Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

Last updated

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
Hymn
Jesus appears to his disciples after he has risen.jpg
An 1873 depiction of a scene from the Bible, in which Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection
Occasion Easter
Written1739 (1739)
Text Charles Wesley
Language English
Based on Matthew28:1-10
Meter7.7.7.7 with alleluias
Melody"Easter Hymn", or "Llanfair" by Robert Williams

"Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" is a Christian hymn associated with Easter. Most of the stanzas were written by Charles Wesley, and the hymn appeared under the title "Hymn for Easter Day" in Hymns and Sacred Poems by Charles and John Wesley in 1739. The hymn eventually became well known for the "Alleluia" sung as a melisma after each line, which was added by an unknown author, probably to fit the commonly used hymn tune, "Easter Hymn". It remains a traditional processional hymn on Easter Sunday. [1]

Contents

History

The hymn was first sung on Easter Sunday of 1740 at The Foundery in London. The Foundery.jpg
The hymn was first sung on Easter Sunday of 1740 at The Foundery in London.

Charles Wesley, the co-founder of the Methodist movement, wrote "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" in 1739 where it was initially titled "Hymn for Easter Day". The new hymn was first performed at the first service at The Foundery Meeting House after Wesley had adapted it into the first Methodist chapel. [2] Following this, Wesley published it in the Hymns and Sacred Poems hymnal of 1739, initially with eleven verses of four lines each. [3] [4] The hymn was subsequently published in the hymnal A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People called Methodists, [5] and in 1754, it appeared in Harmonia Sacra, a hymnal compiled by Thomas Butts. [6] [7]

The hymn was later edited by Martin Madan for inclusion in his Psalms and Hymns hymnal (1769) by removing the seventh, eighth and ninth verses. The hymn eventually became popular in the Church of England from around 1780. Charles Welsey's brother, John Wesley excluded it from the Wesleyan Methodist Church's Wesleyan Hymn Book, [3] which John did to preclude the inclusion of any specific seasonal hymns. It was not until 1831, when the Supplement to the Collection was published by an unknown Methodist, that "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" made it into the hymnals of the Methodist Church regularly. [8] Prior to this hymn being published, church music had maintained a similar style of dynamics to music and chants from the Biblical period. "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" was written as a more uplifting style of worship expressing personal feelings to God that eventually became the bedrock of Christian music into the modern era. [2]

The composition of "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" originally consisted of eleven verses of four lines, which were later reduced to six, [9] and early in the 19th century "Alleluia" was added to the end of each line. [9] This results in "Alleluia" appearing twenty-four times in the hymn. It is not known why this was done, but it is speculated by hymn analysts that it was to ensure that the hymn fit the "Easter Hymn" tune. [5] The hymn led to a more popular awareness of Alleluia being used for Easter to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus. [5]

The Methodist historian Bernard Lord Manning said about it:

But in the evening at the chapel, though I was uncertain about the prayers, there was no gamble about the hymns. I knew we should have Charles Wesley's Easter hymn, "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today," with its 24 "Alleluias": and we did have it. Among any Dissenters worth the name that hymn is as certain to come on Easter Day as the Easter Collect in the Established Church (the Church of England). And mark this further—those 24 "Alleluias" are not there for nothing: the special use of "Alleluia" at Easter comes down to us from the most venerable liturgies. Our hymns are our liturgy, an excellent liturgy. Let us study it, respect it, use it, develop it, and boast of it. [5]

"Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" has been considered by many Christian hymnologists such as William Studwell, as being the most definitive church anthem for Easter. [10] It is an example where Roman Catholics and Anglicans cease using the word "Alleluia" during the period of Lent but restore it into their services on Easter Sunday. [5]

Charles Wesley Charles Wesley.jpg
Charles Wesley

Beyond Methodism and Anglicanism, "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" has been adopted by other Christian denominations; Baptists have adopted the hymn. [11] Likewise, Presbyterians have been singing the hymn since at least the 19th century where it was also included in hymnals used for missionary work in the colonies of the British Empire. [12] The hymn is also used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; however the church's hymnals only contain three verses of the hymn and have an altered text for them. [13] [14]

Wesley's hymn is a variation of an earlier hymn "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today", a 14th-century Latin hymn which had been translated into English and published in Lyra Davidica in 1708 (and later in 1749 in Arnold's Compleat Psalmodist). [8] In some hymnals, Jesus Christ Is Risen Today is in fact the three-stanza Compleat Psalmodist version with one or more of the additional stanzas written by Wesley appended. Though "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" gained early popularity from within the Church of England, over time the Anglicans' preference moved towards "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today" and away from Wesley's hymn. [8]

