One of the favorite Easter hymns most will recognize was originally entitled “Hymn for Easter Day,” written in 1739. This melodic liturgy was written for the inaugural service at the Foundry Meeting House in London. It’s known today as “Christ The Lord Is Risen Today,” composed by Charles Wesley, the most famous hymn writer of all, one year after his conversion.
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Source: Christianity Today
Known primarily to a bluegrass audience, “Death Is Only A Dream” is an old time gospel song recorded by The Stanley Brothers, the author of which is unknown.
Lyrics:
Sadly we sing and with tremulous breath
As we stand by the mystical stream
In the valley and by the dark river of death
And yet 'tis no more than a dream
Only a dream, only a dream
Of glory beyond the dark stream
How peaceful the slumber, how happy the waking
Where death is only a dream
Why should we weep when the weary ones rest
In the bosom of Jesus supreme
In the mansions of glory prepared for the blessed
For death is no more than a dream
Naught in the river the Saints should appall
Though' it frightfully dismal may seem
In the arms of our Savior no ill can befall
They find it no more than a dream
Over the turbid and onrushing tide
Doth the light of eternity gleam
And the ransomed the darkness and storm shall out ride
To wake with glad smiles from their dream
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Sources: BluegrassLyrics.com – Getty Search Gateway – WikiMedia Commons
First published in 1787 in ”A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors,“ by John Rippon. In Rippon’s compilation, the author was attributed only to "K", which probably refers to Robert Keen(e), the precentor at Rippon's church.
The theme of this hymn is the solidity of the word of God.
Since its publication, “How Firm A Foundation” has enjoyed wide acceptance, especially in North America. It is known to have been the favorite hymn of both General Robert E. Lee and Theodore Roosevelt, and was sung at the funeral of each.
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Sources: Challies.com – Lectionary.org – Nasa
Clara Scott provides us with a beautiful hymn of consecration that is still being sung today. Her hymn was published in 1895, shortly before her death. “Open My Eyes,” in a gentle 6/8 meter, has given us not only a list of body parts through which we may receive and project God’s truth and love, but also provides the way in the refrain:
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, ears, and heart,
illumine me, Spirit divine!
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Source: Discipleship Ministries
In 1856, with a love of church music and the desire to share his faith, Johnson Oatman wrote an average of over two hundred gospel songs and hymns a year for over twenty-five years. His total output of songs and hymns was over five thousand. When his publishers insisted that he set a price for each hymn, Oatman would charge a single dollar per hymn.
In 1898, he wrote a popular hymn that many people still sing today, “Higher Ground.”
Lyrics:
I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I’m onward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Refrain
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s table land,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
Refrain
I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
Refrain
I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till Heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Refrain
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Sources: The Gaffeny Ledger – Hubble Site – Wikimedia Commons
Until recently, the majority of the Dead Sea Scrolls were written between the 2nd century BCE and 2nd century CE. They were our oldest copies of biblical text. But in 1979, Judith Hadley, a girl from Toledo Ohio was assisting archaeologist, Gabriel Barkay, in excavating a site in Jerusalem’s Hinnom Valley. Going into a burial cave, Judith noticed something resembling a cigarette butt. This tiny item, only an inch long turned out to be a scroll of great antiquity, with another found nearby. These tiny scrolls, dating back to the Hebrew monarchy seven centuries before Christ, were so small and fragile they took several years to clean and open.
When Israeli technicians finally unrolled the scrolls, the world’s oldest surviving copy of a biblical text was revealed, the words of Numbers 6:24–26: The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. While these scrolls date from the seventh century B.C., the original words are far older, coming 1,400 years before Christ. As the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, the Lord commanded the priests to bless the people with this three-fold blessing.
These ancient lyrics have been set to music many times, but never more beautifully than by Peter Christian Lutkin in his classic tune BENEDICTION.
