May 2024- "Only Remembered"

Horatius Bonar

In honor of the upcoming Memorial Day observances, this month’s tab is an arrangement of the hymn  “Only Remembered”. The original lyrics were penned by a Scottish pastor named Horatius (Horace) Bonar as a poem he titled "The Everlasting Memorial". It was included in his book "Hymns of Faith and Hope" published in 1860. Bonar is credited with writing the words to nearly 150 other hymns during his lifetime, including “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” and “O Love of God How Strong and True”.

Ira D. Sankey was an American preacher, singer, and composer who served as the musical director for the Moody Bible Institute and its evangelistic campaigns.  In 1891, while doing a series of revival meetings throughout the British Isles with Dwight Moody, he came across Dr. Bonar's poem during a stay in Edinburgh.  He adapted the words to a tune he composed for it, and used it for the first time at a revival meeting held at the Tabernacle of London in 1891.  It subsequently found its way into many denominational hymnals in both the U.S. and Europe.

John Tams is an English actor, singer, songwriter, composer and musician, primarily known for creating scores for musical theatre.  In 2007, he was working on a score for the stage production of "War Horse",  a National Theatre production about English plow horses conscripted for calvary service during World War I.  He adapted Sankey's hymn for it, and added 2 more verses.  The production, and the hymn, became even more popular during the war's centenary observances a few years later.

Here’s a link to a YouTube video of this hymn being sung by Garrison Keillor and other cast members during one of his live Prarie Home Companion broadcasts:

Wishing you all a safe and happy Memorial Day!

In music and friendship,

—Tull

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