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The International Staff Songsters is The Salvation Salvation Army and her desire is that the ISS Army’s premier choir. Its mission is to give a should excite, challenge and inspire its listeners. clear expression of the gospel of Jesus Christ through music and to communicate his love in As well as regularly leading worship each month a vital and attractive way. In March 2015, the at Salvation Army centres, The International ISS celebrated its 35th anniversary, having been Staff Songsters also participates in national and formed in 1980 by General Arnold Brown, then international Salvation Army meetings and other International Leader of The Salvation Army, religious events, TV and radio broadcasts. A vibrant who challenged the group to inspire people CD ministry is also a significant part of its outreach with the ‘heart songs’ of The Salvation Army. work, with regular recordings allowing the ISS to widen its service to listeners around the world. The style of the ISS spans a large range of Christian The ISS rehearses every Wednesday at Territorial music from contemporary to classical, spirituals Headquarters in central London and members to traditional songs. Whatever the genre, the ISS travel from many parts of the country, although seeks to praise and worship God through music most live within a 75-mile radius of the capital. The and to be effective communicators of the gospel. group is pleased to welcome visitors to its rehearsals.

All members are Salvationists who are active in The International Staff Songsters is privileged to be their local Salvation Army corps and come from regarded as representatives of The Salvation Army in many different areas of employment, with their the global arena as well. Overseas visits have included membership of The International Staff Songsters the USA, , Scandinavia and Estonia, Europe, being voluntary. Their current Leader, Dorothy and New Zealand, and Nancekievill, was recently appointed as Head . In July 2012, the ISS made its first visit Teacher at Farringtons School in Chislehurst, to South America – visiting Argentina and Uruguay having previously been Director of Music at – and in June 2013 they visited Norway as guests of Wells Cathedral School where she worked that Territory. In July 2015, the ISS were delighted to with many of the best young musicians and participate in the ‘Boundless’ International Congress teachers from this and many other countries. at the O2 in London, which celebrated the 150th Dorothy is passionate about vocal music in The anniversary of The Salvation Army.

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It has been a pleasure to choose this compilation of a capella O LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME GO songs as I have real love of unaccompanied singing and its Words: George Matheson ability to touch our hearts, and lift our spirits. Music: Albert Peace Arranged by David Phelps In the playlist there are well known choral works by Samuel (A Choral Symphony – SPS 351 CD 2015) Barber and Eric Whitacre, alongside Salvation Army classics by George Marshall and Norman Bearcroft. O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; Every one of these songs has made a real impact on listeners of I give thee back the life I owe, all ages over the past few years and the title track ‘My Lord Has That in thine ocean depths its flow, Come’ makes us think about the joy of going from darkness to May richer, fuller be. light, when Jesus came to our world. O love that will not let me go. My desire is that this recording will create an environment - in the manner of the chapel (the translation of a capella) for O joy that seekest me through pain, personal reflection on how to be more like Christ. I cannot close my heart to thee; I trace the rainbow through the rain, Dorothy A. Nancekievill And feel the promise is not vain, Leader of the International Staff Songsters That morn shall tearless be. O love that will not let me go. O cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee; I lay in dust life’s glory dead, And from the ground there blossoms red, Life that shall endless be.

O love that will not let me go. O love that will not let me go.

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A PRAYER FOR COURAGE MY LORD HAS COME THE CHRIST OF CALVARY Words & Music: Eric Ball Words & Music: Will Todd Words: Nathan Atkinson Aldersley (Heart Songs – SPS 269 CD 2010) (A Choral Symphony – SPS 351 CD 2015) Music: Tune - Annie Laurie Arranged: Norman Bearcroft I pray not for Happiness. I pray, Lord for Courage; Shepherds, called by angels, (Know My Heart – SPS 253 CD 2009) How can I laugh in a world racked with fear Courage to fight ‘gainst the evils Called by love and angels; and madness, that now surround me, No place for them but a stable. Of all in Earth or Heaven, In the midst of a hopeless sadness that dulls And temptations that would confound me. My Lord has come. The dearest name to me children’s eyes, and all goodness defies? I’ll bring down mine eyes Is the matchless name of Jesus, I must share with my Master from the blue of the skies, Sages, searching for stars, The Christ of Calvary. His anguish and pain; Look clear into Hell with its sin and its lies! Searching for love in heaven; And seek out the lost, And fearlessly challenge so dreadful a foe. No place for them but a stable. The Christ of Calvary, though fearful the cost; No wealth that is dross, My Lord has come. The dearest name to me He has open’d mine eyes, and mine ears No joy that is loss shall turn my glad heart Is the matchless name of Jesus, remember yet their cries. from the Way of the Cross; His love will hold me, The Christ of Calvary. Naught shall turn my glad heart His love will cherish me, I pray not for Wordly Gain. From the Way, the Way of the Cross. Love will cradle me. I cannot help but love Him, How can I live by the toiling and pain of others, And tell His love to me; By the hunger of babes and mothers, Lead me, lead me to see him, For He became my ransom, the wastage of health Sages and shepherds and angels; The Christ of Calvary. for the mirage of wealth? No place for me but a stable. I must share with my Master My Lord has come. I could not live without Him, His lowly estate, His love is life to me; His lambs I must feed, My blood-bought life I give Him, Though sharing their need; The Christ of Calvary. He has open’d mine eyes, and mine ears remember yet their cries.