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Sources: Then Sings My Soul
Robert Robinson had always been prone to wander. Apprenticed to a barber at fourteen, he spent more time reading and playing with friends than cutting hair. He became the leader of a notorious gang, and he shammed his family so much that they practically disowned him. Then, still a teen, he and some of his drinking buddies went to an evangelistic meeting by George Whitefield, to make fun of the proceedings and instead, he almost fell asleep in it. But then the preacher shouted out a Bible verse: “O generation of vipers; who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come” (Matthew 3:7, KJV). That evening began young Robinson’s conversion.
Three years later, as he was preparing to preach a sermon at the Calvinist Methodist Chapel in Norfolk, England, Robert wrote “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” to complement his sermon. The music for the hymn was composed by Asahel Nettleton in 1813.
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Sources: Sharefaith and ClipArt ETC
In 1887, just following an evangelistic meeting held by Dwight L. Moody, a young man stood to share his story in an after-service testimony meeting. Daniel Towner was the song leader of that evening in 1886, and he asked people to share how they had been saved. One young man rose, and new to the faith said, “I am not quite sure, but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey.”
Towner was struck by the power of those simple words and couldn’t forget that testimony. He jotted it down and sent it to John Sammis, who had recently left a career in business to enter the ministry. Towner asked Sammis to write a hymn text on trusting and obeying. Sammis wrote the chorus first and then the five stanzas. Later, Towner supplied the tune. To be happy in Jesus, we need to trust first, and then obey.
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Sources: William J. Petersen; Ardythe Petersen; The Complete Book of Hymns and Head of a Girl Looking Up; Jean-Baptiste Greuze (French, Tournus 1725–1805 Paris)
While serving as the captain of a slave ship, John Newton was awakened one night by a violent wave crashing against the vessel. Hurrying above, he found some of the ship’s timbers ripped away. He and his crew were in terrible danger as the ship plunged through a furious storm. Men began to pump water out desperately. Clothes and bedding were stuffed into holes and boards nailed over them. John joined those who were manning the pumps.
Too exhausted to pump any longer, he was lashed to the wheel to try and steer the ship. The storm raged on and on. In this desperate moment, John turned his eyes back over his life. Raised to the age of seven by a Christian mother, he had sought the Lord with fasts and prayers, but failing to find God he had become embittered.
In his heart he believed Christianity was true. This brought him no consolation. “I concluded my sins were too great to be forgiven. I waited with fear and impatience to receive my doom.” But soon he heard the glad news that the ship was freed of water. “I began to pray... to think of the Jesus that I had so often derided; I recollected His death: a death for sins not His own, but, as I remembered, for the sake of those who should put their trust in Him.” On this day, March 21, 1747 (new calendar) a day he ever after observed, John realized he needed a Savior to intercede for him with God.
Though the storm raged on for days, John spent every free moment in the Scripture praying for guidance. Finally his ship reached Ireland. Later he would come to know that slavery was wrong and became both abolitionist and minister. Reflecting on his hard life, John wrote one of the world’s most beloved hymns: “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.”
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Source: Christianity.com
The following is one of my favorite backstories to a gospel hymn. Hope you enjoy both it and my corresponding design for this classic hymn.
Reverend E. P. Scott was a missionary, living in India during the 1800s. At the calling of the Holy Spirit, but against advice of his fellow missionaries, Scott set out to visit a savage and remote mountain tribe.
As he neared their land, he was met by a large group of warriors who quickly surrounded him, each one pointing a spear towards his heart. Expecting to die, Scott made a quick decision to use his last few breaths to glorify God. He took out his violin (which he always carried on him), closed his eyes, and began to play and sing “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name”, in the warriors’ native language.
After singing the first verse, the second, then the third, Rev. Scott realized he was still standing, and that all around him was a peaceful quiet. Opening his eyes he saw every spear lowered. There stood those warriors, with tears in their eyes. Throughout the remainder of his life, Scott spent much time with this tribe, sharing the love of God.
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Source: ShareFaith.com
Jeff Buckley had only a brief stay on earth, but still managed to release one of the most haunting, romantic and spiritual albums I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing. The true art of Grace, released on August 23, 1994, was and is reflected in ethereal music, his wailing falsetto and warm vibrato.
