This month, we’ve had the opportunity to look a bit closer at the hymn, How Firm a Foundation. I don’t exactly remember when I heard this hymn for the first time, but I do recall being attracted to its simple musical style that truly evoked the 19th century American folk hymn tradition.
From its humble beginnings found in shape-note hymnals, this hymn went on to become one of the most beloved and enduring hymn that represents the precious promises of God succinctly found in His Word. Truly, it’s a perfect example of a take-home sermon, a hymn in which a congregant can accurately sing thru the verses of the Bible, much like how the preacher would outline his sermon in the pulpit.
Not only has this hymn endured in the pews of the church as a congregational song, but it has morphed into different styles and genres. Here are a few we picked from Spotify! We hope you enjoy as you can continue to explore this powerful hymn.
Instrumental Keyboard
- Craig Courtney: from the album “Classical Hymns – Ten Hymn Settings for Piano Solo Arranged in the style of Ten Composers” (2015)
- Phillip Keveren: from the album “Wondrous Love” (2010)
- Chris Springer: from the album “Piano Hymns and Worship” 2012
- Tom Hazleton: from the album “Carolyn Hamlin’s Worship Hymns for Organ” (2001)
History of How Firm a Foundation
This hymn in enshrouded in mystery, in that both the text author and tune composer are unknown. We can only trace the text back to its first publication in 1787, in a hymnal called A Selection of Hymns from the best authors, intended as an appendix to Dr Watts’s Psalms and Hymns. Put together by John Rippon who is a Baptist pastor, this hymnal was an important contribution to hymnody, and became the most popular Baptist hymnbook in England and North America for many years.
Instrumental Strings, Winds and Brass
- The King’s Men and the Biola String Quartet: from the album “Talk About a Soul” (2012)
- Zeno: from the album “Fingerstyle Hymns – Simple Guitar Arrangements, Vol. 1”
- Bow and Ivory: from the album “Hymns for Piano and Violin” (2017)
- Phillip Keveren: from the album “Classical Worship” (2019)
- Stringsong: from the album “King of Love” (2013)
- Beyond Stillness: Single. “How Firm a Foundation arr. for Cello and Soft Piano” (2022)
- The Ralph Carmichael Brass Choir: from the album “Velvet Brass” (2019)
- Waldham Grove Orchestra: from the album “The Traditional Classic Hymns, Vol. 3” (2015)
- Kevin Keil: from the album “The King of Love” (2017)
Vocal
- Herbster Trio: from the album “Hymns of Grateful Praise” (2013)
- James Erb, David Sinden, Scott Roberts and The Choir of St. Peter’s Church, St. Louis: from the album “Longing for Home – The American Hymn Tradition” (2020)
- Gospel Souls: from the album “Gospel Joy and Praise” (2011)
- Siebert Family: from the album “Our Father’s Mercy – Hymns of Inspiration” (2021)
How about you? Can you recommend any good versions of How Firm a Foundation? Let me know on the comment section below!
