Though one of the most famous hymns ever written, O the
Deep, Deep Love of Jesus has for many years suffered
from one of the dullest hymn-tunes ever written. With
mournful strains, the more commonly heard tune of
Ebenezer whines about such wonderful aspects as "Vast,
unmeasured, boundless, free" love, "Christ watch[ing]
o'er His loved ones," and love that "lifts me up to
glory/For it lifts me up to Thee." Such words deserve a
bit of excitement--joyous, jubilant excitement at the
fact that we who...(+)
Though one of the most famous hymns ever written, O the
Deep, Deep Love of Jesus has for many years suffered
from one of the dullest hymn-tunes ever written. With
mournful strains, the more commonly heard tune of
Ebenezer whines about such wonderful aspects as "Vast,
unmeasured, boundless, free" love, "Christ watch[ing]
o'er His loved ones," and love that "lifts me up to
glory/For it lifts me up to Thee." Such words deserve a
bit of excitement--joyous, jubilant excitement at the
fact that we who love the Lord are beneficiaries of
this glorious grace which He, through no merit of our
own, bestowed on us because he loved us!
It is for this reason that I have written a new tune to
the piece. I actually wrote the tune quite a while
ago--it first debuted in my fourth piano impromptu,
written in 2013. Later, I used it in my ninth ballade,
completed in early 2017--but even in 2013, I always
intended that it be used one day for this hymn. I don't
know if this new tune will ever catch on, or if
tradition continue to govern with the old one, but if
you want a tune that captures the beauty, majesty, and
power of God's love expressed in the words of this
hymn, then this is the tune for you!
