How Firm a Foundation (hymn)
Encyclopedia
How Firm a Foundation is a Christian hymn
, published in 1787 by John Rippon
in A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to be an Appendix to Dr. Watts
' Psalms and Hymns, known as "Rippon's Selection". It is attributed only to "K", which probably to Robert Keen(e), precentor at Rippon's church, though other names suggested include Richard or John Keene, Kirkham, or John Keith. It is most often sung to the tune "Protection" (or "Foundation") by Joseph Funk
from A Compilation of Genuine Church Music (1832), though the original tune may be Keen(e)'s "Geard".
This was the favorite hymn of General Robert E. Lee
and has been played at the funerals of several US
politician
s. On Christmas Eve 1898, American units involved in the Spanish–American War joined together to sing the hymn. The units were from the North and the South.
Virgil Thomson
incorporated the hymn into his score for the film The River
.
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
, published in 1787 by John Rippon
John Rippon
John Rippon was an English Baptist minister and in 1787 published an important hymnal, A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to Be an Appendix to Dr. Watts’ Psalms and Hymns, commonly known as Rippon's Selection, which was very successful, and was reprinted 27 times in over 200,000...
in A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to be an Appendix to Dr. Watts
Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts was an English hymnwriter, theologian and logician. A prolific and popular hymnwriter, he was recognised as the "Father of English Hymnody", credited with some 750 hymns...
' Psalms and Hymns, known as "Rippon's Selection". It is attributed only to "K", which probably to Robert Keen(e), precentor at Rippon's church, though other names suggested include Richard or John Keene, Kirkham, or John Keith. It is most often sung to the tune "Protection" (or "Foundation") by Joseph Funk
Joseph Funk
Joseph Funk was a pioneer American music teacher, publisher, and one of the first American composers.Joseph Funk was born April 6, 1778 , in Berks County, Pennsylvania, the son of Henry and Barbara Funk, and a grandson of Bishop Henry Funck...
from A Compilation of Genuine Church Music (1832), though the original tune may be Keen(e)'s "Geard".
This was the favorite hymn of General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
and has been played at the funerals of several US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s. On Christmas Eve 1898, American units involved in the Spanish–American War joined together to sing the hymn. The units were from the North and the South.
Virgil Thomson
Virgil Thomson
Virgil Thomson was an American composer and critic. He was instrumental in the development of the "American Sound" in classical music...
incorporated the hymn into his score for the film The River
The River (1938 film)
The River is a 1938 short documentary film which shows the importance of the Mississippi River to the United States, and how farming and timber practices had caused topsoil to be swept down the river and into the Gulf of Mexico, leading to catastrophic floods and impoverishing farmers...
.