“The Hymn of Joy," is a poem written by Henry van Dyke in 1907 which is paired with the, "Ode to Joy," melody in the final movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

The poem lyrics were published in 1911 in Van Dyke's “Book of Poems,” 3rd Edition. They are:

Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before Thee
Op'ning to the Sun above
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness
fill us with the light of day

All Thy works with joy surround Thee
Earth and heav'n reflect Thy rays
Stars and angels sing around Thee
center of unbroken praise
Field and forest, vale and mountain
Flow'ry meadow, flashing sea
chanting bird and flowing fountain
call us to rejoice in Thee

Thou art giving and forgiving
ever blessing, ever blest
well-spring of the joy of living
ocean-depth of happy rest
Thou the Father, Christ our Brother—
all who live in love are Thine
Teach us how to love each other
lift us to the Joy Divine

Mortals join the mighty chorus
which the morning stars began
Father-love is reigning o'er us
brother-love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward
victors in the midst of strife
joyful music lifts us sunward
in the triumph song of life

Martha Duckett Wright, BME, Director, prepared the choir in 6 aspects: proper vocal technique; sight singing for the voice using the Solfedge Syllables; part-singing; ear training; performance; and service.

The choir rehearsed 2x a week at the Cordova Community Center, 1017 North Sanga Road, Cordova.

This is a small excerpt from the Holiday Concert at Covenant United Methodist Church, 8350 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova, TN, U.S.A. on Wednesday 18 December 1996.

Members of the 1996 edition of the Western Tennessee Youth Chorus: Daniel Alonso, Christina Baker, Colleen Baumer, Barrett Beard, Catherine Black Bates, Jennifer Boyle, Cristi Bramlett, Ali Brooks Keasler, Amanda Chiu, Megan Cloud, Ashley Cole, Mary M. Collins, Mallory Collins, Kristin Couch, Meredith Crizer, Erin Davidson, Alice Edis, Albany Edmiston, Mandy Fisher, Alexis Flores, Amanda Frazier, Emily Gafford, Britney Gibb, Andrea Gill, Jamie Ginn, Jessica Ginn, Holly Garrison, Erica Hansen, Erin Holmes, Stephen Horton, Preston Jones, Atia Jordan Harris, Rachell Jowers, Kevin Karl, Jeff Karl, Lindsay Kennedy, Todd Marsh, Katie Mower, Brad Nelson, Ashley Raburn, Karisa Roseberry, Reed Rossetti, Blaire Rowell, Rachael Sasse, Melanie Satchfield, Katie Sauer, Rebecca Show, Keely Siefers, Annie Strong, Robbie Sturdivant, Ginny Temple, Anna Todd, Lauren Todd, Candise Warren, Jessie Watts, Annie Wesberry Shea, Christin Yates Newsome, Becky Young

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