Product Description

Songs of Praise was first published in 1925, and is still an immensely popular hymnbook, particularly in schools. The compilation falls into two parts: Book 1 contains hymns grouped by subject and theme, together with a selection of verses, canticles and doxologies; Book 2 contains general hymns listed alphabetically by first line.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1593159 in Books
• Published on: 1963-03-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 448 pages

Customer Reviews

A fascinating read.
The hymnal "Songs of Praise" (not to be confused with the BBC television programme of the same name) was first published in 1925, and expanded in 1931. This edition reprints the 1931 text. Unsurprisingly, it includes many hymns that some would now consider to be offensively nationalistic or even jingoistic - Kipling's "God of our Fathers", with its mention of "lesser breeds without the Law" is certainly one of these. It is also geared towards an English congregation; the 'National' section contains three hymns in which England is specifically invoked, for example.

Because of these elements of its composition, this is not a good hymnal for congregations favouring "inclusive" hymns, and is probably not ideal for congregations in Wales, Scotland or Ireland either.

However, it contains the words of most favourite traditional hymns, and if that's what you're loking for, then this is definitely good value for money. It would also be invaluable to a student of religious or general literature through the Romantic and Victorian preiods - hymns are far too often neglected as a good "way in" to the ideas and uses of imagery that lie behind a particular period in literature.

Traditional but with some unusual tunes
This is the book that was once used by schools everywhere. We had it in edited form in our junior school and in full form at our senior school. You can find most of your favourite hymns in here but many are set to unusual tunes or La-La tunes (the editor calls them Fa-Accompanyment). I think on hindsight the La-La tunes are intended for, say, just one verse as an alternative because some of the notes may be a bit high for singing all the verses.

Some of the tunes are based on old psalm tunes. There is plenty here for a student of hymns, indeed I can't think of a hymn book quite like it.

If you are looking for a modern hymn, then you will be a little disapointed. The preface gives an interesting history of hymns and tunes and it is quite interesting to realise that many of the tunes we take for granted are actually relatively modern.

There are many hymns in the book that you will never hear today, indeed I have never heard them in my life.

Hymns
I bought this for a bit of nostagia, it took me back to my school days when we had morning assembly and sang hymns, I don't suppose too many schools do the same these days