My Little Gnudren,

Old Gnu writes a few words of explanation about GNU 010 which first appeared in late Autumn 1992 – the so named Annus Horribilis by Her Majesty for personal reasons, and not because of the appearance of this album. For us it was one of those glorious years when we could rush home and turn the TV to watch Spitting Image to eradicate Old Gnu’s latest crazy Psalm setting from your mind.

But it was also the time when God was definitely endued with Majesty was rapidly becoming awesome, was being lifted up on high with no time for a break, and most definitely being exalted all over the place.

The whole of GNU 010 was in part an arrogant and prejudiced reaction to the many popular warship songs with limited vocabulary that were increasingly sneaking into our repertoire, and which Gnu was obliged to arrange. Not one of these many warship songs contained the words dust (frequently found in the OT) , withered (ditto), abhors, pavilion, lies, bloodthirsty men, evil intentions, broke, blackest night, enemies, wickedness, waves and billows, which you find generously sprinkled throughout this album, anointing it with utterly Biblical content. Yep, this album is definitely anointed.  How can an album with words taken totally from the Bible fail to be anointed? …. don’t tell me that the Bible isn’t anointed!

There is one exception: the words of If Jesus is Lord are largely taken from, or based on the Nicene Creed contained in the Anglican Liturgy. Here is some of the text in Gnu language:

Հաւատամք ի մի Աստուած, ի Հայրն ամենակալ, յարարիչն երկնի եւ երկրի, երեւելեաց եւ աներեւութից։ Եւ ի մի Տէր Յիսուս Քրիստոս, յՈրդին Աստուծոյ, ծնեալն յԱստուծոյ Հօրէ, միածին՝ այսինքն յէութենէ Հօր։ Աստուած յԱստուծոյ, լոյս ի լուսոյ, Աստուած ճշմարիտ յԱստուծոյ ճշմարտէ, ծնունդ եւ ոչ արարած։ Նոյն ինքն ի բնութենէ Հօր, որով ամենայն ինչ եղեւ յերկինս եւ ի վերայ երկրի, երեւելիք եւ աներեւոյթք։

English translations are found in Common Worship, (in 1992, the Alternative Service Book) and  The Book of Common prayer:

• 

• 

both of which are definitely anointed, though some people adamantly affirm that The Book of Common Prayer is far more anointed than the ASB; especially since it speaks the same language as the apostle Paul in the King James Authorized Version.

What about the music?

Well there is not much to say here. Mostly nicked from inspired by others:

Track 1 : Old Hundredth (Bach – Cantata BWV 130) – Is taken from the opening chorus of a J.S. Bach Cantata.
Track 2 : Psalm 90 (Lord, you have been our refuge) ‘Mein junges Leben hat ein End’ by Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck 16^th Century Dutch composer]
Track 3 : Psalm 19 (O Lord, how majestic) Gnu [arr. AT]
Track 4 : Come Lord and Stand Among Us Gnu
Track 5 : Psalm 84 (Blessed are they that dwell) Havanaise  Saint-Saens,  for violin & orchestra based on the habanera rhythm.
Track 6 : Psalm 30 (When in time of great trouble) El Lobo by Lake & Green  (c) EMI used by permission.

Track 7 : Psalms 42 & 43 (As A Hart) [arr. DS]
Track 8 : Psalm 66 (Shout to God all the Earth)  [arr. AT]
Track 9 : Psalm 5 (Give Heed to Me) A lament of Scottish origin I think – (not surprised after what we English did.)
Track 10 : If Jesus Is Lord Gnu
Track 11 : Come O Lord / Adagio An idea nicked from the first line of an Organ piece from Symphony no. 5 by Widor, followed by the whole of the Widor piece arranged for orchestra by Gnu.

All the words though borrowed from the Bible are copyrighted by Gnu and anyone found inserting extra occurrences of the words, exalt, majestic, awesome into any of these songs will be lifted high in the prosecution stakes.

Vetus Pater Gnu
Academiae Musicorum et Theologia
Turris LA
XIV Mense Aprilis MMXIX