Joseph Haydn, a Roman Catholic, wrote the tune in 1797.
Haydn once wrote, "When I think upon my God, my heart is full of joy that the notes dance and leap from my pen."
The music was adopted with words added by others as the German National Anthem in 1922. It was the Austrian National Anthem well before that.
AUSTRIA, was composed by Haydn and may have been influenced by a Croatian folk hymn, has most often been used in the singing of "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken," since 1889.
But it was an English Reformed Anglican and abolitionist named John Newton who wrote the words to both "Amazing Grace" and "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken" in 1779.
Here are the words…
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!
He, whose word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for His own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
Thou may'st smile at all thy foes.
See! the streams of living waters,
Springing from eternal love;
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove:
Who can faint while such a river
Ever flows their thirst t'assuage?
Grace, which like the Lord, the giver,
Never fails from age to age.
Round each habitation hovering,
See the cloud and fire appear!
For a glory and a covering
Showing that the Lord is near.
Thus deriving from our banner
Light by night and shade by day;
Safe they feed upon the manna
Which He gives them when they pray.
Blest inhabitants of Zion,
Washed in the Redeemer's blood!
Jesus, whom their souls rely on,
Makes them kings and priests to God.
'Tis His love His people raises,
Over self to reign as kings,
And as priests, His solemn praises
Each for a thank offering brings.
Savior, if of Zion's city,
I through grace a member am,
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in Thy name:
Fading is the worldling's pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure
None but Zion's children know.
And lastly, I wanted to add my favorite composer of all time. He was a great Lutheran named J.S. Bach. Bach was born in 1685 in Germany.
This is my favorite work of his. Must have ear buds or speakers with a sub to fully grasp the descending bass part. I absolutely love it.
Haydn once wrote, "When I think upon my God, my heart is full of joy that the notes dance and leap from my pen."
The music was adopted with words added by others as the German National Anthem in 1922. It was the Austrian National Anthem well before that.
AUSTRIA, was composed by Haydn and may have been influenced by a Croatian folk hymn, has most often been used in the singing of "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken," since 1889.
But it was an English Reformed Anglican and abolitionist named John Newton who wrote the words to both "Amazing Grace" and "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken" in 1779.
Here are the words…
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!
He, whose word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for His own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
Thou may'st smile at all thy foes.
See! the streams of living waters,
Springing from eternal love;
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove:
Who can faint while such a river
Ever flows their thirst t'assuage?
Grace, which like the Lord, the giver,
Never fails from age to age.
Round each habitation hovering,
See the cloud and fire appear!
For a glory and a covering
Showing that the Lord is near.
Thus deriving from our banner
Light by night and shade by day;
Safe they feed upon the manna
Which He gives them when they pray.
Blest inhabitants of Zion,
Washed in the Redeemer's blood!
Jesus, whom their souls rely on,
Makes them kings and priests to God.
'Tis His love His people raises,
Over self to reign as kings,
And as priests, His solemn praises
Each for a thank offering brings.
Savior, if of Zion's city,
I through grace a member am,
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in Thy name:
Fading is the worldling's pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure
None but Zion's children know.
And lastly, I wanted to add my favorite composer of all time. He was a great Lutheran named J.S. Bach. Bach was born in 1685 in Germany.
This is my favorite work of his. Must have ear buds or speakers with a sub to fully grasp the descending bass part. I absolutely love it.
