A selection of Good Friday hymns to mark this important date in the Christian calendar, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus.
Cross of candles - arrangement made by Yun-Yu Hsieh and people from Austin Chinese Campus Christian Fellowship (ACCCF) at Gonzales, Texas, USA Photo: Wing-Chi Poon
SONG: WHAKAARIA MAI
Artist: He Toa Takatini
Words/Music: Canon Wiremu Te Tau Huata/Trad
Recording: Viking 111486
Whakaaria mai
Tōu rīpeka ki au
Tiaho mai
Rā roto i te pō
Hei kona au
Titiro atu ai.
Ora, mate,
Hei au koe noho ai.
Whakaaria mai
Tōu rīpeka ki au
Tiaho mai
Rā roto i te pō
Hei kona au
Titiro atu ai.
Ora, mate,
Hei au koe noho ai.
[Show
your cross to me.
Let it shine
there in the darkness.
To there I
will be looking.
In life, in death,
let me rest in thee.]
SONG: WERE YOU THERE?
Artist: Cantillation, Antony Walker (dir)
Words/Music: Traditional
Recording: ABC 476509
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
SONG: JESUS, REMEMBER ME
Artist: St Thomas’ Music Group
Words/Music: Jacques Berthier
Recording: Alliance Music
Jesus, remember me
when you come into your kingdom.
Jesus, remember me
when you come in to your kingdom.
SONG: GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, FROM THE CRUCIFIXION
Artist: Choir of St John’s, Elora
Words/Music: John 3, 16-17/John Stainer
Recording: Naxos 8.572540
God so loved the world,
God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whoso believeth, believeth in him
should not perish,
should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world
to condemn her,
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn her;
but that the world through him might be saved.
God so loved the world,
God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whoso believeth, believeth in him
should not perish,
should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God so loved the world,
God so loved the world,
God so loved the world.
SONG: HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR US
Artist: BBC Radio 4 Daily Service Singers
Words/Music: Stuart Townend
Recording: BBC
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom.
SONG: DROP, DROP SLOW TEARS
Artist: Voces8
Words/Music: Fletcher/Gibbons
Recording: Voces8 VCM126EP1
Drop, drop, slow tears, and bathe those beauteous feet,
Which brought from Heav’n the news and Prince of Peace.
Cease not, wet eyes, His mercies to entreat;
To cry for vengeance: sin doth never cease.
In your deep floods drown all my faults and fears;
Nor let His eye see sin, but through my tears.
SONG: O SACRED HEAD
Artist: City of Birmingham Symphony Orch Chorus
Words/Music: attrib Arnulf of Leuven trans Alexander/Hassler arr Cruger
Recording: Conifer 500521
O sacred head, surrounded
by crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding head, so wounded,
so shamed and put to scorn!
Our sins have marred the glory
of thy most holy face,
yet angel hosts adore Thee
and tremble as they gaze
I see thy strength and vigour
all fading in the strife,
and death with cruel rigor,
bereaving thee of life;
O agony and dying!
O love to sinners free!
Jesus, all grace supplying,
O turn thy face on me.
In this thy bitter passion,
Good shepherd, think of me
with thy most sweet compassion,
unworthy though I be:
beneath thy cross abiding
for ever would I rest,
in thy dear love confiding,
and with thy presence blest.
SONG: WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS
Artist: Cambridge Singers, John Rutter (dir), John Scott (organ)
Words/Music: Watts/Miller arr Rutter
Recording: Collegium 880126
When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
