"O For a Thousand Tongues (piano instr)" genre: Christian Easy Listening
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	Charles Wesley wrote this famous hymn on the eleventh anniversary of his conversion to Christ. This light and lively instrumental arrangement by Don Wigton captures intricate piano and acoustic guitar parts that intertwine with delicate melodic licks. Over this base stings and flutes play the melody that has become a favorite of the ages. Wesley wrote the hymn to express the joy of his salvation. This jubilant Wigtune instrumental version is sure to lift your spirit.
	MP3.com CD: The Piano - buy it! MP3.com CD: Praise Hymns - buy it! CD: The Piano   Label: Wigtune Company Credits: Instruments: Don Wigton Arrangement Copyright © 1999 Don Wigton
	Story Behind the Song Sometimes, as we become older in the Lord, we forget the joy that is experienced by a new believer. We overlook the great work that Christ did on the cross as He redeemed us from our sin. Yet the joy of our salvation is at the very foundation of our thankful praise. Charles Wesley, who along with his brother founded the Methodist Church, never forgot the marvelous fact that God had saved him. Eleven years later he was so filled with praise to God that he penned O For a Thousand Tongues in commemoration the fact that God redeemed him from his sin. The original title to the song was For the Anniversary of Ones Conversion, because he wrote it on May 21, 1749 on the eleventh anniversary of his own conversion. Charles and his brother John were called Methodists because of the methods of spirituality that they had introduced in their club at Oxford, the Holy Club. Later they met the Moravians, who influenced them in regards to the need to experience a conversion to be saved. Hence they experienced personal conversion. The Moravians were very missionary-minded and loved to sing. One of the Moravian leaders, Peter Bohler, once said, Had I a thousand tongues, I would praise Christ Jesus with all of them. Hence, Charles Wesley built his hymn around that phrase in celebration of the conversion that he experienced as a result of Bohlers influence. Charles had known from childhood that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for sin. On May 21, 1738 he accepted and applied it personally. This is what this hymn is all about. Sometimes, as we become older in the Lord, we forget the joy that is experienced by a new believer. We overlook the great work that Christ did on the cross as He redeemed us from our sin. Yet the joy of our salvation is at the very foundation of our thankful praise. Charles Wesley, who along with his brother founded the Methodist Church, never forgot the marvelous fact that God had saved him. Eleven years later he was so filled with praise to God that he penned O For a Thousand Tongues in commemoration the fact that God redeemed him from his sin. The Wigtune arrangement of this songs comes from years of public worship services where I had the wonderful opportunity to lead congregational members in praise to God. Amazingly, it only took a few hours to put the arrangement on tape. It just seemed that one part lead to another as I composed as quickly as my fingers could play. I attempted to capture the feeling of the times in which Wesley lived. The result is an instrumental that is reminiscent of the minuet when the ladies of Europe would curtsey before the dashing men that whisked them off, dancing in the great aristocratic halls of old. The brisk arrangement sets a very joyful mood to the exciting message of salvation contained in the words. It begins with a piano quickly joined by an acoustic guitar that sounds like a lute (a guitar from centuries ago). After the introduction strings and flutes graciously enter in on the melody. Later in the piece a verse is gently played by the piano and guitar alone only to build from there to the conclusion. There is no sorrow in this song of victory. Salvation is something to rejoice in. We pray that this arrangement will encourage you to experience the joy of your salvation. Lyrics O For a Thousand Tongues To Sing I for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemers praise, The glories of my god and King, the triumphs of His grace! My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim, To spread thro all the earth a broad the honors of Thy name. Jesus! the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease, Tis music in the sinners ears, tis life, and health, and peace. He breaks the power of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood availed form me. He speaks, and listening to His voice, new life the dead receive; The mournful, broken hearts rejoice, the humble poor believe. Hear Him, ye deaf, His praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ; Ye blind, behold your Savior come; and leap, ye lame, for joy. Arrangement Copyright © 1999 Don Wigton A chord chart for this song is available for free at the Wigtune Company Home Page @ http://userzweb.lightspeed.net/wigton/wigtune.htm

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