Omnibus (1967)

God's Tunes (1x22)

Air date: Apr 02, 1968

A programme about hymns written and narrated by Robin Ray. "My idea of heaven is eating pates de foie gras to the sound of trumpets." (The Rev. Sydney Smith) "When you associate the Kingdom of God with the British Empire you are in considerable trouble." (Lord Soper) "Please God keep us good and, by the way, we believe in the Trinity." (A Medieval Monks' Hymn) Hymns form part of our heritage and when the words are forgotten the tunes remain. Tunes that instantly recapture thoughts and feelings and emotions lost in our childhood. But what makes a good hymn?-the tune, the words, or its sentiment? Are the great hymns of the past 200 years - which often dwell on sin and guilt - now out of date? How clinical and 'with-it' can a modern hymn afford to be before it loses all emotional overtones? These are some of the questions posed in this programme, which features: The Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Soper, The Rev. Jack Putterill, John Betjeman, General Frederick Coutts, David Holbrook, To