Joyful, joyful, we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before thee,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
All thy works with joy surround thee,
Earth and heav’n reflect thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our brother,
All who live in love are thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
credits
from Redeemer 2015,
released June 26, 2016
words Henry van Dyke, 1907; music Ludwig van Beethoven, 1822; ad. by Edward Hodges, 1824; Public Domain
For nearly two decades, ranging from Seattle to Indianapolis—and many places in between—Nathan has offered and honed his songwriting to and for the church. This album carries a maturity and depth only possible after years creating, playing and serving among God’s people.
Throughout these eleven tracks there’s a lushness that is, at times, so layered you forget the challenge or, in turns, deep lyrical comfort at hand. This demonstrates the alchemy Nathan has mastered: seasoned spiritual and biblical reflection offered with honey straight from the comb. For a record to accomplish this, especially in the crowded and odd world of “modern worship”, is no small thing.
If you listen to A Lovely Wait immediately after Nathan’s preceding work, one of the first things you’ll notice is how sonically restrained it is. The holy rock-n-roll swagger and vocal abandon of Jaywalker (think “Love is a Gift”) is almost entirely shelved in favor of hushed keys, heartbeat-like percussive textures and delicate melodies. Taken as a pair, these records prove music crafted in and for the church can and, indeed, should possess a dynamic emotional and musical range. Luke Morton
A gorgeous journey through a kaleidoscopic array of sonic approaches melted together that feels old and new at the same time. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 5, 2024
Introspective pop songs with transcendent melodies offer a joyful meditation on staying present in a world that often moves too fast. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 16, 2023