Song story for “Jesus, My Redeemer”

“Jesus, My Redeemer” is an SATB choral anthem written by Travis L. Boyd and published by Shawnee Press (Hal Leonard).  It will always be one of my favorites of all of the choral anthems that Travis has written.  I can take credit only for loving the hymn, “Be Thou My Vision,” from which the tune for this anthem was taken.  I love both the original hymn tune and the traditional lyrics, but the “Jesus, My Redeemer”  lyrics and Travis’ accompaniment and choral arrangement are so meaningful and beautiful to me that I am more than willing to expand my love for the old hymn and include this new version.  Some readers may not be acquainted with the original hymn, so this song story will include some information about “Be Thou My Vision”  as well as the tale of how it inspired Travis to write “Jesus, My Redeemer.”

Here’s the story of “Be Thou My Vision,” as written by Sarah McCabe on suite101.com  (see the article URL at the end of this post):

“”Be Thou My Vision” is a Christian hymn written by  an Irish poet, and put to the tune of an old Irish folk song.  It has deep roots in the history  of Ireland.  St. Patrick played a major role in its inspiration, as did a pagan  king and a forbidden fire.  In 433 AD St. Patrick came to  the Hill  of Slane in County Meath. It was the night before Easter, as well as the beginning of  the Spring Equinox. High King Leoghaire (pronounced “Leary”) mac Neill had  issued a decree that no  fires were to be lit until the lighting of the blaze atop nearby Tara Hill  that would usher in the Spring Equinox.  The first fire, however, was not that of King Leoghaire. Rather, it was a  flame lit by St. Patrick to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.  Instead of executing him, King Leoghaire was so impressed by St. Patrick’s  courage that he allowed him to continue with his missionary work throughout  Ireland.

Considered Ireland’s chief poet during his time, Dallan Forgaill, who was  killed by pirates in 598, was known as a studious and scholarly man. It was said  that he spent so much time reading, writing, and studying that he became  blind.  Inspired by the events on the Hill of Slane about 100 years earlier, Dallan  Forgaill wrote the original words to “Be Thou My Vision” in old Irish, as a poem  entitled ” Rop tu mo baile.”  The poem was not translated into English until 1905 when Mary E. Byrne  (1880-1931) wrote a literal  translation of the words in English prose. The words were made into verse  and published by Eleanor H. Hull (1860-1935) in her 1913 work entitled Poem Book of the Gael.

The tune to “Be Thou My Vision” is called SLANE, an old Irish folk melody,  named for the Hill of Slane. Though centuries old, the melody was first  published by Patrick W. Joyce (1827-1914) in his 1909 collection, Old  Irish Folk Music and Songs, under the title “By the Banks of the  Bann.”  The melody was first coupled with Hull’s versified words to “Be Thou My  Vision” in 1919 by Leopold Dix (1861-1935) in the Irish Church  Hymnal.

Inspired by an event that helped change the spiritual climate of Ireland,  penned by a renowned Irish poet, and paired with the tune of an old Irish folk  song, “Be Thou My Vision” stands as a link between Ireland and its Christian  heritage. It is a tribute to a significant event in Ireland’s history and a reminder of the sovereignty, strength, and joy of Jesus.”

THE STORY OF “JESUS, MY REDEEMER”

“Jesus, my Redeemer, You died in my place… brought me salvation through Your matchless grace.”

Travis began to look at the hymn, “Be Thou My Vision” with the initial goal of doing a choral arrangement of the hymn with the well-known lyrics.  However, as he began to work with the hymn, he was inspired to write a new text with a different type of lyrical content.  The original lyrics are a prayer asking for the continued nearness of God’s presence to the heart of the believer and for the clarity of vision that comes with knowing Him through His word and through revelation.  The new lyrics for “Jesus, My Redeemer” are a text of testimony.   The believer thanks God for sending Jesus, for His power to save, and for his certain return and the eventual home in Heaven.  Both sets of lyrics have something very important to say, and both texts end with a final verse that talks about Heaven.

Travis’ SATB choral anthem, “Jesus, My Redeemer” was published by Shawnee Press (now with Hal Leonard) and is available through Hal Leonard at this link:  http://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=35011508&lid=0&keywords=Travisboyd&subsiteid=1&

“Jesus, My Redeemer” is available from J. W. Pepper, where the entire publisher’s studio demo recording of “Jesus, My Redeemer” can be heard at this link:  http://www.jwpepper.com/8036907.item

It is also available from Sheet Music Plus at http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Jesus-My-Redeemer/3734672

The publisher’s description of this anthem reads:
“Traditional Irish hymn, Be Thou My Vision; flowing accompaniment; easily learned – This anthem utilizes an original text set to the familiar Irish air commonly known as Be Thou My Vision. The accompaniment features a flowing motif, which recurs throughout the piece and is sure to appeal to your pianist. Jesus, My Redeemer contains wonderful harmonies that emphasize a rich text, thanking and praising the Savior for our redemption and grace. ”

“Forever we’ll sing…Amen!”

