Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates

Today is the 16th day in the Advent-Hymn-of-the-Day project.

Now that John the Baptizer has made his exit from the Advent stage for another year, our thoughts turn more towards individual preparations, and we start to turn our eyes and thoughts towards Bethlehem.

Today's hymn, "Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates" is played in what I call "parish church style". There are VERY few changes from the written notes in this performance. Just a few minor things here and there, and a SLIGHT change in the harmony near the end. Notice the use of VERBAL PHRASING. By this I mean that I lift or phrase according to the text, and not just at the end of the usual musical spot. Training a congregation to "phrase verbally" is not the easiest thing, but it CAN be done!

The words of this great hymn were written by George Weissel (1590-1635) in 1642, and were inspired by Psalm 24. The translation, done in 1885, is another one by Catherine Winkworth (1829-1878).

The music comes from T. Williams'
"Psalmodia Evangelica", dating from 1789, and the fine and solid harmonization is by
Lowell Mason (1792-1872), the composer of some beloved hymns in many American protestant churches.

There is an ENTIRE VERSE INTRO!

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates,
Behold the King of Glory waits;
The King of Kings is drawing near;
The Saviour of the world is here!

Fling wide the portals of your heart;
Make it a temple, set apart
From earth use for heavenly employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy.

Redeemer, come! I open wide
My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide.
Let me Thy inner presence feel;
Thy grace and love in me reveal.