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Once again, I’m featuring a beloved hymn and the history behind it. If you missed my last story you can find it here. Naomi Musch has been sharing some wonderful hymn stories too. Her last one is here.
Today I’m focusing on “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” This song is easy to identify if you love classical music because the music is the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Hymn writers often borrow familiar tunes to accompany their lyrics.
Henry van Dyke jr.
Henry van Dyke Jr was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1852. During his life, he was a prominent Presbyterian minister and leading liturgy figures in the country. He also served as a professor of literature at Princeton from 1900-1923. He interrupted his professorship when he served as a Navy Chaplain during the First World War. Then President Woodrow Wilson appointed him ambassador to Belgium and Luxenberg in 1913. After which he resumed his post at Princeton, finding it more to his liking than diplomacy. He was a prolific writer of devotionals along with hymn lyrics and short stories. One of his more memorable short stories was The Other Wise Man (1896) This was a Christmas story of another wiseman who used his gift to help the needy as he journeyed to Bethlehem.
Henry’s best-known hymn is “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.” He is quoted as saying his purpose for writing this iconic hymn and others:
“These verses are simple expressions of common Christian feelings and desires in this present time, hymns of today that may be sung together by people who know the thoughts of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy their religion or that any revolution on the earth will overthrow the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, these are hymns of trust and hope.” Quote taken from 101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck
“Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee” illustrates a joyful interplay between God’s creation and the same creative spirit in the believer’s life. Each verse paints a vivid picture of how God created the world and the believer’s response to His glory and majesty.
Inspiration for the hymn
Henry wrote this hymn when he was a guest preacher at William College, Williamstown Massachusetts. He handed the finished lyrics to the college president saying “Here is a hymn for you. Your Berkshire mountains were my inspiration. It must be sung to music of Beethoven’s “Hymn of Joy.” It was first published in van Dyke’s Book of Poems, third edition in 1911.
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
Beethoven’s “Hymn of Joy” which is the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony was composed somewhere between 1817-1823 and published in 1823. Beethoven never wrote a tune specifically for a hymn text. However, some of his works have been the musical accompaniment to hymns.
The Ninth or the “Choral” symphony was the last and perhaps greatest piece he ever wrote. It took six years to complete the entire symphony. His desire was to create one great symphony that would combine both voice and instruments in one majestic expression of sound. His poet friend Frederick Schiller inspired the work with his poem Ode to Joy.
The musical world was and still is amazed at how wonderful this piece was since Beethoven hearing declined toward deafness by the time he was thirty. There is a debate as to whether Beethoven was totally deaf or only had severe hearing loss at the time he wrote this final symphony. When the Ninth Symphony was first performed in Vienna, Austria, in 1824, the soloist had to come down from the stage and turn Beethoven around from his position facing the stage so he could see all the enthusiastic applause. The joy in the music truly complements the lyrics Henry van Dyke was inspired to write.
Joyful Joyful, We Adore Thee
1.
Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before You,
Op'ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
2.
All Your works with joy surround You,
Earth and heav'n reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around You,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow'ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising You eternally!
3.
Always giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Loving Father, Christ our Brother,
Let Your light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
4.Mortals,
join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
God's own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.
Listen for yourself
Here is a link to a YouTube video.
Have you ever heard this hymn before? How does it inspire you?
Cindy Ervin Huff, is a multi-published award-winning author. A 2018 Selah Finalist. She has a passion to encourage other writers on their journey. When she isn’t writing, she feeds her addiction to reading and enjoys her retirement with her husband of 50 plus years, Charles. Visit her at www.cindyervinhuff.com.
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