Fairest Lord Jesus

LISTEN: POP demo | LISTEN: ORC demo

Originally arranged way back in 2002, Fairest Lord Jesus was one of my first Hymncharts arrangements. I’ve now recorded it for the first time with vocal demos, stereo tracks and multitracks, added transposed chord charts and enhanced the vocal and instrumental parts. It only took me 19 years. (Better late than never!)

Fun fact: one of my favorite session vocalists sings this one: Kirk Kirkland! Kirk was recently named the head of Lifeway Worship. Congratulations, Kirk! I can now say a major worship publishing executive sings on Hymncharts 🥳

A Hymn With a Fake Backstory

Here’s something interesting I learned about this hymn: you may have heard it called the “Crusader’s Hymn,” supposedly sung by German knights marching to Jerusalem in the 12th century. It’s a great story, but sadly, completely made up!

The text actually first shows up in a manuscript from Münster, Germany in 1673, written by an anonymous author, and the tune we all know is a Silesian folk melody that wasn’t even published until 1842. A 19th century publisher attached the crusader legend on it and it stuck. The truth isn’t as flashy but interesting nonetheless: an unknown believer looked at everything beautiful in the world (meadows, woodlands, sunshine, starlight) and concluded that Jesus shines purer than all of it. That’s why the hymn still works in worship 350 years later. If your congregation loves Beautiful Savior (same hymn, different translation), this is that.

Why I’m Recording These Old Arrangements

When I started Hymncharts years ago I assumed everyone knew the hymns, so I didn’t bother creating audio demos. How wrong I was! I once planned Come, Ye Thankful People, Come for Thanksgiving, whipped it out at rehearsal, and my praise team stared at me blankly. Nobody knew it. We scrapped it on the spot 😭

And when the singers DO know a hymn, they usually turn their noses up (“yuck, a boring hymn!”). The week we first did Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us I got yawns until they finally heard the full band treatment at Sunday’s pre-service rehearsal. Suddenly everyone got in the groove and we had a blast. Lesson learned: singers need to hear the full version before they can get excited about it, and the band needs to hear where the song is going.

How to Use the Tracks

1. Rehearsal: Email the MP3 or post it on your worship planning site so your team can learn the arrangement during the week. Don’t feel like you have to copy my instrumental version exactly. It’s just a guide.

2. Performance: Play along with the stereo tracks or multitracks in worship. In the early days of my church it was often just me on keyboard plus tracks. You might not have ANY musicians. Tracks to the rescue!

3. Prelude/postlude: Play the vocal demo or stereo track before or after the service. Instant ambiance.

Bottom Line: Fairest Lord Jesus has survived 350 years, a fake crusader legend and my 19-year recording delay, and it’ll still work beautifully in your worship service this Sunday.

Read more about why I’m recording the earliest arrangements.

Learn the hymn history of Fairest Lord Jesus.

Download Fairest Lord Jesus Today:

Download sheet music, chord charts, tracks, multitracks and orchestration for the remix of Fairest Lord Jesus exclusively with a Hymncharts subscription.