A long time favorite hymn for many of us is “Beautiful Savior,” text by Munster Gesangbuch 1677 with music a Silesian folk tune from the 19^th century.  I remember this hymn sung lovingly by our little congregation back when I was a child.  But look at those dates; even I’m not that old!

The lyrics are simple words of praise.  Our Savior is beautiful, more beautiful even than the fair meadows or the woodlands, more beautiful than the sunshine, moonlight, or stars!  I’m especially fond of the third stanza:

Fair is the sunshine, fair is the moonlight
bright the sparkling stars on high;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
than all the angels in the sky.

The hymn has been sung and performed by many choirs over the years.  I’m particularly fond of this arrangement by Fredrik Melius Christiansen. …Born in Norway in 1871, he emigrated to the United States, where he enrolled in Augsburg College in Minneapolis.  In 1901 he was recruited by St. Olaf College.  He became the founding director of the St. Olaf Choir which he directed until 1944.  Christiansen was well known for his acapella arrangements of which this is one.  St. Olaf’s Choir continues to sing his arrangement at the close of each of their concerts, joined by any choir alumni from the audience.

The recording which follows was performed by the choir virtually during the time of Covid.

Judy