How Great
Title: How Great Thou Art
Composer: Stuart K. Hine
Arranger: Dino Kartsonakis
One time a guy came up to me while playing at Mayo Clinic, thanking me for my playing, and he said that he was one of Dino's assistants. He was from New York, and had come all the way to Arizona to go to Mayo Clinic. He told me that he went to college with Dino, but he didn't tell me his name. It was nice to meet someone who was so close to this arranger who I appreciate so much. I play a lot of his arrangements. This hymn is based on a Swedish traditional melody and a poem written by Carl Boberg in Mönsterås, Sweden, in 1885. It was translated into German and then into Russian. Then it was translated into English from the Russian by English missionary Stuart K. Hine, who also added two original verses of his own. It was popularized by George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows during the Billy Graham crusades. This is also something I wanted to play for the family of Jeffrey D'Aleo. He passed away at the age of 58, on February 4, 2021. His wife Michelle Turner is my cousin. Many thoughts and prayers to her and her family. As we come upon Easter, this piece is a good reminder that God not only sent Jesus here and let him be crucified on a cross, but then he raised Him from the dead!
Lyrics:
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!