Hughes M. Huffman's SARAH first appeared in Hymns II (1976) as a setting for Henry Collins's text “Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All.” He wrote the tune for that text in 1975 and named it in memory of his sister, who died in 1974, only three years after receiving her doctorate in organ from Yale University. The tune was first sung in 1976 at Christ Church, Oak Brook, Illinois, where Huffman served as minister of music from 1965-1977. SARAH sings well in harmony because it has repeated melodic and rhythmic motives.
Huffman (b. Morganton, NC, 1942) received his education at Wheaton College, Illinois; Northern Baptist Seminary, Oak Brook, Illinois; and Northern Illinois University, De Kalb. He was coeditor of the InterVarsity Hymns II (1976) and Carols (1978). Since 1988 he has been minister of music at the First Presbyterian Church of Covina, California. He has composed over twenty hymn tunes and arrangements.
--Psalter Hymnal Handbook
