Lyr Req: Hymn to Freedom

Subject: Lyr Req: Hymn To Freedom
From: Azizi
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 06:59 AM

A visitor to my website requested the lyrics to a song called
"Hymn to Freedom".

He gave this sample of the lyrics:

"when every heart joins every heart and together live in harmony that when we'll be free".

-snip-

Any help in finding the lyrics to this song would be appreciated.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn To Freedom
From: Mooh
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 09:11 AM

It rings a bell but I'm unable to find it at the moment. I haven't looked through the Iona Hymn Books yet, but I will later. Have you Googley-gooed it yet?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn To Freedom
From: Azizi
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 09:22 AM

Thanks, Mooh. I found out that the composer is Oscar Peterson.

See this quote:

"Hymn to Freedom

In 1962, Oscar Peterson composed the Hymn to Freedom, a song with deep musical meaning and cultural importance. Inspired by Martin Luther King's movement during the social upheaval of the 1960s, Oscar composed the Hymn to Freedom to protest against segregation and racism, and advocate liberty and equality for all.

This effort at composition made its debut on the Oscar Peterson Trio album, Night Train (Verve 1962) with Ray Brown on bass, and Ed Thigpen on drums. It has subsequently become one of Peterson's most acclaimed compositions and has appeared on several of his albums. Its popularity continued into the 1980s, when other versions were recorded by Oliver Jones and Doug Riley.

Proof of the hymn's endurance and universal quality came in 1986, when 10 children's choirs from around the world met in Helsinki, Finland, for the International Choral Sympaatti (the biggest international festival for children's choirs ever organized in Finland), and performed a special version of ."
   

Also, this website has a sound clip but no lyrics.

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/oscarpeterson/m3-6030-e.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn To Freedom
From: GUEST,thurg
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 09:54 AM

Oscar initially recorded this as an instrumental - it is quite possible that the lyrics were written later by someone else. Maybe a search on the Montreal Jubilation Choir would turn up something. Or - a further stretch - a search on the Nathaniel Dent (<-- do I have that right?) Chorale.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn To Freedom
From: Mooh
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 11:21 AM

That was fast! Thanks, I knew I knew the title from somewhere...Mooh.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn To Freedom
From: Peace
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 11:26 AM

I cannot locate lyrics, but they are available here (sheetmusic) for $2.00.

www.musicmart.com/ Hymn-to-Freedom-SATB-Peterson-P57974C0.aspx

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn To Freedom
From: Peace
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 11:28 AM

Some words here . . .

Subject: Lyr Add: HYMN TO FREEDOM
From: Peace
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 11:34 AM

Got lucky with a Google of "and together yearns for liberty"



Hymn to freedom!

When ev'ry heart, joins ev'ry heart, and together yearns for liberty
That's when we'll be free.
When ev'ry hand, joins ev'ry hand, and together moulds our destiny
That's when we'll be free.

O-oooooooo
Time soon will come, men will live in dignity
That's when we'll be free.
When ev'ry man, joins in our song, and together sing in harmony.
That's when we'll be free!

(kun sopran)
When ev'ry heart, joins ev'ry heart, and together yearns for liberty
That's when we'll be free.
When ev'ry hand, joins ev'ry hand, and together moulds our destiny,
That's when we'll be free.

O-oooooooooo
The time soon will come, when men will live in dignity
That's when we'll be free.
When ev'ry man, joins in our song and together sing in harmony
That's when we'll be free!
When we'll be free!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn To Freedom
From: Peace
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 11:35 AM

Lyrics from

www.budstikka.no/budstikkaporten/ kor/barumkor/minnebok/article67960.ece

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn To Freedom
From: Azizi
Date: 12 Jun 06 - 12:59 PM

Thanks Peace!!!

I appreciate your help and the input of all others who contributed to this thread.

I suggested the person requesting the lyrics that he should check out this thread, but just in case, I'll also email the lyrics to him.

Maybe this successful search will so impress that Guest {who may be lurking now} that he will decide to join this forum.

I'm certainly impressed!!!

Best wishes,

Azizi

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Hymn to Freedom
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 18 Feb 18 - 06:04 PM

Here the lyrics are credited to Harriette Hamilton

... For inspiration, Peterson drew upon various church renderings of Negro spirituals recalled from his childhood in Montreal. He aimed to maintain the unadorned, yet poignant quality of these early Baptist hymns while composing the beginning chorus of Hymn to Freedom. Upon its completion, Peterson and Granz decided that lyrics would complement the music and contacted Malcolm Dodds, composer, arranger and choir director of The Malcolm Dodds Singers; a backup group for many popular artists of the day.
Dodds turned to his collaborator Harriette Hamilton, who had been writing lyrics for the choral group's original compositions for several years. According to Hamilton, "all the lyrics had to do was express in very simple language the hope for unity, peace and dignity for mankind. It was easy to write."

http://www.cshf.ca/song/hymn-to-freedom/?