Text

Each verse of "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" features a focus on the Resurrection of Jesus. For the final verse, Wesley uses descriptive language to describe four requirements for Christians to enjoy eternal life with God. The focuses are for Christians: to know God, to bear witness to God, to sing their faith and to love one another. [15]

The lyrics of "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" draw inspiration from a number of Biblical texts. The overall focus of the hymn is drawn from Matthew 28:5–6 where Mary Magdalene and the other Mary is told by an angel of Jesus' resurrection. [3] The wording as well as the "Alleluias" are drawn from the Book of Psalms with a number of Psalms being used including Psalms 106, 111, 112, 113, 117 and 135. [5] It also alludes to Revelation 19 where "Alleluia" sings out from Heaven. [5]

In 1989, the United Methodist Church's United Methodist Hymnal altered the second line of the first verse from "Sons of men and angels say" to "Earth and Heaven in chorus say". The change was one of many gender-neutralizing lyrical alterations the hymnal made in a professed effort to make the hymns more inclusive. [16] This altered version has since been adopted by some other Christian denominations. [3]

Tune

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Easter Hymn"
A MIDI rendition of a tune for "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today"
Problems playing this file? See media help.

When "Christ, the Lord, is ris'n today" was published by Thomas Butts in his 1754 hymnal Harmonia Sacra, it was paired with the tune "Maccabaeus". The rousing melody was originally composed by George Frideric Handel, initially for his 1747 oratorio Joshua , and later added to his 1746 oratorio Judas Maccabaeus . This choice of a militaristic theme was intended to reinforce the metaphorical depiction of the resurrected Christ as a victorious warrior who has vanquished death and the powers of evil. Today, this tune is popularly associated with the 1923 hymn "Thine Be the Glory". [6] [7] [17]

Today there are two tunes commonly used for "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today", these are "Easter Hymn" and "Llanfair". "Easter Hymn", the most used tune for the hymn, was originally titled "The Resurrection" and published anonymously in Lyra Davidica in 1708. [18] Despite being anonymous, over time it has been misattributed to J. W. Worgan, Henry Carey and George Frideric Handel. [19] The writer James T. Lightwood said of it: "there is probably no tune in Christendom so universally sung on any festal day as the Easter hymn, with its rolling "Hallelujah", on Easter morning." [18] "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" also gained popularity as a children's hymn by editors of children's hymnals. This was attributed to the tune being easy to learn despite the complex language within the text. [19]

"Llanfair" was written by Robert Williams in Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, Wales and the tune was named after the town. [20] This hymn tune was also harmonised by the Director of Music of University College, Oxford, David Evans. [20] Other hymn tunes used for "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today" are "Orientis Partibus", "Savannah," and "Resurrexit". One of these could potentially have been the original tune when it was first performed by Wesley, but this is unknown. [21]

British composer John Rutter published a choral arrangement of "Christ The Lord Is Risen Today", using the "Easter Hymn" tune, in 2016. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hymn</span> Religious song for the purpose of adoration or prayer

A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word hymn derives from Greek ὕμνος (hymnos), which means "a song of praise". A writer of hymns is known as a hymnist. The singing or composition of hymns is called hymnody. Collections of hymns are known as hymnals or hymn books. Hymns may or may not include instrumental accompaniment. Polyhymnia is the Greco/Roman goddess of hymns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Wesley</span> English Methodist and hymn writer (1707–1788)

Charles Wesley was an English leader of the Methodist movement. Wesley was a prolific hymnwriter who wrote over 6,500 hymns during his lifetime. His works include "And Can It Be", "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today", "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling", the carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", and "Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending".

"Joy to the World" is an English Christmas carol. It was written in 1719 by the English minister and hymnwriter Isaac Watts, and its lyrics are a Christian reinterpretation of Psalm 98 and Genesis 3. The carol is usually sung to an 1848 arrangement by the American composer Lowell Mason.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing</span>

"O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing" is a Christian hymn written by Charles Wesley. The hymn was placed first in John Wesley's A Collection of Hymns for the People Called Methodists published in 1780. It was the first hymn in every (Wesleyan) Methodist hymnal from that time until the publication of Hymns and Psalms in 1983.

