Category: compositions

AcWriMo 9: Poppleton 887 887

Byartsyhonker November 12, 2012 0 Comments
This text by Ben Jonson is often sung to Melita: 1 I sing the birth was born tonight, The Author both of life and light: The angels so did sound it; And like the ravished shepherds said, Who saw the light and were afraid, Yet searched, and true they found it. 2 The Son of God, th'eternal King, That did us all salvation bring, And freed the world from danger, He whom the whole world could not...

AcWriMo 8 & #10eleven12: Leyton DCM

Byartsyhonker November 12, 2012 2 Comments
I completed this on Saturday, 10th November as my contribution to 10eleven12 but didn't get a chance to transcribe it and upload it until today. Words by Thomas Thurman: Elijah thought he stood alone; you spoke of his mistake, but took no form throughout the storm nor showed within the quake. O Lord, whose peaceful whispering within the silence stirred give now to those who bear your name an ear...

AcWriMo 7: Old Street CM

Byartsyhonker November 9, 2012 0 Comments
I like these words by Isaac Watts, but the only sung version of them I know is a bit difficult for congregational singing. You can hear it about 33 seconds into my Easter Journeys contribution from spring 2012: Now, I'm sure there are other tunes. "Martyrdom" is certainly used sometimes, but that is now so closely associated with "As pants the hart for cooling streams" that it feels a bit odd....

AcWriMo 6: Domine, fac me servum pacis tuae CM

Byartsyhonker November 8, 2012 0 Comments
I'm pleased with this one. Some months ago I asked a few friends if any of them would like to write a metrical version of the Prayer of St Francis of Assisi, as I've long been mildly dissatisfied with "Make me a channel of your peace". Alex Roberts obliged with this lovely Common Metre version: Make me an instrument of peace, To do your bidding, Lord. With love let me bid hatred cease, And bring...

AcWriMo 5: Cholsey

Byartsyhonker November 8, 2012 1 Comment
This one is to words by Ally Barrett, written for the closing ceremony of a supervision course for ministers. Be present, Lord, among us here, And speak to drive away our fear, And as a stranger seeking rest Be with us now as host and guest. Our mind and spirit, flesh and bone, Our past and present, things to come: To you, O Lord, we now present – We gladly spend, are gladly spent. Our...

AcWriMo 4: Milley 87 87 D

Byartsyhonker November 8, 2012 0 Comments
This one is to some words by Kit Smart: Where is this stupendous stranger? Gentle shepherd now, advise. Lead me to my Master's manger, show me where my Savior lies. O Most Mighty! O Most Holy! Far beyond the seraph's thought, art thou then so weak and lowly as unheeded prophets taught? O the magnitude of meekness! Worth from worth immortal sprung; O the strength of infant weakness, if eternal is...

AcWriMo 3: “Farringdon”

Byartsyhonker November 6, 2012 0 Comments
Here's the third tune, to this text by Alex Klages: Behold your King is coming! So prophets spoke of old, The blessèd birth foretelling As ages did unfold, The Lord of all creation, His perfect promise made; To bring the world salvation His plans, in order, laid. Behold your King is coming! So sang the joyous throng! As Jesus, lowly, riding A donkey heard the song. The greater son of David Into...

AcWriMo 2: “Harringey”

Byartsyhonker November 6, 2012 0 Comments
I asked Doug Chaplin if he had any hymn texts suitable for AcWriMo, and he sent me this text, saying it's not quite finished but I'm welcome to have a go: From the Jordan to the desert, from the crowd to barren place, Spirit-driven, Satan-tempted, Lord, you sought the Father’s grace: show us now your pow’r, in weakness, presence in the empty space. Out of Egypt with God’s people, freedom...

AcWriMo 1: “Mile End”, a metrical setting of the Benedicite

Byartsyhonker November 6, 2012 0 Comments
I'm not doing too badly with AcWriMo so far: I've written five tunes, and harmonised, er, some of them. Here's the first. The words are Chris Upton's metrical setting of the Benedicite, originally written with plainchant in mind. I hope that this setting will be more accessible for congregational singing, particularly where plainchant is unfamiliar. Many of the 11 11 11 5 tunes available are...

Transfiguration

Byartsyhonker October 3, 2012 1 Comment
One of the challenges of my job is finding music appropriate for our small choir at St Andrew's. The Anglican choral tradition is wonderful and beautiful and has a tendency to assume you have altos, tenors, basses and a positive horde of boy sopranos at your disposal. The reality is a bit different, and attempting the music of a large, well-stocked cathedral when we are a tiny parish with an...