The God of Abraham Praise ('Leoni') (Dickson Chan, organ of All Saints' Anglican, Hunters Hill)

Dickson Chan plays ''The God of Abraham Praise'' on the 1887 Bevington & Sons organ of All Saints' Anglican Church, Hunters Hill.
''The God of Abraham Praise'' is a Christian adaptation of a twelfth century Jewish doxology ''Yigdal.'' In 1772, evangelist Thomas Olivers (1725-1799) attended the Great Synagogue in London where he heard Cantor Meyer Lyon (who sang professionally in opera under the name Michael Leoni) sing ''Yigdal'' in Hebrew. Wikipedia goes on to tell the story:
''Olivers then paraphrased and translated 'Yigdal' into English and gave the hymn more of a Christian focus. He then asked Lyon if he could use the Jewish melody for the new hymn. Lyon gave him the music and Olivers named this hymn tune 'Leoni' after Lyon.''
The hymn was published with 12 verses in 1772. Dickson plays 4 of those verses:
The God of Abraham praise
who reigns enthroned above,
Ancient of everlasting days,
and God of love:
Jehovah, great I AM,
by earth and heaven confest;
we bow and bless the sacred name
for ever blest.
Though nature's strength decay,
and earth and hell withstand,
to Canaan's bounds we urge our way
at his command:
the watery deep we pass,
with Jesus in our view;
and through the howling wilderness
our way pursue.
There dwells the Lord our King,
the Lord our Righteousness,
triumphant o'er the world of sin,
the Prince of peace:
on Zion's sacred height
his kingdom he maintains,
and glorious with his saints in light
for ever reigns.
The whole triumphant host
give thanks to God on high.
'Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,'
they ever cry.
Hail, Abraham's God, and mine,
(I join the heavenly lays)
all might and majesty are thine,
and endless praise.
Details of the organ can be found at:
sydneyorgan.com/HH.html
The recording was made on 27 April 2024.

[@timrozitis961]

Love it - straight into it with a pretty solid registration.

[@MichaelStBede]

A grand melody !

[@sydneyorgans3250]

Very stirring!