An acquaintance recommended this album to me some time ago, Grace being one of his favorites because of its passion and isn’t that what all great art should be, “passionate”. It was truly my pleasure in taking the opportunity to redesign the original album cover.
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Released by Atlantic Records in 1959, The Shape Of Jazz To Come was Ornette Coleman’s debut for the label. Like most jazz of the period, each selection contains a brief melody, then several minutes of free improvisations, followed by a repetition of the main theme. Yet unlike the same jazz of the period, Coleman’s quartet completely abandons the use of chord structures.
This breakthrough album helped establish the “free jazz” movement and in 2012 was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, but don’t let the words “free jazz” scare you away. The Shape Of Jazz To Come is still quite approachable and truly a pleasure for me working through this album cover redesign.
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Released by Impulse in 1964, this studio album by John Coltrane features McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones playing all original Coltrane compositions. It’s largely sombre music with Coltrane playing tenor sax exclusively. Crescent is passionately lyrical and more melodic than Coltrane’s famous "sheets of sound" approach on other albums.
It was so much fun working on this album cover redesign for Crescent, a sublime classic and truly one of my favorites.
© Helpful Creative
Bill Evans recorded this solo album in three different studio sessions on February 6th, February 9th, and May 20th, 1963. He accomplished this by layering three piano tracks for each song, using a then controversial method of overdubbing. Each track was distinct, yet corresponded beautifully as a composition, earning Evans his first Grammy Award in 1964 for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group.
Being one of my favorites by Evans, I enjoyed redesigning the album cover for “Conversations with Myself”.
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Flowing with a soft, dreamlike scope and haunting melodies, Avalon was released in 1982 by Roxy Music. For me, this hypnotic album marks some of my enduring college memories. Still to this day, Avalon is some of the most romantic music I’ve ever heard. To quote songwriter and vocalist Bryan Ferry, “Avalon is part of the King Arthur legend and is a very romantic thing.” When King Arthur dies, the Queens ferry him off to Avalon, which is sort of an enchanted island. It's the ultimate romantic fantasy place.”
Avalon is my latest selection for an album cover redesign. One of Roxy Music’s best, this album is strongly recommended.
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Bright Size Life was released in 1976 on ECM, and became Pat Metheny’s debut album classic. In addition to Metheny, this fluid trio included the late Jaco Pastorius's lyrical electric bass and Bob Moses’ delicate drums. Every track on this album was original material by Metheny, with the lone exception of Ornette Coleman's “Round Trip/Broadway Blues”, the closing medley.
Bright Size Life is a personal jazz guitar favorite and my choice for a record cover redesign.
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
The Planets, is a seven-movement orchestral suite by the English composer Gustav Holst, written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System and its corresponding astrological character as defined by Holst. With the exception of Earth, all the astrological planets known during the work's composition are represented.
Dutoit's interpretation of this magnificent orchestral suite is almost perfect and my selection for an album cover redesign.
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
CNN explores the future of manufacturing in "CNN Explains: 3-D printing". The imminent future includes both low-end and high-end 3-D printers. Just how low-end? Watch the video!
If you’re interested in the potential environmental and economic impact on the high-end side, check out the second video from China View entitled “3D printers print ten houses in 24 hours”.
Giant Steps, released in 1960 on Atlantic Records, is the fifth studio album by jazz musician John Coltrane as band leader. His first album for the Atlantic record label was a breakthrough for Coltrane, with many of its tracks soon becoming practice templates for jazz saxophonists. In 2004, it was one of only fifty recordings chosen by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry.
This recording exemplifies Coltrane's melodic phrasing that came to be known as sheets of sound, and features his explorations into third-related chord movements became known as Coltrane changes. Jazz musicians continue to use the Giant Steps chord progression, which consists of a peculiar set of chords that often move in thirds, as a practice piece and gateway into modern jazz improvisation. [1]
Happy to select Giant Steps for an album cover redesign. It was my first Coltrane purchase, but definitely not my last.
© Helpful Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Check out this light hearted look at animated portraits by Romain Laurent.
