Some Sacred Harp tunes appropriate when commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr.

Some Sacred Harp tunes appropriate when commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. [1]

Where prophets' word and martyrs' blood and prayers of saints were sown,
We to their labors ent'ring in would reap where they have strown.

Tune name Denson

A Charge To Keep 502 A charge to keep I have ... to serve the present age.

Babylon is Fallen 117 Hail the year of full release ... Babylon is fallen, to rise no more.

Christian Soldier 57 Must I be carried to the skies on flow'ry beds of ease, while others fought to win the prize?

Christian Warfare 179 I'm called to contend with the powers of darkness/And many sore conflicts I have to pass through.

Ecstasy 106 Do not be discouraged/Grid on the gospel armor/He'll give you grace to conquer.

Funeral Anthem 320 Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for they rest from their labors

Granville 547 Lord, while we see whole nations die, our flesh and sense repine and cry, "Must Death forever rage and reign?"

Greenwich 183 [I] see the wicked placed on high ... but oh, their end, their dreadful end ... on slipp'ry rocks I see them stand.

Harpeth Valley 573 Where prophets' word and martyrs' blood ... were sown, we to their labors ent'ring in would reap where they have strown.

Huntington 193 [I] see the wicked placed on high ... but oh, their end, their dreadful end ... on slipp'ry rocks I see them stand.

Irwinton 229 What poor despised company ... are these? ... Ah, they are of a royal line.

Jefferson 148 Glorious things of thee are spoken (The beloved community)

Joyful 513 Must I be carried to the skies on flow'ry beds of ease, while others fought to win the prize?

Jordan 66 Could we but climb where Moses stood/And view the landscape o'er... (see also Greensborough (289), Heavenly Land (303), Manchester (392), Infinite Day (446)

Lenox 40 The year of Jubilee is come!

Liberty 137 No more beneath th' oppressive hand of tyranny we groan.

Ode On Science 242 A vision of America: "Fair freedom her attendant waits."

Saints Bound For Heaven 35 Our bondage, it shall end; Tho' our enemies are strong, we'll go on.

Struggle On 400 Struggle on, for the work's most done.

The Happy Sailor 388 Come, tell of your ship, and what is its name? ... She's the old ship of Zion (The beloved community)

The Old Ship Of Zion 79 She landed all who have gone before/And yet she is able to land still more.

Wayfaring Stranger 457 I am a poor wayfaring stranger, while journ'ying through this world of woe.

Wells 28b Life is the time to serve the Lord.

Tune name	Denson
A Charge To Keep	502	A charge to keep I have ... to serve the present age.
Babylon is Fallen	117	Hail the year of full release ... Babylon is fallen, to rise no more.
Christian Soldier	57	Must I be carried to the skies on flow'ry beds of ease, while others fought to win the prize?
Christian Warfare	179	I'm called to contend with the powers of darkness/And many sore conflicts I have to pass through.
Ecstasy	106	Do not be discouraged/Grid on the gospel armor/He'll give you grace to conquer.
Funeral Anthem	320	Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for they rest from their labors
Granville	547	Lord, while we see whole nations die, our flesh and sense repine and cry, "Must Death forever rage and reign?"
Greenwich	183	[I] see the wicked placed on high ... but oh, their end, their dreadful end ... on slipp'ry rocks I see them stand.
Harpeth Valley	573	Where prophets' word and martyrs' blood ... were sown, we to their labors ent'ring in would reap where they have strown.
Huntington	193	[I] see the wicked placed on high ... but oh, their end, their dreadful end ... on slipp'ry rocks I see them stand.
Irwinton	229	What poor despised company ... are these? ... Ah, they are of a royal line.
Jefferson	148	Glorious things of thee are spoken (The beloved community)
Joyful	513	Must I be carried to the skies on flow'ry beds of ease, while others fought to win the prize?
Jordan	66	Could we but climb where Moses stood/And view the landscape o'er... (see also Greensborough (289), Heavenly Land (303), Manchester (392), Infinite Day (446)
Lenox	40	The year of Jubilee is come!
Liberty	137	No more beneath th' oppressive hand of tyranny we groan.
Ode On Science	242	A vision of America: "Fair freedom her attendant waits."
Saints Bound For Heaven	35	Our bondage, it shall end; Tho' our enemies are strong, we'll go on.
Struggle On	400	Struggle on, for the work's most done.
The Happy Sailor	388	Come, tell of your ship, and what is its name? ... She's the old ship of Zion (The beloved community)
The Old Ship Of Zion	79	She landed all who have gone before/And yet she is able to land still more.
Wayfaring Stranger	457	I am a poor wayfaring stranger, while journ'ying through this world of woe.
Wells	28b	Life is the time to serve the Lord.

--Will Fitzgerald, MLK Day, 2006

1: This is a highly eclectic list. It has songs of 'the Beloved Community,' calls to a life of service, songs of freedom, the current journey together, and hope for a just world. The Funeral Anthem is a good memorial text. A couple tunes are, I think, derived from spirituals; I'd be glad to know more about this. Thanks to Linda, Amanda Denson, Gerry Hoffman, and Robert Vaughan for suggestions and encouragement.