For the Beauty of the Earth

The hymn, "For the beauty of the earth" isn't really a "Thanksgiving Hymn," but it is often used on the day, as well as harvest festivals, etc.

In America, the tune most often used is "Dix". In the "New English Hymnal" there are 2 fine tunes to choose from, and I selected the first one, "England's Lane" for my performance.

The tune is based upon an English folk song, and was composed by Geoffrey Shaw.

Geoffrey Turton Shaw (14 November 1879 – 14 April 1943) was an English composer and musician specializing in Anglican church music. After Cambridge, where he was an organ scholar, he became a schoolmaster, then a schools inspector, while producing a stream of compositions, arrangements, and published collections of music. He was awarded the Lambeth degree of Doctor of Music.

The beautiful text was written by Folliott Sandford Pierpoint (7 October 1835 – 1917) was a hymnodist and poet.

Born at Spa Villa, Bath, England, he was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge. Pierpoint was a classics schoolmaster and a devout Tractarian. He taught at Somersetshire College, spending most of his life in Bath and the south-west.

His most famous hymn is "For the Beauty of the Earth" which he wrote in 1864, aged 29.

Folliett Sandford Pierpoint originally wrote this hymn for use during the Communion of the High Anglican Church. The original refrain "Christ, our God, to thee we raise; This our sacrifice of praise" was meant to mirror the portrayal of Christ's ultimate sacrifice -- just as the host would be lifted during the communion as a token of God's gift to us, a "sacrifice of praise" would be lifted in return. Later editions of the text emphasize the thanksgiving aspect of the verses.

I used the full and original text in this upload.

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of Geoffrey Shaw (with his brother, Martin).

The full text is given in the first comment.

Whatever country you live, I wish peace and thankfulness.