - Sovereign Grace - Excellent Songs

    This week we're going through the lyrics of We Have Been Healed by Sovereign Grace Music. This song describes a "glorious exchange": all our sin for God's grace. What a concept to rejoice over and meditate on! Also, we read and discuss some of the Scriptural references in this song.


    Song URL: https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/we-have-been-healed/


    VERSE 1

    You bore our sins in Your body
    As You were hung on a tree
    So we might die to rebellion
    And live for Him who set us free

    VERSE 2

    You were mocked and reviled
    Suffering in our place
    Trusting all to Your Father
    So enemies could know Your grace

    CHORUS

    We have been healed, justified
    Made alive in the life of Christ
    Righteous blood covers every sin
    Risen Lamb, heaven’s light
    Crucified and now alive
    In Your love, You have drawn us in

    VERSE 3

    Like straying sheep we were wandering
    Destitute and alone
    You sought us out like a Shepherd
    You carried us and brought us home

    BRIDGE

    All our sin for Your grace
    What a glorious exchange
    All our sin for Your grace
    What a glorious exchange
    All our sin for Your grace

    28 min
  • 116 - The Passover Song - Caroline Cobb & Sean Carter - Excellent Songs

    This week, as a part of our new Excellent Songs series, we're looking at Caroline Cobb's "The Passover Song." This song draws on two Biblical narratives at the same time: the liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt through the Passover, and the salvation of sinful humans by Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.


    Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VjILH2YNUc

    Caroline Cobb: https://www.carolinecobb.com/

    Song Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiAUuroWHEo

    Lyrics (and other details from Caroline Cobb's bandcamp; edits marked in square brackets):


    Words and music by Caroline Cobb and Sean Carter

    Written January 11-14, 2013
    Exodus 12 (See also John 1:29, Hebrews 10:20)


    There’s a promise in our veins

    But it’s faded by all these years in chains
    Send a prophet, send the plagues
    That by sunrise we will no more be slaves

    Take the lamb, take the blood
    And paint it on our doorways
    At night death will come but pass us by

    This is all our hope and peace

    In the morning we will rise
    Taste the freedom we thought we’d never find
    We will dance now in the streets
    Once held captive now we shall live as kings

    Lift your head, your voice
    And sing of your salvation
    Of the blood of the lamb that gave us life

    Now by this we’ll overcome
    Now by this we’ll reach our home

    There’s a poison in our veins
    And it leads to death we cannot escape
    Send a ransom a perfect Son
    Remedy the curse with [sung:  by] His precious blood

    And the Lamb that will come
    His cross will be our doorway
    And the red of His blood [sung: it w]ill make us white
    And [sung: the] daughters and sons
    Rejoice in resurrection
    And death swallowed up in endless life

    Glory, glory this I sing
    All my praise for this I bring
    Naught of good that I have done
    Nothing but the blood of Jesus

    28 min
  • 115 - How to win a Dove Award - S05E28

    This week, we look back on series five and examine the Dove Award winners of the last ten years. It turns out almost all of them have very similar tempos! Colin & Tyler then turn to discuss the new direction the podcast is taking.

    35 min
  • 111 - The Expository Songs Project with Daniel Mount - S5E24

    This week we're joined by Daniel Mount, a songwriter, worship leader and veteran of the Christian music industry. Daniel has compiled a database of tens of thousands of hymns and worship songs, The Expository Songs Project. Rather than being arranged, thematically, songs are listed under chapters of the Bible, and are included in the project if they exposit or reference that passage. We also discuss the songwriting industry and the way lyrics have changed since the Second Great Awakening.


    Daniel's Website: https://danielmount.com/

    The Expository Songs Project: https://danielmount.com/expository-songs/

    54 min

About The Worship Review

From the publisher's feed

Informative reviews of Christian worship music by a history professor (Colin) and a linguist (Tyler).