What Wondrous Love Is This is an American folk hymn from the South. It was first published in 1811 as part of a camp meeting song book and was included in the 1854 shape note songbook Southern Harmony by William Walker. This tune is hundreds of years old, but it was made popular as an English folk ballad about the adventures of a pirate named Captain William Kidd in 1701 (and was used for many other popular songs at that time).
During the Great Awakening and Second Great Awakening, many popular folk tunes were used with new religious texts for hymn singing at camp meetings and revivals. They were familiar to the people and were easy to sing along with. This has been true throughout the history of church music, all the way back to the early Middle Ages. (Sometimes, a great drinking song makes a great church song, too– a good tune is a good tune!)
The melody has a haunting, plaintive feel because of the musical mode in which it is written (the Dorian mode). The pattern of intervals between the notes in the melody creates a feeling of seriousness and thoughtful wonder that fits perfectly with the contemplative season of Lent.
The text focuses on the love of Christ in laying down his life for us.
What wondrous love is this, o my soul, o my soul,
What wondrous love is this, o my soul!
What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
The text goes on to marvel at how Christ saves us when we are sinking down. The soul is moved to praise God in song and to join with millions of other voices singing that same song of praise.
We will be using this song in worship several times over the next few weeks, so look out for it. In the meantime, please enjoy these versions as musical meditations for prayer.
The shape note version from Sacred Harp, sung in classic Sacred Harp style (a four-sided square, with the leader in the center and each voice part seated on a different side). You may notice that this style of singing has a distinctive sound.
Chelsea Moon with the Franz Brothers on YouTube– a more country sound
Sarah Hart's new version, with a toe-tapping folk feel and a newly-composed chorus
A more contemplative choral version by Robert Scholz from the St. Olaf Choir, conducted by Anton Armstrong