Bless This House (song)
Encyclopedia
"Bless This House" is a song. The words were written by Englishwoman Helen Taylor, a poet, under the original title "Bless the House." The music was composed by Australian May Brahe
, a friend of Taylor's. It was published in 1927.
One of the first artists to record the song was tenor John McCormack. In the United States, this song is strongly associated with Thanksgiving
and is often sung around this time. It is frequently found in spiritual/inspirational collections, such as the Doris Day
album You'll Never Walk Alone
and the Perry Como
album I Believe, as well as in many Hymnals. It a was a favourite of Vera Lynn
, British WW2 "Forces Sweetheart" and appears on her album We'll Meet Again - The Best of Vera Lynn. Australian duo Generation Gap also recorded a version of the song which appears on their 2009 album A New Beginning. Other singers to record it include Peter Dawson, Jan Peerce
, Beniamino Gigli
, Josef Locke
, Benjamin Luxon
, Leontyne Price
, Lesley Garrett
and Bryn Terfel
.
May Brahe
May Brahe was an Australian composer, best known for her songs and ballads. Her most famous song by far is "Bless This House", recorded by John McCormack, Beniamino Gigli, Lesley Garrett and Bryn Terfel. She was the only Australian woman composer to win local and international recognition before...
, a friend of Taylor's. It was published in 1927.
One of the first artists to record the song was tenor John McCormack. In the United States, this song is strongly associated with Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
and is often sung around this time. It is frequently found in spiritual/inspirational collections, such as the Doris Day
Doris Day
Doris Day is an American actress, singer and, since her retirement from show business, an animal rights activist. With an entertainment career that spanned through almost 50 years, Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but only began to be noticed after her first hit recording,...
album You'll Never Walk Alone
You'll Never Walk Alone (Doris Day album)
You'll Never Walk Alone is a Columbia Records album number CS 8704, recorded by Doris Day with Jim Harbert's Orchestra. It was released on September 17, 1962. It contains mostly songs of a religious or spiritual nature. On April 23, 2007 it was released, together with Hooray for Hollywood, Volume...
and the Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
album I Believe, as well as in many Hymnals. It a was a favourite of Vera Lynn
Vera Lynn
Dame Vera Lynn, DBE is an English singer-songwriter and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during World War II. During the war she toured Egypt, India and Burma, giving outdoor concerts for the troops...
, British WW2 "Forces Sweetheart" and appears on her album We'll Meet Again - The Best of Vera Lynn. Australian duo Generation Gap also recorded a version of the song which appears on their 2009 album A New Beginning. Other singers to record it include Peter Dawson, Jan Peerce
Jan Peerce
Jan Peerce was an American operatic tenor. Peerce was an accomplished performer on the operatic and Broadway concert stages, in solo recitals, and as a recording artist. He is the father of film director Larry Peerce....
, Beniamino Gigli
Beniamino Gigli
Beniamino Gigli was an Italian opera singer. The most famous tenor of his generation, he was renowned internationally for the great beauty of his voice and the soundness of his vocal technique. Music critics sometimes took him to task, however, for what was perceived to be the over-emotionalism...
, Josef Locke
Josef Locke
Josef Locke was the stage name of Joseph McLaughlin , a tenor singer who was successful in the United Kingdom and Ireland in the 1940s and 1950s....
, Benjamin Luxon
Benjamin Luxon
Benjamin Matthew Luxon CBE is a retired British baritone.-Biography:He studied with Walter Grünner at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and established an international reputation as a singer when he won a third prize at the 1961 ARD International Music Competition in Munich...
, Leontyne Price
Leontyne Price
Mary Violet Leontyne Price is an American soprano. Born and raised in the Deep South, she rose to international acclaim in the 1950s and 1960s, and was one of the first African Americans to become a leading artist at the Metropolitan Opera.One critic characterized Price's voice as "vibrant",...
, Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett
Lesley Garrett CBE is an English musician, broadcaster and media personality.- Early life :Garrett was born in the town of Thorne near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, into a musical family. She attended Thorne Grammar School, where she performed in school plays and musicals. As she grew up she...
and Bryn Terfel
Bryn Terfel
Bryn Terfel Jones CBE is a Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer. Terfel was initially associated with the roles of Mozart, particularly Figaro and Leporello, but has subsequently shifted his attention to heavier roles, especially those by Wagner....
.
External references
- Vera Lynn album We'll Meet Again - The Best of Vera Lynn featuring "Bless This House" http://www.amazon.co.uk/Well-Meet-Again-Best-Vera/dp/B00022LZKK
- Generation Gap album A New Beginning featuring "Bless This House" http://www.generationgap.net.au/discography.html