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How Firm a Foundation
Composer Alfred V. Fedak
Text "K" in Rippon's "A Selection of Hymns"
Voicing SATB, organ, opt. cong.
Topics Redemption, Grace of God
Length 4' 00" Price $1.95 (U.S.) Released 3/93
Catalog no. 425-828 Difficulty Moderately easy
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Reviews
"How Firm a Foundation is a setting of the familiar hymn. Alternate verses are scored for choir and congregation, women, men, and choir. After an organ fanfare, the three lower voices and congregation are in unison with the sopranos singing a wonderful descant." -Modern Liturgy, May 1994.
Description
Fedak has written an exciting concertato based on the hymn-tune FOUNDATION for the familiar hymn How Firm a Foundation. It moves from full four-part harmony to two-part canon to unison stanza and then a contrasting four-part stanza for the choir. After a powerful and moving interlude, the congregation joins in for the jubilant final stanza.
Text
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus hath fled?
"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
"When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow.
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The fire shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine."
"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes.
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!"
Text: "K" in Rippon's A Selection of Hymns, 1787 |
