October 7, 2012

From All That Dwell Below the Skies

Let the Creator’s Praise Arise.

From All That Dwell Below the Skies , first published 1719 is one of the most popular of some 750 hymns written by the Non-Conformist, Isaac Watts (1674-1748). There are a number of versions of this hymn including Hymn #19 of the Office which is sung to a different tune. This setting uses the melody, Eisenach (1628) by Johann Schein (1586-1630). He was one of the first German composers to add Italian Baroque elements of composition to Lutheran music. A popular alternative tune is Duke Street, as featured in the following video. In the Liturgy of the Hours, From All That Dwell Below the Skies is used during Ordinary Time for Morning and Daytime Midmorning Prayer.



FROM ALL THAT DWELL BELOW THE SKIES by Isaac Watts, 1719; 3rd stanza by Anonymous; 4th stanza by Robert Spence, 1780 (Public Domain)

1. From all that dwell below the skies,
Let the Creator’s praise arise;
Let the Redeemer’s Name be sung,
Through every land, by every tongue.

2. Eternal are Thy mercies, Lord,
Eternal truth attends Thy Word.
Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore,
Till suns rise and set no more.

3. Your lofty themes, ye mortals, bring,
In songs of praise divinely sing;
The great salvation loud proclaim,
And shout for joy the Savior’s Name.

 4. In every land begin the song;
To every land the strains belong;
In cheerful sounds all voices raise,
And fill the world with loudest praise.

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