[Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad!]

Composer: James Vila Blake

Blake, James Vila. (Brooklyn, New York, January 21, 1842--April 28, 1925, Chicago, Illinois). He graduated from Harvard College in 1862 and from Harvard Divinity School in 1866, and served Unitarian churches in Massachusetts and Illinois, his last and longest pastorate being at Evanston, Illinois, 1892-1916. Author of a number of books. He shared with W.G. Gannett and F.L. Hosmer in the compilation of the first edition of Unity Hymns and Chorals, (1880), which included his hymn, "Father, Thou art calling, calling to us plainly," included also in The New Hymn and Tune Book, 1914, and in Hymns of the Spirit, 1937. the latter book also includes his hymn of the church universal, "O sing with loud and joyful song." --Henry Wilder Foote, DN… Go to person page >