Jen isn’t doing Quick Takes this week because of it being the Triduum but I thought I’d do some of my favorite hymns from this 3-day period. I’m unfortunately not making it to church because of Daniel so doing this list is a chance to scratch my itch for traditional hymns.
Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness This is a version of the hymn “Deck Thyself My Soul With Gladness” that I love. It’s one of my favorite hymn tunes and one that I only get to sing once or twice a year because it’s a Communion hymn and one that our organist doesn’t like to play. As this is Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday, it fits.
Sing My Tongue the Glorious Battle. This is a version of this hymn *NOT* set to Marty Haugen’s music. It tells the story of Christ coming to die for us. It reminds me of sagas that I’ve heard sung.
Ubi Caritas My first introduction to Taizé music was at Maundy Thursday 17 years ago. This is one of the songs we sang. The translation is “where there is charity and love, God himself is there.”
O Sacred Head Now Wounded This is a Good Friday standard. It’s a tune by Hans Hassler which was adapted into a chorale by J.S. Bach in the 18th century. The words are by Bernard of Clairvaux and date from the 12th century. This particular one is sung by Fernando Ortega who does everything beautifully.
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross One of my favorite Cross-centric hymns that is fitting for this occasion.
Were You There When They Crucified My Lord? I had a really hard time finding a version of this on YouTube that wasn’t overly dramatized. The most powerful versions of this are the most simple.
Ah Holy Jesus This one has the ability to make me cry because it forces me to admit that *I* am the reason Jesus was crucified and that it was *MY* sin for which he was atoning. It doesn’t hurt that it’s a 17th century hymn as well.
For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.