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Praise My Soul

Episode 1 of 5

An exploration of the hymn by Henry Francis Lyte, based on Psalm 103, sung at national events and times of sadness. From 2010.

Based on Psalm 103, this hymn was written by Henry Francis Lyte, who also penned Abide With Me.

It's most asssociated with the tune by John Goss - even though the two men never met.

Their hymn has become one of the most popular for weddings, and was used at those of the Queen and Prince Philip and Charles and Camilla.

Increasingly it is also used at funerals, and the widow of DC Stephen Oake, killed while on duty during an anti-terrorist raid, explains why it's so important to her and her family.

It's also the perfect tune for teaching young choristers to sight read music, although these days they often misplace the comma in the line, 'Father like, he tends and spares us'.

Contributors:

John Ridyard
Lesley Jenkins
Ian Bradley
Gordon Giles
Daniel Hyde
Rob White
John Ganjavi
Gillian Warson

Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.

Producer: Rosie Boulton

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.

Available now

30 minutes

On radio

Friday10:00

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Credits

RoleContributor
ProducerLucy Lunt
ProducerSara Conkey

Broadcasts

  • Tue 23 Feb 201013:30
  • Fri 12 Aug 201618:30
  • Sat 13 Aug 201600:30
  • Tue 2 Feb 202118:30
  • Wed 3 Feb 202100:30
  • Friday10:00
  • Friday16:00
  • Saturday00:00

Why Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' became a Civil Rights anthem

Why Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' became a Civil Rights anthem

Watch the animation - Professor Mary King describes how the song became a symbol of hope.

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