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Here’s the audio for the Publisher’s Studio Demo from our Sound Cloud recording of “Jesus, My Redeemer.”  (see lyrics below!)

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* A  TESTIMONY  OF  GRACE  AND  SALVATION *
The lyrics of  “Jesus, My Redeemer”, as written for the Slane hymn tune by Travis L. Boyd

Jesus, my Redeemer, My Savior and friend,
Author and giver of life without end,
Alpha, Omega, the Great I Am, Lion of Judah,
God’s meekly, lowly Lamb.

Jesus, my Redeemer, You died in my place,
Brought me salvation through your matchless grace
Your sacrifice came at such a great cost…
Bloodshed and agony on Calvary’s cross.

Such power to save!

Jesus, my Redeemer, Such power to save!
On the third day, You arose from the grave,
Sealing my pardon and setting me free,
Building a mansion in Heaven for me.

Jesus, my Redeemer, Returning some day!
All Your creation will bow down and say,
“You are Messiah!  Our Savior!  Our King!
Lord God Almighty, forever we’ll sing!” Amen!

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* A  PRAYER  OF  FAITH *
The lyrics to “Be Thou My Vision”  as written by Irish poet Dallan Forgaill,
translated in 1905 by Mary E. Byrne, and converted from English prose to verse by Eleanor H. Hull:

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word;
I ever with Thee, and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise;
Thou mine inheritance now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

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This post was written by Cynthia A. Boyd  (with the exception of the excerpt from the article mentioned below).

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Here’s a link to the article “Be Thou My Vision:  The History of a Christian Hymn”
(which was edited by the author of this post and included in the article as informational background):

http://suite101.com/article/be-thou-my-vision-a249138

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Youtube video of  “Be Thou My Vision”  (with lyrics), by Robin Mark from “The Mandate”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zstKjGb6uAE&feature=related

There are many other videos of “Be Thou My Vision” on Youtube by such artists as 4Him, Selah, Allison Kraus, Eden’s Bridge, the Irish Tenors, and the Azuza Pacific University Men’s Chorale.

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The Old Irish poem from which the lyrics of the hymn, “Be Thou My Vision”, were translated:

Rop tú mo baile, a Choimdiu cride: ní ní nech aile acht Rí secht nime.
Rop tú mo scrútain i l-ló ‘s i n-aidche; rop tú ad-chëar im chotlud caidche.
Rop tú mo labra, rop tú mo thuicsiu; rop tussu dam-sa, rob misse duit-siu.
Rop tussu m’athair, rob mé do mac-su; rop tussu lem-sa, rob misse lat-su.
Rop tú mo chathscíath, rop tú mo chlaideb; rop tussu m’ordan, rop tussu m’airer.
Rop tú mo dítiu, rop tú mo daingen; rop tú nom-thocba i n-áentaid n-aingel.
Rop tú cech maithius dom churp, dom anmain; rop tú mo flaithius i n-nim ‘s i talmain.
Rop tussu t’ áenur sainserc mo chride; ní rop nech aile acht Airdrí nime.
Co talla forum, ré n-dul it láma, mo chuit, mo chotlud, ar méit do gráda.
Rop tussu t’ áenur m’ urrann úais amra: ní chuinngim daíne ná maíne marba.
Rop amlaid dínsiur cech sel, cech sáegul, mar marb oc brénad, ar t’ fégad t’ áenur.
Do serc im anmain, do grád im chride, tabair dam amlaid, a Rí secht nime.
Tabair dam amlaid, a Rí secht nime, do serc im anmain, do grád im chride.
Go Ríg na n-uile rís íar m-búaid léire; ro béo i flaith nime i n-gile gréine A Athair inmain,
cluinte mo núall-sa: mithig (mo-núarán!) lasin trúagán trúag-sa.
A Chríst mo chride, cip ed dom-aire, a Flaith na n-uile, rop tú mo baile.

(Wouldn’t the original author be amazed to know that these words still live and inspire the hearts of millions of believers!)

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WOULD  YOU LIKE TO READ MORE POSTS LIKE THIS ONE?

Here’s a link to our  “Song Stories”  category to see all of the song story posts:
https://worshipsounds.wordpress.com/category/song-stories/

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Click this image to go to our WorshipSounds website.

More Music by Travis L. Boyd

Many more Choral Anthems written by Travis L. Boyd can be found on our Worship Sounds Music website.  Our Choral Anthems are written to be practical for use in local church ministry and in Christian schools and Universities.  You will find that our music is worshipful, memorable, and very affordable.  We also have Anthem Orchestrations, Accompaniment Tracks, Vocal Solos, and Congregational Worship music.

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Looking for answers for yourself or for a friend?

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Please feel free to share this URL with anyone who is looking for answers about life and eternity.

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