Psalter Hymnal (Gray) ‎#466

466. Sing Praise to the Lord

1 Sing praise to the Lord! Praise him in the height;
rejoice in his word, you angels of light.
You heavens, adore him by whom you were made,
and worship before him, in brightness arrayed.

2 Sing praise to the Lord! Praise him on the earth
in tuneful accord, you saints of new birth.
Praise him who has brought you his grace from above;
praise him who has taught you to sing of his love.

3 Sing praise to the Lord! All things that give sound,
each jubilant chord, reecho around.
Loud organs, his glory tell forth in deep tone,
and trumpets, the story of what he has done.

4 Sing praise to the Lord! Thanksgiving and song
to him be outpoured all ages along!
For love in creation, for heaven restored,
for grace of salvation, sing praise to the Lord!

Text Information

• First Line: Sing praise to the Lord! Praise him in the heights
• Title: Sing Praise to the Lord
• Author: Henry Williams Baker (1875, alt.)
• Meter: 10 10 11 11
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Scripture:
  Psalm 150
  ;
  Psalm 148
• Topic: Praise & Adoration; Redemption; Creation; Grace; Music

Tune Information

• Name: LAUDATE DOMINUM
• Composer: C. Hubert H. Parry (1894)
• Meter: 10 10 11 11
• Key: B♭ Major

Text Information:

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Ps. 148:1-6
st. 2 = Ps. 148:11-14
st. 3 = Ps. 150:3-6

Originally "O Praise Ye the Lord," this text is considered to be one of finest written by Henry W. Baker (PHH 342). It was published in the 1875 edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern (Baker was editor of both the 1861 and 1875 editions).

The entire text is an amplification in hymn form of the "alleluia" phrases that frame Psalm 148 and 150. While stanzas 1-3 are based on various verses in those psalms, stanza 4 is a summary: "For love in creation, for heaven restored, for grace of salvation, sing praise to the Lord!"

Liturgical Use:
Any occasion of praise when Psalm 148 or 150 could also be used; a glorious (although long) doxology for harvest thanksgiving; a choral festival or similar praise service.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

LAUDATE DOMINUM (Latin words for the opening phrase of Psalm 150) comes from the end of the anthem "Hear My Words, O Ye People" by C. Hubert H. Parry (PHH 145), an anthem he composed in 1894 for a festival of the Salisbury Diocesan Choral Association. Parry's tune was set to Baker's text in the 1916 Supplement of Hymns Ancient and Modern, replacing an earlier LAUDATE DOMINUM by Henry J. Gauntlett for Baker's text. Parry's tune is an inspired melody from a great tune writer who rarely came to church but who produced some of the best hymn tunes in the later Victorian era.

Sing this noble tune with vigor and excitement; accompany it on the organ with a full registration and a touch of marcato. Sing stanza 1 in unison, stanzas 2 and 3 in parts (possibly one of them unaccompanied), and stanza 4 in unison again. For a real treat use Parry's majestic alternate harmonization with a "walking bass" on the final stanza; that harmonization is found in The Hymnal 1982 (432) and requires a slower tempo (half note = 88).

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook