[Don't be discouraged when trouble's in your life]

[Don't be discouraged when trouble's in your life]

Composer: Albert A. Goodson (1956)
Published in 19 hymnals


Audio files: MIDI, Recording

Composer: Albert A. Goodson

Albert A. Goodson (b. Los Angeles, CA, 1933) wrote both text and tune in 1956 for the Radio Choir of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois, where he served as minister of music. The hymn was published as a gospel anthem by Manna Music III, 1963. Goodson received his education at the University of California in Los Angeles and served Baptist churches in the Los Angeles area as well as the Fellowship Baptist Church in Chicago. As organist and pianist, he toured with Mahalia Jackson and has been a prominent figure in the development of African American gospel music. Bert Polman Go to person page >

Tune Information

Title: [Don't be discouraged when trouble's in your life]
Composer: Albert A. Goodson (1956)
Meter: Irregular
Incipit: 13332 12366 5443
Key: F Major
Copyright: © 1965, 1993 Manna Music, Inc., admin. ClearBox Rights, LLC

Texts

We've Come This Far by Faith

We've Come This Far by Faith

We've come this far by faith,
leaning on the Lord,
trusting in his holy word
he's never failed us yet.
O can't turn around,
we've come this far by faith.

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Notes

Goodson’s gospel song was included in the African American hymnal Lift Every Voice and Sing (1981). The setting by Richard Smallwood (PHH 365) displays some of the chord structures, melodic decorations, and rhythmic figures that are common in the African American gospel style. The printed score of gospel songs only conveys a guide1ine to actual performance; improvisation is the operative word! The congregation should sing the refrain (framed by "We've come this far by faith") aided by a choir who could improvise a harmony part. A soloist could sing the stanza ("Don't be discouraged. . .") with additional improvisation in the melody line and accompaniment. Try accompanying with piano, guitars, and percussion instruments. Don't rush!

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988

Timeline

Arrangements

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations

  • Introductions and Alternate Accompaniments for Organ Volume 6: Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Hymns 574 - 639
    Composer/Editors Norma Aamodt-Nelson; Mark Weiler; J. Bert Carlson
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2007) pp. 633
  • Introductions and Alternate Accompaniments for Piano Volume 6: Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Hymns 574 - 639
    Composer/Editors Norma Aamodt-Nelson; Marissa Bauck; John Carter
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2007) pp. 633

Instances

Instances (1 - 17 of 17)

African American Heritage Hymnal #412

Chalice Hymnal #533

Evangelical Lutheran Worship #633

Text InfoAudio

Glory to God #656

Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #548

Lift Every Voice and Sing II #208

Audio

Lift Up Your Hearts #341

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism #488

Text InfoTune InfoAudio

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #567

Santo, Santo, Santo #58

Songs of Zion #192

The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #259

The New National Baptist Hymnal (21st Century Edition) #529

This Far By Faith #197

Total Praise #414

Voices Together #599

Yes, Lord! #395

Include 2 pre-1979 instances
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