![[Hymns] Famous hymns and sacred songs. Recommended hymns and sacred songs.](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/491lIVCYwF8/sddefault.jpg)
Hymns and sacred songs beloved around the world.
Hymns and sacred songs are known as songs that praise the Christian God, but in Japan—where many people are Buddhist—their recognition is by no means high.
There are many excellent pieces, but the difficulty is that they can be hard to find.
This time, we’ve picked out some famous works among hymns and sacred songs.
We also explain in detail the background of each piece and the meaning of the lyrics, so even those without prior knowledge of hymns and sacred songs can enjoy it.
How about soothing a heart worn down by daily stress with hymns and sacred songs?
Please sit back and enjoy!
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[Hymns] Famous hymns and sacred songs. Recommended hymns and sacred songs (1–10)
What a Friend We Have in JesusJoseph M. Scriven, Charles Crozat Converse
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is very familiar in Japan.
Because it’s such a well-known tune, it is sometimes sung at funerals, weddings, and school entrance ceremonies.
It is said that composer Charles Converse was deeply moved by these lyrics—whose author was unknown at the time—and set them to music, completing the hymn.
The lyricist, Joseph Scriven, reportedly wrote the words after his fiancée died just before their wedding.
In his deep sorrow and despair, he prayed to Jesus Christ, and as he entrusted all his suffering to Jesus, these lyrics were born.
It is a hymn that conveys the conviction that “when sorrow and hardship come, Jesus Christ is always watching over us.”
Hymn No. 320: “Nearer, My God, to Thee”Sarah Adams
Based on a passage from the Old Testament, a poem was written in the 19th century by the British writer Sarah Flower Adams.
The melody known today is based on the tune arranged by the American composer Lowell Mason.
In 1912, when the luxury liner RMS Titanic sank, it is said that the ship’s string players performed this piece on the deck as the vessel went down.
This story was also depicted in the 1997 film Titanic, helping to make the piece widely known.
Hymn No. 103: “The Shepherds Watching Their Sheep”William Sandys
This piece is an English carol sung at Christmas.
A carol was originally a folk song for dancing, but it came to be sung in religious services and is now considered a type of hymn.
The melody of this song has been handed down in the West of England since before the 17th century.
The Christmas carol’s lyrics are based on a passage from the New Testament, depicting the scene in which an angel of God appears from the sky on the night when shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks.
Amazing GraceJohn Newton
This is a hymn with lyrics written by the British clergyman John Newton.
It was composed based on his experiences before he became a minister, when he was involved in the so-called “slave trade,” transporting enslaved Africans.
The hymn expresses Newton’s remorse for having taken part in the transatlantic slave trade and his gratitude for God’s love, which granted him forgiveness despite that.
Today, it is one of the most cherished and frequently sung songs, especially in the United States, and it is also sometimes performed on the bagpipes.
Silent NightThomas Boys Choir
Since its premiere on the night of December 24, 1818, this Christmas carol has been loved around the world, and is now sung in 300 languages and dialects.
The poem was written by Mohr, a priest serving at St.
Nicholas Church, and the melody was composed by Gruber, a teacher who was the church’s organist.
St.
Nicholas Church is located in a place called Oberndorf, but at the time, due to the Napoleonic Wars, the people of Oberndorf had endured harsh times for many years.
It is said that Mohr and Gruber created this carol in the hope of giving people at least a little bit of hope.
Hymn No. 461: “Jesus Loves Me”Anna P Warner
It’s no exaggeration to say that the hymn “Jesus Loves Me” was the first song sung in Japanese by Japanese people and the one they loved most.
The original lyrics come from a passage in Anna Warner’s 1860 novel Say and Seal: it is a song faintly heard from the lips of little Johnny, who is about to be called to heaven, as the heroine, Faith, watches over him.
Doesn’t the melody sound familiar? In fact, it’s very similar in style to the children’s song “Shabondama” (“Soap Bubbles”), and both songs share a common theme: a prayer for a fleeting, vanishing young life.
Hymn No. 257: A Mighty Fortress Is Our GodMartin Luther
A hymn written and composed by Martin Luther, the renowned German Reformer, between 1527 and 1529.
It is the best-known of Luther’s works and has since been translated into many languages, including English.
Because Luther was one of the central figures when the Protestant churches separated from the Roman Catholic Church, this hymn is frequently sung in Protestant churches.
Its lyrics are based on Psalm 46 from the Old Testament, expressing gratitude and praise to God, our refuge in times of trouble.