Isaac Watts (1674-1748) John Newton (1725-1807) Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-78) Rev. Phillips Brooks (1835-93) George Bennard (1873-1958)

TLW's Gospel Musicscope™ (Gospel Music Historyscope)

By T.L. Winslow (TLW), the Historyscoper™

© Copyright by T.L. Winslow. All Rights Reserved.

Original Pub. Date: Mar. 12, 2017. Last Update: Nov. 15, 2023.



Alternate url for this page:
http://tinyurl.com/gospelmusicscope


What Is A Historyscope?


Westerners are not only known as history ignoramuses, but double dumbass history ignoramuses when it comes to gospel music history. Since I'm the one-and-only Historyscoper (tm), let me quickly bring you up to speed before you dive into my Master Historyscope.

In the 14th cent. C.E. the Christian hymn Jesus Christ Is Risen Today (originally "Surrexit Christus hodie") is writen by an anon. Bohemian author in Breslau and Munich; it is tr. to England in 1708 by John Baptist Walsh. Listen.

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

About 1529 Protestantism founder Martin Luther (1483-1546) composes the hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, based on Psalm 46.

Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

In 1707 Southampton, England-born "Father of English Hymnody" Isaac Watts (1674-1748) pub. Hymns and Spiritual Songs (2 vols.) (1707-9), incl. Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?, Marching to Zion, Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove, and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. In 1715 he pub. Divine Songs for Children, incl. I Sing the Mighty Power of God. In 1719 he pub. The Psalms of David: Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, and Applied to the Christian State and Worship, which paraphrases in Christian verse the entire book of Psalms except for 12 he didn't think appropriate; incl. Joy to the World, which becomes the most popular Christmas hymn in North Am., Bless, O My Soul! The Living God, Jesus Shall Reign, My Shepherd Will Supply My Need, Our God, Our Help in Ages Past, This is the Day the Lord Hath Made, and 'Tis by Thy Strength the Mountains Stand; Watts' hymns go on to become popular with Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Mormons, and Christian Scientists.

Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-78)

In 1776 Anglican minister Augustus Montague Toplady (1740-78) pub. Rock of Ages (written in 1763) in the Feb. issue of The Gospel Magazine, allegedly based on Burrington Combe in the Mendip Hills; "Rock of Ages, cleft for me./ Let me hide myself in Thee;/ Let the wate and the blood,/ From Thy riven side which flowed,/ Be of sin the double cure,/ Cleanse me from its guilt and power. (Save from wrath, and make me pure.)"

John Newton (1725-1807) William Cowper (1731-1800)

In 1779 converted infidel and slave trader (for 20 years) (who is forever haunted by 20K souls) John Newton (1725-1807) and poet William Cowper (1731-1800) pub. The Olney Hymns, composed in Olney, Buckinghamshire; it incl. the original form of Amazing Grace, which in 1835 is coupled with the tune "New Britain"; "Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,/ That saved a wretch like me!/ I once was lost, but now am found,/ Was blind, but now I see./ Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,/ And grace my fears relieved;/ How precious did that grace appear/ The hour I first believed."

In 1801 Shape notes are invented to facilitate congregational and community singing; in 1844 The Sacred Harp is pub., becoming a hit with Protestants in the Am. South.

Rev. Phillips Brooks (1835-93)

In 1868 O Little Town of Bethlehem is written by Episcopal priest Phillips Brooks (1835-93) of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Philly three years after visiting the real town of Bethlehem; his organist Lewis Henry Redner (1831-1908) composes the music.

George Bennard (1873-1958)

In 1912 Youngstown, Ohio-born Iowa-raised Methodist evangelist George Bennard (1873-1958) composes the hymn The Old Rugged Cross; first performed on June 7, 1913 at the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pokagon, Mich.; Ernest Tubb makes it a country gospel hit in 1952; "On a hill far away, stood an old rugged Cross/ The emblem of suff'ring and shame/ And I love that old Cross where the dearest and best/ For a world of lost sinners was slain./ So I'll cherish the old rugged Cross/ Till my trophies at last I lay down/ I will cling to the old rugged Cross/ And exchange it some day for a crown."

In 1969 Bill and Gloria Gaither release their hymn Because He Lives, which becomes a giant hit, going on to be named Songwriters of the Cent. in 2000 by ASCAP; watch video.

In 1994 Scott Underwood pub. Take My Life (Holiness); "Holiness, holiness/ Is what I long for,/ Holiness is what I need./ Holiness, holiness/ Is what you want from me."




Historyscoper Home Page







© Copyright by T.L. Winslow. All Rights Reserved.