So in a supposedly increasingly secular world, it may be significant that two hymns would probably also make the short list. Go to any funeral, and either Amazing Grace or How Great Thou Art are almost obligatory.

How Great Thou Art gained some popularity through the 1959 visit of American evangelist Billy Graham, but it is most commonly identified now with Sir Howard Morrison, who recorded it in 1982. When Sir Howard died in September, the hymn was played dozens of times on radio and television as his signature tune.

Website muzic.net records that the song arose in a way that nobody could have predicted.

Howard Morrison had been invited to appear at a Royal Command Performance when the Queen returned to New Zealand in 1981, and was having trouble deciding what to sing. While at a Tu Tangata hui in Auckland one day, he heard the hymn, How Great Thou Art or Whakaaria Mai sung during the opening prayers. His hair stood on end and he knew at once that this was his song. Much to the disbelief of many, it was a stunning success at the Royal Concert and when released as a single, it stayed at number one on the national charts for five weeks and remained in the charts for over six months.

The song came to define the latter part of his career. At Sir Howard's funeral, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English said, "He took an ordinary hymn and wove it into the cultural and spiritual life of our nation. It was an expression of Sir Howard Morrison's ability to uplift and bring together a nation that needed it."

2 Comments

1. Kim Workman makes this comment

   Sunday 18 October, 2009

   Many people are unaware that the Maori words are not a translation of 'How Great Thou Art'. They were written by the late Canon Wi Huata of Ngati Kahungunu, to fit the tune of 'How Great Thou Art', and read thus: Show your cross to me. Let it shine there in the darkness. To there I will be looking. In life, in death, let me rest in thee I am told then after Howard decided to sing the words, he rang Canon Wi for his blessing. Canon Wi did so, and teh rest is history. Canon Wi composed and wrote other waita, including one commonly taught in schools, "Tutira mai Nga Iwi".

2. Andrew Cox makes this comment

   Friday 16 October, 2009

   Howard Morrison adopted this hymn and made it New Zealand's own. It resonated with the beauty of our country and lifted our sights to something way beyond us. For me it was the defining moment of his career.