Monday 9 April 2012

Budry's Easter Hymn

Edmond Budry (1854-1932) wrote a hymn in French after, it is believed, his wife died. It has become famous in the English speaking world as 'Thine be the glory' a version Richard Hoyle (1875-1939). The first two verses are based on Budry's hymn but the last verse is an original composition - not many people know that. Either Hoyle was baffled by it or, more likely, he had fresh inspiration and so gave us that new verse with 'aid us in our strife' and 'Make us more than conquerors' etc. A few years ago I made my own version of verse 3 and later found that I had reinvented the wheel for Alan Gaunt redid the whole thing some time earlier. Nevertheless, I thought that I would look again at the hymn and over the weekend produced the following:

A fresh version of Budry’s Easter Hymn

1. To you the glory, and the victory!

Resurrected Jesus, for eternity!

Brightly shines the angel coming down in light,

Rolls the stone away and death is put to flight.

To you the glory, and the victory!

Resurrected Jesus, for eternity!

2. See him, our Saviour, Jesus who is here,

He’s our living Master, doubt must disappear!

We as his disciples constantly encore,

Joyfully confessing: Christ is conqueror!

To you the glory, and the victory!

Resurrected Jesus, for eternity!

3. Are we afraid now? He lives for evermore,

Prince of Peace is Jesus, He whom we adore;

Victory he gives us, strong, supportive aid,

He’s our life and glory: we are not afraid!

To you the glory, and the victory!

Resurrected Jesus, for eternity!