OH, FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES

"O For A Thousand Tongues" is one of the most triumphant hymns of praise we sing in the church. Charles Wesley's text is an absolute joy for a choir to lead, especially when set to a rousing, fugal tune like the one in this arrangement. The opening line alone sets a massive scale for worship, wishing for a thousand voices just to adequately sing the Redeemer's praise. When the congregation joins in, the sheer volume and energy of the repeated phrases lift the entire church.

We often bring this out as an entrance or recessional hymn on major feast days or during festive Sunday Masses. The way the voices chase each other in the final lines of the first verse—repeating "the triumphs of His grace"—creates a wonderful building effect that naturally encourages the congregation to sing out. As the verses progress, moving from personal devotion ("My gracious Master and my God") to the universal praise of "saints below and saints above," the hymn unites everyone in the pews with the heavenly choir. It is a brilliant, energetic call to worship that leaves everyone ready to celebrate the Mass.