Calvin Weiss Laufer
1874 - 1938
Presbyterian
Biography
Calvin Weiss Laufer was not only a Presbyterian minister and hymn editor but also a composer of hymn tunes. His musical work grew out of decades spent preparing worship resources for congregations and church schools through Presbyterian publishing agencies. Hymnary.org attributes a number of tunes to him, including PERCIVAL-SMITH, the tune historically printed with “O Thou Eternal Christ of God” in “The Methodist Hymnal” of 1935 and later hymnals.
PERCIVAL-SMITH is in Common Meter Double, 8.6.8.6 D, matching Laufer’s text. Hymnal records describe it as being in C minor or modal, giving the setting a grave but forward-moving character appropriate to Palm Sunday and the hymn’s themes of costly discipleship and Christ’s reign. The 1935 Methodist hymnal credits both text and tune to Laufer and prints a 1934 copyright notice for each.
Other hymnals later paired the text with different tunes, including the traditional Welsh LLANGLOFFAN and William Harold Ferguson’s LADYWELL. Those later pairings should not obscure that PERCIVAL-SMITH is a genuine Laufer composition and an historically important setting of his own text.
PERCIVAL-SMITH is in Common Meter Double, 8.6.8.6 D, matching Laufer’s text. Hymnal records describe it as being in C minor or modal, giving the setting a grave but forward-moving character appropriate to Palm Sunday and the hymn’s themes of costly discipleship and Christ’s reign. The 1935 Methodist hymnal credits both text and tune to Laufer and prints a 1934 copyright notice for each.
Other hymnals later paired the text with different tunes, including the traditional Welsh LLANGLOFFAN and William Harold Ferguson’s LADYWELL. Those later pairings should not obscure that PERCIVAL-SMITH is a genuine Laufer composition and an historically important setting of his own text.
Hymns by Calvin Weiss Laufer
O Thou Eternal Christ of God
Role: Lyricist
The Lord Is in His Holy Temple
Role: Composer
We Thank Thee, Lord, Thy Paths of Service Lead
Role: Lyricist