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,
- the sheet music,
- media player.
My soul proclaims you
My soul proclaims you
My soul proclaims you,
my spirit names you
as God my Saviour:
your gracious favour
on my humility
displays your majesty.
All generations,
all human nations
will call me bless-ed,
for you've attested
the plans you've laid for me,
your love displayed to me.
All those who fear you
can now come near you
by your great goodness
stretched out towards us.
In every time and place
you've sent your kindly grace.
You brought dictators
and subjugators
into submission
and admonition.
You stopped their malices,
emptied their palaces.
You filled the hungry
and curbed the angry:
those who were needing
found care and feeding.
You sent the rich away
without a stitch that day.
You give salvation
to Abram's nation:
to all your people
you are a steeple,
a rock and tower of strength.
I praise your power at length;
my soul proclaims you.
Words and tune copyright © John Hartley 2011. All rights reserved. Based on Luke 1:46-55 (the "Magnificat").
Story behind the song
I wrote this song while trying to write material on Luke 1:26-38 (the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary) for "Roots for Churches" magazine, to be used on the fourth Sunday of Advent. During the planning meeting one of the people present pointed out the crucial role of Elizabeth in the story: Mary may have agreed to the angel in v38, but the very first thing she did was to check out the news with Elizabeth, and it was Elizabeth's confirmation of the angel's words which enabled her to praise God in these famous words. And so I was casting around for a fresh and simple way to sing Mary's song.
John Hartley.
Windows Media Player. When you click the left-hand "play" button your computer should have started to play the tune. If it didn't, you might be able to get the tune by clicking here, or by right-clicking the link, choosing "save target as", saving it onto your computer, and then opening it with a music-playing program.
Please remember that a midi file of a tune isn't supposed to be a state-of-the-art musical arrangement - it is only supposed to give a basic idea of how the tune goes. Any reasonable organist / keyboard player / music group could make it sound far better.