Eternal Father, Strong to Save
for orchestra and chorus
« Eternal Father, Strong to Save » is a hymn from the British tradition that has been associated with seafarers, especially those in the maritime armed services. Written in 1860, its author, William Whiting, was inspired by the dangers of the sea as described in Psalm 107. The words have been set to the tune « Melita » which was composed by John B. Dykes in 1861 and in this format came to be popularized by the Royal Navy. Over time it was adopted by other naval services such as those in Canada and United States. The hymn has a long history in civilian maritime contexts as well, being regularly used by ships chaplains and sung during services on ocean crossings. This arrangement is for full orchestra and chorus. It uses the original words as written in 1861 and is arranged such that the last verse can see the inclusion of the audience in its performance.