EL NATHAN

Composer: James McGranahan

James McGranahan was a nineteenth-century American musician and composer, most known for his various hymns. He was born 4 July 1840, in West Fallowfield or Adamsville, Pennsylvania, and died 9 July 1907 in Kinsman, Ohio. He composed over 25 hymns. For example, in one work he is listed as the composer of three notable songs: "He Will Hide Me" by Mary Elizabeth Servoss, "Revive Thy Work, O Lord" by Albert Midlane, and "Come" by a "Mrs. James Gibson Johnson";and he composed the music for at least 39 of the 79 hymns in a work co-authored with Ira D. Sankey. McGranahan composed most of the tunes for the lyrics of Major Daniel Webster Whittle, including EL NATHAN, the tune associated with Whittle's "I Know Whom I Have Believèd" (written 1883)… Go to person page >

Tune Information

Composer: James McGranahan (1883)
Meter: 8.6.8.6 D
Incipit: 13343 21655 35565
Key: D Major

Texts

I Know Not Why God's Wondrous Grace

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.
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Notes

James McGranahan (PHH 99), Whittle's song leader, composed EL NATHAN. The tunes title is a pseudonym used by Whittle. A typical gospel hymn tune, EL NATHAN is constructed with a few melodic lines and a very simple harmony, but it is marked by some rhythmic interest. The tune is easily sung in parts. Try singing the stanzas in two long lines. The text of the refrain calls for one long extended phrase; accompanists and choirs using staggered breathing can demonstrate the effectiveness of a musical “communion of the saints” by performing the entire refrain without a break.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Media

Baptist Hymnal 1991 #337
Text: I Know Whom I Have Believed
Christian Classics Ethereal Hymnary #344
  • Four-part harmony, full-score (PDF, NWC)
Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #495
Text: I Know Not Why God's Wondrous Grace
Timeless Truths #578
Text: I Know Whom I Have Believed
  • I_Know_Whom_I_Have_Believed.sib (SIB, Scorch)
The United Methodist Hymnal #714
Text: I Know Whom I Have Believed
Worship and Rejoice #407
Text: I Know Whom I Have Believed

Instances

Instances (16)TextImageAudioScore
Baptist Hymnal 1991 #337TextImageAudioScore
Baptist Hymnal 2008 #353TextImage
Celebrating Grace Hymnal #588Image
Celebration Hymnal #527Image
Christian Classics Ethereal Hymnary #344AudioScore
Hinário para o Culto Cristão #447
Hymns of Faith #229TextImage
Lift Up Your Hearts: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs #690Image
Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #495TextImageAudioScore
Revival Hymns and Choruses #87Audio
Sing Joyfully #310TextImage
The Covenant Hymnal: a worshipbook #440
The United Methodist Hymnal #714TextImageAudioScore
The Worshiping Church #493TextImage
Trinity Hymnal #705Text
Worship and Rejoice #407TextImageAudioScore