And Can It Be

SAGINA, by Thomas Campbell (b. Sheffield, England, 1777; d. England , 1844), is almost universally associated with "And Can It Be." Little is known of Campbell other than his publication The Bouquet (1825), in which each of twenty-three tunes has a horticultural name. SAGINA borrows its name from a genus of the pink family of herbs, which includes baby's breath and the carnation. Sing this tune vigorously and in parts, especially at the refrain; singers should be sure to keep the melismas legato, especially in lines 5 and 6. - Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1987, on hymnary.org.