Sir Uwem Jonah Useh’s Abiding Grace Hymnal (with Commentaries on Selected Christian Hymns) and Abiding Grace Hymns & Anthems are significant contributions to Christian hymnody, blending theological insight, musical innovation, and devotional depth.
There are 150 soul-inspiring in the Abiding Hymnal features 150 soul-inspiring hymns, each accompanied by the fascinating stories behind them.
Abiding Grace & Anthems has 54 hymns, 12 self-composed anthems- 10 in English, 2 in Efiki/Ibibio and 12 self-composed hymn tunes.
These legacy projects are invaluable resources for anyone involved in worship, offering features that cater to choirs, worship leaders, and individual enthusiasts of sacred music.
Thematic Coverage:
The hymnals display an impressive thematic breadth, addressing key aspects of Christian worship such as praise, thanksgiving, forgiveness, divine grace, and the hope of eternal life.
This thoughtful categorization ensures their relevance for diverse liturgical occasions, from festive celebrations to reflective worship settings.
Textual Quality:
The poetic elegance and theological depth of the hymn texts are outstanding.
Sir Uwem Jonah Useh carefully curates hymns that are biblically rooted and doctrinally sound while ensuring their language resonates with contemporary worshipers.
NOTATION:
The works are well notated using both solfa and staff notation, which allows for easy sight-reading, singing and playing.
Alternative Self-Composed Hymn Tunes
A notable feature is the inclusion of alternative self-composed hymn tunes.
These original compositions reflect the author’s creativity and enhance the adaptability of the hymnals for various musical styles and congregational preferences.
Central Message for the Hymns
The Abiding Grace Hymnal (with Commentaries) emphasizes the central message of each hymn, offering succinct statements that encapsulate their theological and devotional essence.
This feature aids worship leaders and congregations in understanding the deeper meaning behind the hymns, aligning them more closely with sermon themes and liturgical purposes.
Personal Experience of the Author
Sir Uwem Jonah Useh enriches the hymnals with personal anecdotes and reflections, revealing how specific hymns have shaped his spiritual journey.
These insights inspire readers to reflect on their own encounters with hymnody, adding a profoundly human and relatable dimension to the works.
As Matt Boswell aptly states, “Hymns are portable sermons that articulate, exegete, and pronounce biblical truth.”
This sentiment is vividly embodied in Sir Uwem Jonah Useh’s works.
His hymnals exemplify this principle by presenting hymns that serve as theological expositions, enabling worshipers to internalize and live out biblical truths through song.
Strengths of Both Works
Rich Theological Insight: The commentaries and central message summaries deepen the worship experience.
Innovative Music: The self-composed hymn tunes offer fresh expressions of timeless themes.
Diversity: The inclusion of anthems expands the utility of the collection for choirs.
Inspirational Reflections: The personal experiences shared by the author create a unique bond with the reader.
Conclusion
Sir Uwem Jonah Useh’s Abiding Grace Hymnal and Abiding Grace Hymns & Anthems are not mere books, they are soul-inspiring works that blend theological richness, poetic beauty, and musical innovation that build centuries-old tradition with contemporary worship needs with over 200 hymns and anthems.
They provide a profound reminder of the enduring power of hymns as vehicles for worship and theological expression.
Highly recommended for Priests, Pastors, Choirs, Libraries, Worship Leaders, Families, Theological Institutions and Individuals, these hymnals are treasures that will undoubtedly inspire generations of worshipers.
So, let the music of grace echo in our heart, for in every hymn lies a prayer, a promise and a path to the DIVINE.
Reviewer: Esuola, O. Adesola – NCE (Mus), BA (Mus, UNN), M.A (Mus).
National Secretary, Society of Music Educators of Nigeria, (SOMEN). He can be reached on 08035253219.
Thank you so much for the review, Sir.