This page is provided so that you can hear the tunes of items which we use in church. Mostly they are written by the vicar. Please note that they are copyright - we are very happy to give permission to you to use them, but we would like to hear about it. Please include any use on your Christian Copyright Licence returns.
Down this page:
- the words,
- the story.
Listen O heavens
Because this tune is so well-known we are not providing a midi-file.
Listen O heavens
Listen O heavens
as I am speaking:
hear all you mountains
as I explain.
Let the expressing
of all my teaching
be like refreshing
showers of rain.
I will proclaim him -
God the creator;
and I will name him -
faithful and just.
His works are flawless,
he is our maker,
holy and righteous,
worthy of trust.
Words copyright © John Hartley 2007.
Suggested tune: Bunessan
Story behind the song
This song arose from a request on the COIN (Christians on the Internet) music e-mail discussion list, for metrical canticles suitable for singing as part of the Easter Vigil. "Listen O heavens" from Deuteronomy 32 is one of them. You can find the full scheme by following this link.
I must confess that this canticle didn't grab me as much as the others in the series, and in particular the first verse of what I've set seems to be flannel before getting down to the content of the declaration. And that's because this is the way the "Lent - Holy Week - Easter" book has selected just the first four verses from the book of Deuteronomy to make the canticle - so it's out of my hands. Nevertheless I regret it!
Click here for another song which attempts to precis the whole of the chapter instead of just the first four verses.
Bunessan is the tune normally sung to "Morning has broken". Because it is so well-known I am not reproducing it on this page.
John Hartley.