Hark! The Herald Banjo Rings
Christmas 2009
December 1
"Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates" is an Advent hymn inspired by Psalm 24. The text was originally written in German. Modern hymnals include only a few of the verses; I have shown those from the Presbyterian hymnal.
I recorded this hymn on the homemade fretless banjo that I built in February 2009. This banjo has four strings tuned eEG#B, and is played like a regular five-string banjo that is missing the bass string. It is strung with Nylgut nylon strings and uses a pretuned Remo hand drum for the banjo head.
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
Performed by Greg Barlow on a homemade fretless banjo
Words: Georg Weissel, 1642; Trans. Catherine Winkworth, 1855.
Music: TRURO, Thomas Williams, 1789.
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates,
Behold, the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near;
The Savior of the world is here!
Fling wide the portals of your heart;
Make it a temple, set apart
From earthly use for heaven's employ,
Adorned with prayer, and love, and joy.
Redeemer, come! I open wide
My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide.
Let me Thy inner presence feel;
They grace and love in me reveal.
Sources and more information
- Presbyterian Hymnal, 1990.
- The New Century Hymnal, 1995.
- Hymns and Carols of Christmas