Singing all the verses
January 21, 2013

Singing all the verses

My maternal grandma passed away recently. At her funeral, we learned that she liked to sing all the verses of a hymn. The reverend, who knew grandma for many years, explained that grandma felt that hymns tell a story and she didn’t want to miss any part of it!

Grandma documented this desire when planning her funeral. Just before singing “In the Garden”, the keyboardist announced that we would sing all the verses as Grandma requested. Near the end of the service a soloist sang every verse of “How Great Thou Art”. 

Do you like to sing all the verses of hymn? Do you feel like you are missing out when some verses are skipped? As I continue to learn how to play more hymns on the organ, I will be reading the words of every verse to learn the complete story of the hymn as inspired by Grandma.
Grandma

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Jim - January 10, 2014 Reply

What a beautiful story! Would you mind sharing the lyrics to the hymn? I’d love to read them!

Mary Jane - January 27, 2013 Reply

Heidi….I joined your email list or whatever that is, so I am hoping to get a new blog soon in my email!!!

    Organist Heidi - January 28, 2013 Reply

    Thanks, Mary Jane! If I have the things set up correctly you should get an email tomorrow morning at 10. It is just a test blog post to test out the process again.

    Heidi

Mary Jane - January 27, 2013 Reply

Yes, Go Grandma!!

Mark Allman - January 26, 2013 Reply

I remember thinking that at times too Mary Jane… Lets just skip to the end of this one. Now I do like singing all of the verses of some of the grand songs for they add to the song and give the full flavor of it. Go Grandma!

Mom - January 21, 2013 Reply

Very nice Heidi.

Even when I was a little girl we sang every verse to the hymns. She is right, they do tell a story. Mom and dad were very fatihful in taking all of us kids to church. Today is your Grandma’s 91st birthday.
She missed a party here but rejoicing in heaven.

Mom

    Organist Heidi - January 21, 2013 Reply

    Thanks for the great comment Mom!

    Michael Graham - January 22, 2013 Reply

    I always feel that if one does not sing every verse, one is not giving that piece of music the respect it deserves.

    Mary Jane - January 22, 2013 Reply

    Such a nice tribute to your sweet Grandmother, Heidi. Her face shows nothing but kindness and love. I loved your story because I used to always “hope” we wouldn’t sing ALL those verses when I was a kid….I would always look up the hymns before the service to see how long they were. Shame on me!! I love your Grandma’s way of thinking because a hymn truly does tell a story. She will truly be missed and for the rest of your life, there will always be that special place in your heart just specifically for her. My sympathy to you and your entire family.

    Organist Heidi - January 23, 2013 Reply

    Thanks for reading Mike and Mary Jane!

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