By Gary K. Wheeler
“Chick” was his nickname. He was my pastor as I grew up in a United Methodist Church in the early 1970s. He had the joy of the Lord, the words of an evangelist, and the heart of a shepherd. My family and I were saved under his leadership, and he introduced us to the Christian Ashram movement.
Chick also had a high tenor singing voice and loved to sing gospel quartet music. He recruited my father and a couple of other men to be part of the “Grace Notes.” They would sing and share their testimony with churches and groups in our area. Theirs was my first Christian music concert.
As a budding music theorist, I was captivated by the soaring musical movement of a song from their repertoire: “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.” Not the Coronation tune, but the Diadem one, written by James Ellor, an Englishman of the 19th century. A hat maker by trade, when he was 18 years old, he began leading the Methodist Wesleyan Chapel choir. In 1838, he brought his choir a new tune he had written for the week’s hymn text. It was well received and has been used with the hymn ever since. This is the only hymn tune he is now remembered for.
The powerful words of Edward Perronet are a declaration for earthbound believers to join those in heaven in declaring their praise.
All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
Ellor’s tune gives us a hint of the beauty and mastery of the music in heaven, as the sopranos and altos sing their triplets, while the men anchor the bottom with a staccato foundation, until the bass section gets to “show off” with a descending melodic line.
I cannot help but feel part of the heavenly choir when I sing this song.
Make it a part of your repertoire of praise.