New take on an old hymn: 'How Great Thou Art'

Joe

Joe

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The hymn "how great thou art" used to be sung regularly at mass when I was young(er) and it always stuck with me. It's a great tune! A while back I wondered about the guitar chords for it to see if it was playable and singable for the average person, and it turns out it's fairly simple.

While reading the lyrics I figured they could be modified a bit for our purposes, so I went ahead and rewrote some of them. Then realizing we have a resident music teacher and accomplished musician in @aragorn , I asked him if he could play around with and come up with something. So he and @Seppo Ilmarinen did so. And here's the awesome result!


And there's a "karoke version" too without the vocals:


And the guys did a "free interpretation" version too.

 
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When the strains of “How Great Thou Art” resounded through the crowd during Donald Trump’s speech, it was more than just a song—it was a moment of collective awe and connection. It served as a reminder that there are values and emotions that run deeper than worldly debates—a longing for transcendence, for something greater. The people who sang in that moment were not only expressing their faith but also a shared aspiration for hope and inspiration.The beauty of “How Great Thou Art” lies in its simplicity and depth alike. The verses reflect awe for nature—“When I consider the world you have made”—and connect it with a spiritual reflection that has resonated with people for generations. In that particular moment, as the song rang out during the speech, it became a symbol of the power of music and faith to unite people in challenging times.
For me, the most beautiful hymn I know❤️

https://twitter.com/x/status/1854085708987723969
 
WOW!! I have always loved that song from my days in the church and was even singing it to myself not long ago. I remember feeling sad that the original words no longer completely resonated with me. I never even thought of reworking them! What a beautiful, beautiful piece of work! In both renditions, the words, the vocals and the instrumentals truly inspire a soul connection and longing that awakens something within me each time I listen...it feels like healing. Thank you so much! 💜
 
Its the first time I listen to this hymn. Both of your versions gave me goosebumps and brought tears to my eyes. Thank you all so much for this most beautiful gift. I will listen to it often and learn to sing along. It touches sentiments rarely expressed and now with this hymn and your text we are able to express them. And that is so healing. :love:💫✨
 
Recently I was thinking about how much I enjoyed this hymn during my church days while cleaning my bookshelves. I have a lovely hardcover on hymns, with simple sheet music, lyrics and history. While dusting, I glanced through the book and this hymn appeared. Nice work. Thanks.
 
We noticed that most 'congrgational renditions' of the hymn are set in the key of Bb major, which is quite high, especially for more inexperienced singers. So we decided to set it lower, in the key of G major. You can find the music score with Joe's modified lyrics as an attachment. Maybe all FOTCM sub-groups could do their own rendition? :-)
 

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