Praise Window
The window devoted to praise represents the history of church music from earliest times to the present. The large central scene illustrates the early Christian hymn beginning, "Te Deum Laudamus" (Thee, 0 God, We Praise), the object of praise being Jesus Christ crowned in glory. The choristers, the saints, and martyrs are accompanied by the angels of heaven.
The story of Christian hymnody's biblical origins begins at the top left with Jubal who is described in Genesis as "the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe." Next below is represented Moses's song of joy at the deliverance of the children of Israel from Pharaoh's legions, followed by the priest's call to his people to worship by blowing the shofar or ram's horn.
At the bottom of the second lancet is shown as a part of the restored temple worship the dramatic moment described by the chronicler: "And when the burnt offering began, the song to the Lord began also." At the bottom of the central lancet is David represented as a psalmist. To the right of David, the children of Jerusalem shout praises to Christ, waving palms as He enters the city at the beginning of His week of passion. The fifth lancet, bottom, portrays the naming of John the Baptist, the occasion for his father Zacharias to sing the canticle known as the "Benedictus." Paul and Silas next above, sing in prison during an earthquake; and at the top the heavenly chorus sings praises to the Lamb.
The lower section of this window brings church music to the present time. Ambrose (leftmost lancet, top), the 4th century Bishop of Milan, gathered the people in church in a state of siege, persuading them to sing to give them courage, a good example of congregational singing, and a good reason for it, too. Gregory is next, known as "the Great" for his powerful papal leadership as the 6th century went out and the 7th came in. He is supposed to have arranged the Gregorian chant.
In the second lancet is Giovanni da Palestrina, the 16th century composer whose works mark the peak of attainment in the field of older church music. Louis Bourgeois was the editor of the French Geneva Psalter, a collection much drawn upon for English, Genevan and Scottish psalters for use in Reformation churches. Johann Sebastian Bach, the giant of musical composition both secular and sacred, is shown at the organ. George Frederick Handel is best known for his oratorios, "The Messiah" especially being universally loved. The early American Christians sang from the Bay (referring to Massachusetts Bay Colony) Psalm Book. Charles Wesley helped the Methodists sing Britain into a revival, and by his hymn writing put all the church in his debt. Isaac Watts, Wesley's forerunner by a handful of years, is the father of modern hymnody. Contemporary composers of church music are represented by Ralph Vaughn Williams, shown here conducting a boys choir.
