This has got to be the "#1 Easter Hymn" in all Christian churches. I can't image an Easter Sunday without singing this hymn. My favorite memory of this hymn is singing at the Easter Sunrise Service at the Hollywood Bowl with the Southern California Mormon Choir (1975-77). There was this cross-shaped group of seats on the stage that a choir of young children sat in. It was elevated in such a way as to be at an angle so that the top seats were higher than the bottom seats. Each child was wearing a piece of black cloth over their white choir robe. When the words "Christ the Lord is risen today" were sung, the choir singers quickly pulled off the black cloth to reveal their white robe underneath. The effect was wonderful! There was a "living cross" on stage off all-white angels singing. The audience always loved it.
T.T. Noble has a free organ accompaniment arrangement in one of his books.
I will never let an Easter Sunday go by without singing this hymn!
"SING * PLAY * LOVE"...My thoughts and memories as I play one hymn each day from the hymnbook of "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" during 2012.
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