Alleluia is a phrase in Christianity used to give praise to God. In Christian worship, Alleluia is used as a liturgical chant in which that word is combined with verses of scripture, usually from the Psalms. This chant is commonly used before the proclamation of the Gospel. In Western Christianity, congregations commonly cease using the word Alleluia during the period of Lent but restore it into their services at Easter. The form of praise "Alleluia" is used by Christians to thank and glorify God; it finds itself present in many prayers and hymns, especially those related to Eastertide, such as "Christ the Lord is Risen Today".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hark! The Herald Angels Sing</span> Christmas carol

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is an English Christmas carol that first appeared in 1739 in the collection Hymns and Sacred Poems. The carol, based on Luke 2:14, tells of an angelic chorus singing praises to God. As it is known in the modern era, it features lyrical contributions from Charles Wesley and George Whitefield, two of the founding ministers of Methodism, with music adapted from "Vaterland, in deinen Gauen" of Felix Mendelssohn's cantata Festgesang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock of Ages (Christian hymn)</span> Christian hymn

"Rock of Ages" is a popular Christian hymn written by the Reformed Anglican minister Augustus Toplady.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesus Christ Is Risen Today</span>

"Jesus Christ Is Risen Today" is a Christian hymn. It was initially written in the 14th century as a Bohemian Latin hymn titled "Surrexit Christus hodie". It is an Easter hymn referring to the Resurrection of Jesus and based on Matthew 28:6, Acts 2:32, 1 Peter 3:18 and Revelation 1:17-18.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thine Be the Glory</span> Christian hymn

Thine Be the Glory, Risen Conquering Son, also titled Thine Is the Glory, is a Christian hymn for Easter, written by the Swiss Protestant minister, Edmond Budry (1854–1932), and set to the tune of the chorus "See, the Conqu'ring hero comes" from the third section of Handel's oratorio Judas Maccabaeus. The hymn is sometimes sung at weddings or funerals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soldiers of Christ, Arise</span> Christian hymn written by Charles Wesley

"Soldiers of Christ, Arise" is an 18th-century English hymn. The words were written by Charles Wesley (1707–1788), and the first line refers to the armour of God in Ephesians 6:10–18.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus</span> Christian hymn written by Charles Wesley

"Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus" is a 1744 Advent and Christmas carol common in Protestant hymnals. The text was written by Charles Wesley. It is performed to one of several tunes, including "Stuttgart", "Hyfrydol", and "Cross of Jesus". The hymn is considered an enduring classic in Christian hymnody.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christ ist erstanden</span>

"Christ ist erstanden" is a German Easter hymn, and is possibly the oldest Christian liturgical German song. It has inspired the music of numerous composers, such as Ludwig Senfl and Heinrich Schütz, as well as modern composers such as Oskar Gottlieb Blarr and Enjott Schneider, and has appeared in 45 hymnals, including the current German Catholic and Protestant hymnals. Translations and paraphrases include a version by Catherine Winkworth which has appeared in 231 hymnals. "Christ ist erstanden" also inspired Martin Luther to write "Christ lag in Todes Banden", deriving the melody from it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">And Can It Be</span> Christian hymn written by Charles Wesley

"And Can It Be That I Should Gain?" is a Christian hymn written by Charles Wesley in 1738 to celebrate his conversion, which he regarded as having taken place on 21 May of that year. The hymn celebrates personal salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and is one of the most popular Methodist hymns today.

"Christ the Lord Is Risen Again!" is a German Christian hymn published by Michael Weiße in 1531 based on an earlier German hymn of a very similar name. It was translated into English in 1858 by Catherine Winkworth.

"Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing", originally titled "Good Christian Men, Rejoice", is an English Christian hymn written by Cyril Alington. It was first published in 1931 and is mostly used as an Easter hymn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O'er the Gloomy Hills of Darkness</span> Welsh Christian hymn by William Williams Pantycelyn

"O'er the Gloomy Hills of Darkness", also titled "O'er Those Gloomy Hills of Darkness", is a Welsh Christian hymn by William Williams Pantycelyn written in 1772. The hymn was written as a missionary hymn; there are conflicting accounts of why the hymn was written. The hymn was later published in 374 hymnals worldwide, though it was censored and altered in the United States by slaveholders for evangelising to slaves. The hymn later fell out of favour with hymn book editors in the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lo! He comes with clouds descending</span> Christian hymn written by Charles Wesley

