Faith In God: Solving The Mystery Of Life With Music

Music is a powerful tool that transcends borders, race, and cultures, and it has the ability to evoke emotions and leave a lasting legacy. For many musicians, creating music that speaks to the hearts and souls of their listeners is a dream come true. One way to achieve this is through tonic solfa, a type of music notation that uses syllables to represent notes. Tonic solfa is used to teach sight-singing and is often used in church music and hymns. For example, the tonic solfa for the hymn To God Be the Glory is s s l t d' s d' r' s r' m'. Music that uses tonic solfa has the ability to inspire and motivate listeners, leaving a lasting impact long after the music has ended.

'Have Faith in God' tonic solfa notation

Tonic sol-fa, or tonic sol-fah, is a kind of musical notation that assigns each note of the musical scale a distinct syllable. The syllables are typically "do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do".

> s s l t d' s d' r' s r' m'

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> m' f' l f' m' d' m' m' r' l r'

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> s s l t d' s d' r' s r' m'

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> m' s' f' r' d' t d’ m’m’r’ d’

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> m' f' s’, m' f'

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> r' m' f’, r' m' f'

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> m' r’ s' s' f’ m'

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> s s l t d' s d' r' s r' m'

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> m' s' f' r' d' t d’ m’m’r’ d’

And here are the lyrics so you can follow along:

> To God be the glory, great things He hath done,

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> So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

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> Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,

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> And open’d the Life Gate that all may go in.

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> Chorus: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

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> Let the earth hear His voice!

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> Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

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> Let the people rejoice!

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> O come to the Father, through

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> Jesus the Son; And give Him the glory! Great things, He hath done!

This tonic solfa notation can be played on a variety of instruments, including the piano, saxophone, recorder, and trumpet.

'Faith of Our Fathers Living Still' hymn

"Faith of Our Fathers" is a popular Catholic hymn written by Frederick William Faber in 1849. Faber wrote the hymn in memory of Catholic martyrs who were persecuted by the Church of England during the time of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. The hymn recognises the importance of these martyrs in England who had been killed since the mid-16th century.

Faber wrote two versions of the hymn: one with seven stanzas for Ireland and another with four stanzas for England. The Irish version was sung at hurling matches until the 1960s. The tune most commonly used in the United States is "St Catherine" by Henri Hemy, an organist and composer who was born in England in 1818. The arrangement was originally created in respect of Catherine of Alexandria, a fourth-century lady who was sentenced to death because of her faith.

The hymn "Faith of Our Fathers, Living Still" begins with an uplifting assertion of enduring faith:

> Faith of our fathers, living still

> In spite of dungeon, fire and sword

> O how our hearts beat high with joy

> Whene'er we hear that glorious word!

The second stanza honours the strength and freedom of those who were persecuted:

> Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,

> Were still in heart and conscience free;

> And blest would be their children's fate,

> If they, like them should die for thee:

The third stanza varies depending on the version. The English version refers to Mary's prayers and winning England back, while the adapted Protestant version focuses on striving to win all nations and bringing freedom through truth:

> Faith of our fathers! we will strive

> To win all nations unto thee;

> And through the truth that comes from God

> Mankind shall then indeed be free.

The fourth and final stanza emphasises the power of love and preaching through kind words and virtuous living:

> Faith of our fathers, we will love

> Both friend and foe in all our strife,

> And preach thee, too, as love knows how

> By kindly words and virtuous life.

The hymn concludes with a powerful refrain, expressing unwavering devotion:

> Faith of our fathers! Holy Faith!

> We will be true to thee till death!

'My Faith Looks Up to Thee' hymn

"My Faith Looks Up to Thee" is a popular American hymn written by Ray Palmer in 1830. The melody associated with this hymn is called "Olivet", composed by Lowell Mason. The hymn is a prayer, acknowledging that Jesus Christ is the only source of forgiveness, love, comfort, and salvation. Here is a verse-by-verse breakdown of the hymn:

Verse 1:

My faith looks up to Thee, / Thou Lamb of Calvary, / Savior Divine! / Now hear me while I pray, / Take all my guilt away; / O let me from this day / Be wholly Thine.

