#81 "Press Forward, Saints"

I love the upbeat tempo of this hymn!  The original tempo marking was quarter note = 120, but the markings in the hymnbook use quarter note=104-116.  I try to play it closer to 120.  I really like the text of this hymn and the fact that it was based on 2 Nephi 31:20. 

#80 "God of Our Fathers, Known of Old"

Believe it or not, I first remember hearing this song when I watched the funeral of President Dwight D. Eisenhower on April 2, 1969.  (I had to google this to make sure, and I was able to find the funeral program outline):  http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/all_about_ike/final_post.html
It lists the Fifth Army Band as playing "God of Our Fathers".  It's amazing to me that my brain remembered hearing this back in 1969, but I do!  I love the text by Rudyard Kipling:  "Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget, lest we forget."  This hymn needs to be sung more often!

#79 "With All the Power of Heart and Tongue"

This hymn was familiar to me, but it is another one of those that aren't sung very often in sacrament meeting.  The 2/2 timing throws me off a little, but the "Key of C' makes this easier to play. 

#78 "God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand"

I love the trumpet fanfare as the introduction to this hymn!  Back in the old Monterey Park Ward, we actually had a trumpet player (I think his name was Kirk Pierson) play his trumpet in sacrament meeting as the introduction to this hymn..  (This wouldn't happen in sacrament meeting now!)  As a ward (untrained) organist, I wanted to find the right stops to recreate the sound of the trumpets.  I played the trumpet fanfare on the swell and used these stops:  Trumpet 8'; Bassoon 16'; Nasat 2 2/3'; Blockflute 2'; and Spitz Prinz. 4'.  I then play the verses on the great manual.  This has worked well for me in sacrament meeting.  This hymn is one of my favorites to sing and play.

#77 "Great Is the Lord"

This hymn was included in the original 1835 LDS hymnbook with four additional verses.  I recognized this hymn when I played it, but it is not widely sung in sacrament meeting.  I like it as a choir hymn.

#76 "God of Our Fathers, We Come Unto Thee"

I remember singing this chorus growing up:  "Never!  Never!  Never from thee let us stray!  Ever!  Ever!  Ever to thee will we pray!"  Although this hymn is familiar to me, it's not one that is sung very much in the wards I've attended.  I like its catchy words!

#75 "In Hymns of Praise"

This hymn was only familiar to me because of a Mormon Tabernacle Choir arrangement that I've heard.  I would like to use this as a stake or ward choir hymn as follows:
Verse 1:  Unison; SATB on chorus
Verse 2:  Men (unison) Line 1; Women (unison) Line 2; SATB on chorus
Verse 3:  SATB (a capella)
Verse 4: SATB (full organ)
Tag verse 4: Last three measures: "Our King for-ev-er more."  Use fermatas on last three notes.