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AGNUS DEI IN THE CROSS THE LAMB Samuel Barber Words: Fanny Crosby Words: William Blake (A Greater Wonder – SPS 189 CD 2004) Music: Heinrich Werner Music: John Tavener arr. Stephen Bulla (A Greater Wonder – SPS 189 CD 2004) Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, (Praise His Name – SPS 230 CD 2007) Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the Little lamb, who made thee? world, Jesus, Jesus, Dost thou know who made thee? Miserere nobis Be my glory. Gave thee life, and bid thee feed Have mercy on us By the stream and o’er the mead; Dona nobis pacem. Jesus keep me near the cross; Gave thee clothing of delight, Grant us peace. There a precious fountain, Softest clothing, woolly, bright; Free to all, a healing stream, Flows from Calvary’s mountain. Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice? In the cross, in the cross, Little lamb, who made thee? Be my glory ever. Dost thou know who made thee?

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait, Little lamb, I’ll tell thee, Hoping, trusting ever, Little lamb, I’ll tell thee; Till I reach the golden strand He is called by thy name, Just beyond the river. For he calls himself a lamb, He is meek, and he is mild, Jesus, Jesus, He became a little child. Be my glory ever. I, a child, and thou a lamb, We are called by his name. Little lamb, God bless thee! Little lamb, God bless thee!

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JESUS HIMSELF DREW NEAR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD Words: A.R. Wiggins Words: Based on John 3:16 Music: George Marshall Music: Sir John Stainer (In the Name of the Lord – SPS 301 CD 2012) (The Gift – SPS 204 CD 2005)

I set out a pilgrim sad at heart, The shadows of evening fell apace, God so loved the world, God so loved the world, To walk a lonely road; New dangers lay ahead; God so loved the world, God so loved the world, Doubt had marr’d my simple trusting; But, with my Companion walking, That He gave His only begotten Son, That He gave His only begotten Son, Doubt a future ill forebode; I no longer felt their dread. That who so believeth, That who so believeth, And as I pondered o’er my grief, I begged him ne’er to quit my side, Believeth in Him should not perish, Believeth in Him should not perish, My shattered hopes and unbelief, With me to constantly abide; Should not perish, Should not perish, A stranger, to my soul’s relief, In gracious tones my Lord replied, But have everlasting life. But have everlasting life, Drew near and walked with me. “My peace I leave with thee.” For God sent not His Son into the world Everlasting life, everlasting, To condemn the world, Everlasting life. Jesus himself drew near, Jesus himself drew near, God sent not His Son into the world God so loved the world, When alone on the road, oppress’d by my load, To condemn the world; God so loved the world, Jesus himself drew near and walked with me. But that the world through Him God so loved the world. Might be saved. I deign’d not to raise my drooping eyes, Nor sought to learn his name, Tho’ his voice, like heav’nly music, Set this heart of mine aflame. He seemed to read my ev’ry thought, To know the pain my fears had wrought. And with his gentle words he brought An atmosphere of peace.

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I KNOW A FOUNT LORD HOW I LOVE YOU THE QUIET HEART O MAGNUM MYSTERIUM Words & Music: Words & Music: Keith Banks Words: James Morgan Morten Lauridsen Oliver Cooke arr. Thomas Rive Arranged: Leslie Condon Music: June Collin (Introit – SPS 239 CD 2008) (Freedom – SPS 216 CD 2006) Transcribed: Dean Jones (Freedom – SPS 216 CD 2006) (Know My Heart – SPS 253 CD 2009) O magnum mysterium, Say, are you weary? Are you heavy laden? ’Twas in the stillness of the night that et admirable sacramentum, Burdened with sorrow, Lord, how I love you, Jesus came; ut animalia viderent Dominum weighted down with care? you have done so much for me, No blare of trumpets heralded his birth natum, jacentem in praesepio! Lord, how I love you, Nor broke the wonted silence of the earth; Beata Virgo, cujus viscera Are you still in bondage? you have done so much, No clang of bells or blatant hue and cry Meruerunt portare Do you want deliverance? so very, very much, Disturbed the calm beneath the Bethl’hem sky. Dominum Christum. Alleluia! Come, then, with me, So very, very much for me. When Jesus came ‘twas night, and the there is refuge from despair. world was still. O most holy mystery, and wondrous miracle of God’s mercy I know a fount where sins are washed away, ’Tis to the quiet heart he loves to come: That animals should see I know a place where night is turned to day; Not often ‘midst the tumult of the day, the new-born Lord Burdens are lifted, blind eyes made to see; When we can find small time to think or pray, Lying in their manger There’s a wonder-working power in the blood Or when, confused by agitating care, of Calvary. We find no secret place for him to share. O most blessed Saviour, We must be still if we his voice would hear. gift to all the world, King of Glory, ’Tis to the quiet heart he loves to come. Thou Holy Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord! Alleluia!

