Q 01/05

Who wrote the words to 'Amazing Grace'?

A) William Cowper

B) John Newton

C) Charles Wesley

D) Isaac Watts

Answer · why

B) John Newton

Newton was a former slave-ship captain turned Anglican curate; the hymn illustrated a New Year's Day sermon in 1773.

Q 02/05

In which hymn collection did 'Amazing Grace' first appear in print, in 1779?

A) Hymns Ancient and Modern

B) Songs of Praise

C) Olney Hymns

D) The Sacred Harp

Answer · why

C) Olney Hymns

Newton compiled it with the poet William Cowper while curate of Olney in Buckinghamshire.

Q 03/05

What is the name of the tune to which 'Amazing Grace' has been sung since 1835?

A) New Britain

B) Eventide

C) Nicaea

D) St. Anne

Answer · why

A) New Britain

New Britain is the tune William Walker paired with the words in his 1835 shape-note book Southern Harmony, after more than 20 other melodies had been ...

Q 04/05

'Be Still, My Soul' is sung to a melody from which Sibelius tone poem?

A) Finlandia

B) Tapiola

C) En Saga

D) The Swan of Tuonela

Answer · why

A) Finlandia

Finlandia: the hymn tune is taken from Sibelius's 1899 tone poem and carries Katharina von Schlegel's German words, translated into English by Jane Bo...

Q 05/05

Carl Boberg's 1885 poem 'O Store Gud', later a famous English hymn, was written in which language?

A) Swedish

B) Norwegian

C) Welsh

D) German

Answer · why

A) Swedish

Swedish: Carl Boberg wrote 'O Store Gud' in 1885 at Mönsterås on Sweden's Baltic coast, after watching a thunderstorm clear over the bay.