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I was raised Missouri Synod Lutheran - one of my brothers calls it "Catholic Lite". Along about 1984 they changed the entire liturgy AND the hymnal and not, IMHO, for the better.

Anyway, a few hymns stick in my memory and still get dust in my eyes:

"Abide With Me" a Lenten favorite when I was a kid, and "The Navy Hymn" (not from the Lutheran Hymnal, obviously) "A Mighty Fortress" is right up there too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IcYkp1fmdw

Mangisondele – 'Nearer my G*d to thee' - Zulu/Khosa version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?0v=ioBgfmzRLUE

'Ave verum corpus' - Ensemble Zene.

'Hanaq pachap kuisikuinin' also gets my vote, as do the longer version of the carol 'The Angel Gabriel' from the Kings College chapel Choir and any of the intermediary choruses from the St Matthew Passion, especially 'Erbarme mich mein Huete'.

To be honest, my list has a few hundred entries, any of which I'd be ecstatically happy to hear again. However, now that I've lost 99% of my hearing, I just have to watch them being sung, and recalling them in my failing memory.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tacfoley,

I was mostly raised by my grandparents and grew up in the country where we went to the proverbial little white country church. My grandmother was the choir director for the 6-to-8-person choir and my grandfather was a deacon. We had Sunday school every Sunday and preaching twice a month from a part time preacher. The biggest Sunday attendance I recall was 48 people on a preaching Sunday with dinner on the ground afterwards. We had the Broadman Baptist Hymnal and a few songs out of that book got a pretty good workout. My Grandfather's favorite hymn was In The Garden, so it naturally became mine as well.

https://youtu.be/Rmg0UGllTp8

Nat King Cole's version of Oh Holy Night

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Gethsemane, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, and Homeward Bound. It’s hard to pick just one.

Oldie but goodie.

There is also this one

It's difficult to pick one song. I like many older songs and newer to listen to, depending on my mood or what I am doing - relaxing vs. working out at the gym,etc..

I enjoy songs by Tobymac, Crowder, etc. when exercising, but I think my favorite song is by Larnelle Harris called "Evidence". I had his lp years ago and my parents took me to see him and a few other Christian singers at a large church in Fort Lauderdale when I was younger and that song always stuck with me.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
You nailed it. Although, I heard it by a female singer once (not sure who it was) and it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard. Angelic. I wish I could find it again.

Chloe?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElWK5PjzPnE

Contemporary would be "Hard Fought Hallelujah" by Jelly Roll. It has a raw honesty that moves me. #2 is "Graves Into Gardens" by Elevation Worship. It's incredibly high energy.

Traditional would be "Amazing Grace". The message of the song brings me peace.

quote:

Originally posted by Hamden106:
Chloe?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElWK5PjzPnE

She's pretty good, but nope. Not Celine Dion either.

This was quite some time ago, and I've searched far and wide to no avail. Not a biggie. Many (if not all) versions are great IMO.

I also heard a woman singing it inside the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth. Those who have been know that it is rather cavernous inside and the acoustics are incredible. It just sent a chill up my spine. Wonderful.

"Amazing Grace" hands down, even with bagpipes.

Don't laugh, but it's Gregorian Chant. My family sits down together every night for 15 minutes to pray together. Low volume Gregorian Chant is on the background.

Now, I like traditional church hymns and really don't like Christian rock.

I love the Ave Maria and Amazing Grace. How Great Thou Art is fantastic as well.

Ava Maria will always be my most favorite. I have heard it many, many times by different artists, and each have something to add to the song. I was fortunate enough to see Pavarotti perform live, and he touched my soul!!

Years ago in Salt Lake City we toured and heard a recording of Battle Hymn of the Republic. That was impressive

The two best known versions of the “Ave Maria” are the Bach and Mendelssohn versions.

Barbra Streisand did the Bach version, and the aforementioned Pavarotti of Mendelssohn’s version.

Personally, I think the Mendelssohn is the most sublime version there is.