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ALL IN THE APRIL EVENING LUX AURUMQUE MY TREASURE Words: Katherine Tynan Words: Edward Esch Words: Mrs Sage Music: Hugh S. Roberton Translation into Latin: Music: George Marshall (Heart Songs – SPS 269 CD 2010) Charles Anthony Silvestri (Praise His Name – SPS 230 CD 2007) Music: Eric Whitacre All in the April ev’ning, April airs were abroad, (In the Name of the Lord – SPS 301 CD 2012) Once I sought for earthly treasure, The sheep with their little lambs, Tried some wondrous joy to gain; passed me by on the road. Lux, But in seeking for life’s pleasures, The sheep with their little lambs, calida gravisque pura velut aurum All I found was grief and pain. passed me by on the road, et canunt angeli molliter So along sin’s path I wandered, All in the April ev’ning modo natum. But no brightness could I see I thought on the Lamb of God. ’Till I heard my Saviour calling – Translation ‘Weary one, oh, come to me.’ The lambs were weary and crying Light, with a weak human cry, warm and heavy as pure gold Resting so sweetly in my Saviour’s care, I thought on the Lamb of God and the angels sing softly He’s always near me, joys and griefs to share, going meekly to die. to the new-born baby. He leads me gently, gives me grace Up in the blue, blue mountains, and power; dewy pastures are sweet, Through him I’ve victory in the darkest, Rest for the little bodies, rest for the little feet. darkest hour.

But for the Lamb, the Lamb of God Now my life is full of brightness, Up on the hill-top green, I have found a treasure rare; Only a cross, a cross of shame, Jesus fills my heart with gladness, two stark crosses between, All my sorrows he doth share. All in the April ev’ning, April airs were abroad; Precious Jesus, he’s my treasure, I saw the sheep with their lambs, In his care I’ll safely hide, And thought on the Lamb of God. For I know in joy and sorrow, At my side he will abide.

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KEDRON THE BLUE BIRD INTERCEDE, O LORD Words: Psalm 30 Words: Mary E. Coleridge Words: Kenneth Tout Music: Scottish Psalm Tune Music: Charles Stanford Music: Wilfred Heaton arr. Kenneth Downie (Introit – SPS 239 CD 2008) (Know My Heart – SPS 253 CD 2009) (Praise His Name – SPS 230 CD 2007) The lake lay blue below the hill O Thou, who at the judgement bars Come, let us to the Lord our God with As dew upon the tender herb, defusing O’er it, as I looked, Dost stand with guilty souls to plead instead contrite hearts return; fragrance round, there flew across the waters cold and still, Thy Calv’ry scars, Our God is gracious, nor will leave the As showers that usher in the spring A bird, whose wings were palest blue. Plead my poor name beyond the stars where desolate to mourn. and cheer the thirsty ground: God’s deep mercy rolls. His voice commands the tempest forth, So shall his presence bless our souls, and The sky above was blue at last. and stills the stormy wave; shed a joyful light; The sky beneath me blue in blue; Lord, wilt Thou plead for me? And though his arm be strong to smite ’tis That hallowed morn shall chase away the A moment, ere the bird had passed. Lord, intercede for me also strong to save. sorrows of the night. It caught his image as he flew. Thy scars my plea shall be, Thy blood my surety, Long hath the night of sorrow reigned The lake lay blue below the hill. Oh intercede. the dawn shall bring us light: God shall appear, and we shall rise O God, who learned to wield our tools with gladness in his sight. And chose the human task, Our hearts, if God we seek to know, shall We looked for wrath who broke Thy rules, know him and rejoice; But Thou dids’t sup with us, though fools, His coming like the morn shall be, like ’Twas more than we dared ask. morning wings his voice. O Thou, who having shaped the skies, Dids’t fashion yoke and plough, Who left Thy throne to agonise, Be counsel sure when justice tries; Be my companion now!

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