# 334 Praise the Lord, rise up rejoicing
Words: Howard Charles Adie Gaunt
Music: Alles ist an Gottes Segen, melody attributed to Johann Balthasar Konig, harmonized by Johann Lohner, after chorale version by Johann Sebastian Bach
This post-communion text was first published in the British supplementary hymnal 100 Hymns for Today (1969). As a hymn of thanksgiving, fitting for the Eucharistic (thanksgiving) character of the Lord's Supper, the text rejoices in the victory of Christ on the cross (st. 1), the ingathering of Christ's people, his body (st. 2), and the Christian's task in the world (st. 3).
Howard C. A. Gaunt (b. Birmingham, England, 1902; d. Winchester, England, 1983) wrote this hymn during his tenure as precentor at Winchester Cathedral in southern England. “Tom” Gaunt was ordained in the Church of England and spent much of his Career in education. He was headmaster of Malvern College (1937-1953) and head of the English department at Winchester College (1953-1963). He was also chaplain, then Precentor at Winchester Cathedral until retirement in 1973. A number of his hymn texts were first published in 100 Hymns for Today.
ALLES 1ST AN GOTTES SEGEN is a splendid tune that matches Gaunt's text well, giving it a lot of lift. Johann Löhner composed the first-known version of ALLES IST AN GOTTES SEGEN, published in Der Geistlichen Erquick-Stunden . . . Poetischer Andacht-Klang (1691). Löhner's parents died before he was fifteen, and he was adopted by his sister and brother-in-law, who also became his organ teacher. From 1670-1672 he traveled to Vienna, Salzburg, and Leipzig, both to study and to perform, but then returned to Nuremberg, where he remained the rest of his life. Löhner served as a singer (tenor) and organist in several churches, including the Frauenkirche (1672-1682), the Spitalkirche (1682-1694), and the Lorenzkirche (1694¬-1705). Known especially for his devotional songs for home singing, he also composed small operas, canons, and hymn tunes. The harmonization is by J. S Bach.
Here's a lovely setting for organ. No singing this time, but I think you’ll like this.