Tag: hymnody

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...

So why does a poor East London church need a pipe organ, anyway?

Byartsyhonker October 8, 2012 4 Comments
At St Andrew's Leytonstone we're hosting a hymnathon this weekend, to raise money for the repair of our pipe organ. Fundraising is going well, but there have been some questions. In this time of austerity, unemployment and recession, what are we doing raising money to pay for the repair of an instrument a century old? Can't we just get an electric organ, and spend the money on more useful things,...

Let all the world in every corner sing.

Byartsyhonker July 13, 2012 7 Comments
I had a bit of a rant on Twitter this morning. I was upset by the government's continued assault on the poor and vulnerable through the dismantling of the welfare state, and I was frustrated with churches for what seems like apathy in the face of it, though it may be that it's closer to self-preservation than lack of care. Too often, it seems, we want to leave "politics" out of our religious...

Nothing works the frist time.

Byartsyhonker May 24, 2012 1 Comment
I may be up past my bedtime, having harmonised the little tune I wrote earlier. Here's a rough draft harmonised version: Here's a .pdf of the sheet music: While dead in sin 001 And here's the problem: Revd Klages tweeted in haste, and the text he posted, while making sense, was not in fact 8.7.8.6.4.9.5.3.3.11, but rather 8.7.8.6.9.6.3.3.11. Note the missing line and the one with the extra...

How to introduce new music in churches

Byartsyhonker April 16, 2012 1 Comment
I wrote this as a comment elsewhere, and thought it perhaps worth reproducing:You can get congregations to sing new music, but it takes a bit of work and cooperation from your organist/music director/whoever. 1) If you have one, see if you can get the choir (or music group or what have you) to sing the new tune (possibly to old words!) as a Communion hymn or an anthem a few times.2) In the weeks...