This songbook was translated into eighteen languages and upward of three million copies were printed and distributed. 24 (Von Weber), 46 (Chopin) and 87 (Beethoven).
However, a number of gems from the field of serious or “classical” music were included and set to Scriptural themes, such as Nos. 49, for example, was based on Matthew 6:33, ‘Keep on seeking first the Kingdom.’ Almost half the lyrics and melodies of this songbook were original with Jehovah’s people. It spelled further progress, for it had many up-to-date themes, had dispensed with archaic King James language and made a start of using the terminology of the New World Translation, the Christian Greek Scriptures of which were released the same year. Of its sixty-two songs, more than a third were original with Jehovah’s witnesses.Īfter about a half million of these songbooks had been published and distributed, it was replaced in 1950 with Songs to Jehovah’s Praise, containing ninety-one songs. Uniquely it gave no credits to authors and composers for which reason it did not contain any songs for which permission to use had to be obtained and acknowledged. More progress was made by the Kingdom Service Song Book published in 1944. The latter songbook made a special effort to break away from Babylonian sentimentality and creature worship. Among other songbooks that served Jehovah’s people since then were Hymns of Millennial Dawn, published in 1905, and Songs of Praise to Jehovah, brought out in 1928. We thank God for the musical and poetic talent granted some of his” people. The next issue of that journal, commenting thereon, among other things stated: “The singing of the truth is a good way to get it into the heads and hearts of God’s people. In 1896 appeared a special issue of The Watchtower consisting entirely of Christian songs set to music. Recognizing the obligation of Christians to sing songs of praise to Jehovah, the publishing agency of Jehovah’s witnesses has from its earliest infancy been producing songbooks, beginning with the year 1879, the very year The Watchtower began to be published. THE singing of songs is an integral part of the worship of Jehovah God, and how glad we are that this is so! It is at once a duty and a pleasure. With 128 pages and many new lyrics and melodies
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