In the first verse, the speaker addresses God directly, expressing their faith and seeking forgiveness for their guilt. They pray to be wholly devoted to God from that day forward.

Verse 2:

May Thy rich grace impart / Strength to my fainting heart, / My zeal inspire; / As Thou hast died for me, / O may my love to Thee / Pure, warm, and changeless be, / A living fire.

The second verse is a plea for God's grace to strengthen the speaker's heart and inspire their zeal. They also pray for their love for God to be pure, warm, and unwavering, like a living fire.

Verse 3:

While life's dark maze I tread, / And griefs around me spread, / Be Thou my Guide; / Bid darkness turn to day, / Wipe sorrow's tears away, / Nor let me ever stray / From Thee aside.

In the third verse, the speaker acknowledges the challenges and sorrows of life, referring to it as a "dark maze." They pray for God to be their guide, turn their darkness into light, and comfort them in their grief. They also ask for God's help to stay by their side and not stray from the path of faith.

Verse 4:

When ends life's transient dream, / When death's cold, sullen stream / Shall o'er me roll, / Blest Savior, then in love, / Fear and distrust remove; / O bear me safe above, / A ransomed soul.

The fourth and final verse contemplates mortality and the end of life's journey. The speaker prays for the removal of fear and distrust, and they ask God to bear them safely above, as a ransomed soul, when death comes.

This hymn has been a source of encouragement and comfort for many, including Civil War soldiers, and it continues to be cherished and sung in various forms and languages around the world.

'To God Be the Glory' praise and worship song

The praise and worship song "To God Be the Glory" is a powerful testament to the glory and greatness of God. With lyrics that proclaim "To God be the glory, great things He hath done," the song is a reminder of God's love, redemption, and the joy that comes from following Jesus Christ.

The song is structured with verses and a chorus, with the chorus serving as a powerful refrain:

> "Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the earth hear His voice;

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the people rejoice;

Oh, come to the Father,

Through Jesus the Son,

And give Him the glory;

Great things He hath done."

The verses of the song expand on the reasons for praising God, including His love for the world, the redemption offered through His Son, and the joy and wonder that believers will experience when they see Jesus.

"To God Be the Glory" is a well-known hymn that has touched the hearts of many people, as evidenced by the comments and testimonials found online. It serves as a reminder to praise and glorify God for His greatness and the wonderful things He has done. The song's message is a call to worship and a declaration of faith in a loving and powerful God.

The song's tonic solfa, or solfa notation, is provided by some sources, allowing musicians to play it on various instruments such as the piano, saxophone, recorder, or trumpet. This accessibility ensures that the song can be enjoyed and used in worship by people from all walks of life.

'Now Thank We All Our God' hymn

"Now Thank We All Our God" is a hymn written by Martin Rinkart, the Bishop of Eilenberg, Germany during the Thirty Years' War. The hymn was originally meant to be a prayer said before meals. Rinkart's inspiration for the first two stanzas comes from the Apocryphal Book of Ecclesiasticus, chapter 50:22-24, which reads in part, “Now bless the God of all, who in every way does great things.”. The third stanza is a paraphrase of the Gloria Patri, originally composed in Greek in the fourth century.

The hymn is a simple and beautiful prayer of thanksgiving. Rinkart could recognize that God is faithful, and even when the world looks bleak, He is “bounteous” and full of blessings. Rinkart wrote this hymn sometime in the next twenty years after the Thirty Years' War. During the war, Rinkart was the only clergyman left in the city of Eilenburg, Germany, and he officiated at over four thousand funerals, sometimes fifty per day.

The hymn has three verses, with the first verse being a humble prayer of thanksgiving, and the next two verses expanding the hymn's focus to include a verse of thanks and a verse that asks for strength during the trials of life. The hymn ends with a paraphrase of the doxology.

"Now Thank We All Our God" has been associated with the tune "NUN DANKET", which has been used since the text and tune were published together by Johann Crüger in 1647. The tune is majestic and grand, and John Rutter’s arrangement for organ and orchestra/brass speaks well to this majesty. The hymn is commonly sung at the end of worship or as a hymn of response to a prayer of thanksgiving. It is also suitable for occasions like a Thanksgiving Service or during the offering, as we thank God for his blessings.

Frequently asked questions