Did you have any idea how our Kingdom Songs came about? Read on... APPRECIATING OUR KINGDOM SONGS' was the theme of a talk given by Brother <BR Ron Fallick, from the Bethel Branch in Brazil. He's been a missionary since 1951
and was on the committee who prepared the new songbook, 'Sing Praises
to <BR Jehovah.' In the late 1970's it was decided that a new songbook
was needed, <BR since some of the old songs were Christendom's tunes. Others were based on classical tunes from the likes of Mozart and Beethoven. Some were in archaic English, and in some cases the scriptural knowledge had changed.
Brothers are always sending in compositions to the Society, and they
are kept on file for when a new songbook is needed. However, some of
the songs sent in were too low, or too high for most of us to sing.
The Songbook Committee wanted to magnify Jehovah. So 29 songs were
about Jehovah God, whereas only 7 are about Jesus. The songs also had
to be t ranslated into other languages. In English the phrase:
"Make the Truth your own" -- has 5 syllables, but 16 syllables in the
Portuguese language. It took a lot of juggling to make those words fit.
A member of Brooklyn Bethel wrote Song #13, "Christian Dedication."
Before coming into the Truth he was a longhaired, drug addict.
Song #15, "Life Without End -- At Last" was composed for a Gilead class
back in the 1920's Song #29, "Forward, You Witnesses!" was written by
Brother Erich Frost in a concentration camp in Germany during World War II.
After Brother Frost composed it, he hid it in a rabbit hutch. It was
smuggled out by other brothers, and sent to Switzerland first, and then
to Brooklyn Bethel. It was sung for the first time at the 11th class of
Gilead in 1948.
Song #32, "From House to House" ... and song #127, "Myriads of Brothers"
were both written by Brother Harold King, who was in prison in
Shanghai, China from 1958 until 1963.
Song #52, "Our Father's Name" was written by a brother from Brazil who
was a professional cellist.
Song #82, "The Women Are a Large Army" was written by a special pioneer
and accomplished guitarist from the Amazon.
Song #154, "Jehovah Our Creator" was written by a sister, and Song
#161, Pray to Jehovah Each Day" by two young brothers, --- all three from jolly <BR old England. <BR <BR Brother Karl Klein, a poet, musician and singer wrote Song #155 "
Welcome One Another." Brother Klein, of the Governing Body, recently
passed <BR away on January 2, 2001. His true--life story is in the
October <BR 1, 1984 Watchtower. <BR <BR Song #215, "Extending Mercy to Others" had the music changed from the old songbook, because the original tune was from one of the Beethoven s ymphonies.
Song #102, "The Resurrection Joy" originated from Lebanon, and Song
#171, "A Victory Song" is a Jewish composition.
Song #220, "Our Paradise: Present and Future" is from Hawaii. You can almost do a hula while you're singing this one! Ha!
Brother Fallick concluded his discussion by pointing out the end inside
cover of the songbook. It shows us how enthusiastically the men are
singing!
We should never be ashamed to raise our voices and open our mouths. And
always remember, Jehovah hears our singing.
As Song #169 suggests:
"Sing! Sing! Sing! Loud let the new song ring <BR "Sing! Sing! Sing! Jehovah God is King."