"Lo! He comes with clouds descending" is a Christian hymn by Charles Wesley (1707–1788), based on an earlier hymn, "Lo! He cometh, countless Trumpets" by John Cennick (1718–1755). Most commonly sung at Advent, the hymn derives its theological content from the Book of Revelation relating imagery of the Day of Judgment. Considered one of the "Great Four Anglican Hymns" in the 19th century, it is most commonly sung to the tune Helmsley, first published in 1763.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Know That My Redeemer Lives</span>

"I Know That My Redeemer Lives" is an English Christian Easter hymn in long metre by Samuel Medley. It was published in 1775 and is written for Easter Sunday.

"Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem" or "Sing, Choirs of New Jerusalem" is an English Easter hymn by Robert Campbell. It is a 19th-century translation of the medieval Chorus novae Ierusalem, attributed to Fulbert of Chartres. The text's primary focus is the Resurrection of Jesus, taking the theme of Jesus as triumphant victor over death and deliverer of the prisoners from Hell.

References

  1. ↑ "Easter Processional on Christ the Lord Is Risen Today; Alleluia". Concordia Publishing House. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  2. 1 2 Collins, Ace (2009). "Christ the Lord is Risen Today". Stories Behind the Traditions and Songs of Easter. Zondervan. ISBN   978-0310542261.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Christ the Lord is risen today". Hymnary.org. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  4. ↑ Wesley, John (1739). Hymns and sacred poems. Published by John Wesley, .. and Charles Wesley. 1739. Internet Archive.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hansen, Collin (8 August 2008). "'Hymn for Easter Day'". Christianity Today. Retrieved 13 January 2018.(subscription required)
  6. 1 2 Temperley, Nicholas; Banfield, Stephen (2010). Music and the Wesleys. University of Illinois Press. p. 15. ISBN   978-0-252-07767-8 . Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  7. 1 2 Butts, Thomas (1754). "Christ, the Lord, is ris'n today". Harmonia Sacra, or a Compilation of Psalm and Hymn Tunes (1816 ed.). Andover: Flagg & gould. p. 118.
  8. 1 2 3 "Christ the Lord is risen today". Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Retrieved 13 January 2018.(subscription required)
  9. 1 2 "History of Hymns "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today"". United Methodist Church. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  10. ↑ Studwell, William (1996). The National and Religious Song Reader: Patriotic, Traditional, and Sacred Songs from Around the World . Psychology Press. p.  143. ISBN   0789000997.
  11. ↑ "Baptist Hymnal 1991 159. Christ the Lord is risen today". Hymnary.org. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  12. ↑ Hope, Charles (1842). A Selection of Hymns for the use of Presbyterian Churches in Jamaica (2nd ed.). C. Hope. p. 206. OCLC   561377501.
  13. ↑ "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today". LDS Church. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  14. ↑ "Christ The Lord Is Risen Today - Mormon Tabernacle Choir". BBC Music. Retrieved 26 February 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  15. ↑ Chilcote, Paul Wesley (2009). The Song Forever New: Lent and Easter with Charles Wesley. Church Publishing, Inc. pp. 151–152. ISBN   978-0819227256.
  16. ↑ United Methodist Communications (10 April 2017). "Risen today! A Wesley hymn devotion for Easter". UMC. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  17. ↑ Til, Marian Van (2007). "Guns to Good Effect". George Frideric Handel: A Music Lover's Guide to His Life, His Faith & the Development of Messiah and His Other Oratorios. WordPower Publishing. p. 16. ISBN   978-0-9794785-0-5 . Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  18. 1 2 Clapp-Itnyre, Alisa (2016). "1. Congregational Singing and Musical Education". British Hymn Books for Children, 1800–1900: Re-Tuning the History of Childhood. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN   978-1472407016.
  19. 1 2 "Christ the Lord is risen today — British 19th Century Children's Hymns". Indiana University East. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  20. 1 2 Mulder, John (2014). "11. Christ the Lord Is Risen Today". 28 Hymns to Sing before You Die. Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN   978-1630874117.
  21. ↑ "Hymn story, Christ the Lord Is Risen Today". Sermonwriter.com. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  22. ↑ Christ the Lord is risen today - John Rutter. The Cambridge Singers Hymn Series. Oxford University Press. June 2016. ISBN   978-0-19-341655-0 . Retrieved 21 February 2018.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.