Every morning at The Singing School we are led in our chapel worship by our talented staff. It is in this setting that we are introduced to new songs and the instructors model various aspects of song leading to the students. For the past twenty years we have had these assemblies in The Chapel on the Hill, a beautiful room that was designed with a cappella singing in mind. It has been said that The Chapel on the Hill is as close to acoustically perfect as one will find outside of a laboratory.
From the seventy-or-so songs we sing Monday-Thursday, students vote on their favorite two of each day. Thursday we take all the results, tally them, and produce The Top Ten for that year, the favorite songs of The Singing School.
Below you will see every Top Ten list we could find. It might serve the beginning of a discussion on the transitional nature of church music, but also the enduring qualities of some great songs.
Singing School 2008 Top Ten:
1. The Greatest Commands, 1973
2. O Lord, Our Lord, 1874
3. Still (tied for 3rd) 2002
3. Who Shall Stand Before the King? (tied for 3rd), 2001
4. There's a Stirring, 1992
5. Salvation Has Been Brought Down, 1940
6. Thomas' Song, 1993
6. Faithful Love, 1993
7. Here I Am to Worship, 2000
8. Jesus, Flow Like a River (tied for 8th), 1989
8. Days of Elijah (tied for 8th), 1996
9. He Bore It All, 1926
10. The Lord Bless You and Keep You, 1900
Singing School 2007 Top Ten
1. Days of Elijah, 1996
2. The Greatest Commands, 1973
3. There's a Stirring, 1992
4. The Lord Bless You and Keep You, 1900
5. Faithful Love, 1993
6. He Bore It All, 1926
7. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
8. Shout To The Lord, 1993
9. Wonderful Grace of Jesus, 1918
10. My God And King, 2004
Singing School 2006 Top Ten
1. The Lord Bless You And Keep You, 1900
2. There's a Stirring, 1992
3. Light the Fire, 1986
4. Faithful Love, 1993
5. Shine, Jesus, Shine, 1987
6. Days of Elijah, 1996
7. Ring Out the Message, 1911
8. You Are My All In All, 1991
9. Jesus Flow Like A River, 1989
10. He Bore It All, 1926
Singing School 2005 Top Ten
1. There’s a Stirring, 1992
2. Light the Fire, 1986
3. The Lord Bless You and Keep You, 1900
4. Days of Elijah, 1996
5. You are My All in All, 1990
6. Don’t You Want to Go to That Land?
7. Shout to the Lord, 1993
8. God Bless You, Go With God, 1959
9. Shine, Jesus, Shine, 1987
10. Glorify Thy Name, 1976
Singing School 2004 Top Ten
1. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
2. There’s a Stirring, 1992
3. Shine on Us, 1996
4. Light the Fire, 1986
5. Don’t You Want to Go to That Land?
6. O Lord, Our Lord, 1874
7. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, 1707/1824
8. My God and I, 1935
9. It is Well with my Soul, 1873/1876
10. He Gave Me a Song, 1977
Singing School 2003 Top Ten
1. Light the Fire, 1986
2. There’s a Stirring, 1992
3. Don’t You Want to Go to That Land?
4. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
5. Listen to Our Hearts, 1992
6. I Will Call Upon the Lord, 1981
7. Nobody Fills My Heart Like Jesus, 1992
8. Have You Seen Jesus My Lord?, 1970
9. God Bless You, Go with God, 1959
10. He is Able, 1989
Singing School 2002 Top Ten
1. For Those Tears I Died, 1972
2. I’m Gonna View that Holy City
3. Listen to Our Hearts, 1992
4. My Eyes Are Dry, 1978
5. Everybody Will Be Happy Over There, 1921
6. Shout to the Lord, 1993
7. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
8. Restore My Soul, 1985
9. I Will Call Upon the Lord, 1981
10. Boundless Love, 1980
Singing School 2001 Top Ten
1. The New Song, 1926 (or The Great Redeemer, 1915)
2. Get Right, Church
3. Ring Out the Message, 1911
4. Listen to Our Hearts, 1992
5. Jesus Paid It All, 1917
6. Everybody Will Be Happy Over There, 1921
7. Shine, Jesus, Shine, 1988
8. I Will Call Upon the Lord, 1981
9. The Lord Bless You and Keep You, 1900
10. Boundless Love, 1980
