Who wrote this?

[Guest]

A little while ago - well in the first half of the 20th century, would you believe? - I was a treble and until recently, have supposed that the thrilling setting of Psalm 8 which we then sang was by Vaughan Williams.

However, after spending much time looking for this on the web, I have failed to find any mention thereof and am beginning to doubt the accuracy of memory. Sadly, I can't afford the hundred quid for Mr Kennedy's book. At the time, the choirmaster was "big into" Eric Thiman but I don't think it was him either.

Not sure how to describe this other than in musical notation but the first line "O Lord our governor, how excellent is thy name in all the world." (C maj) gagc ascending followed by cagdc descending to finish on the lower c. Obviously there are differing note values here but it can easily be made a recognisable chant.

Does any of this make sense? And does anyone have any clue as to the composer? I should love to hear a performance of this.

[Thropplenoggin]

Hello Cornet IV. Alas, I can't help you but I'm sure some of the more knowledgeable forum members can.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A little while ago - well in the first half of the 20th century, would you believe? - I was a treble and until recently, have supposed that the thrilling setting of Psalm 8 which we then sang was by Vaughan Williams.

However, after spending much time looking for this on the web, I have failed to find any mention thereof and am beginning to doubt the accuracy of memory. Sadly, I can't afford the hundred quid for Mr Kennedy's book. At the time, the choirmaster was "big into" Eric Thiman but I don't think it was him either.

Not sure how to describe this other than in musical notation but the first line "O Lord our governor, how excellent is thy name in all the world." (C maj) gagc ascending followed by cagdc descending to finish on the lower c. Obviously there are differing note values here but it can easily be made a recognisable chant.

Does any of this make sense? And does anyone have any clue as to the composer? I should love to hear a performance of this.

It does make sense, and I think I've sung it recently. Could it be S.S.Wesley? I'll get back to you if a bell rings.

[mopsus]

Is this Anglican chant? The RSCM Millennium Youth Choir sang a chant by Vaughan Williams on a broadcast which goes as follows: G*-A*-G*-C D-F-E-D-C-D E-F-E-A G-F/E-D/C-D-D-C (asterisked notes are lower octave). The first quarter at least coincides with what you transcribe. Don't know which psalm they sang it to, or what chant book was the source but given the links between the choir and the Exultate Singers, perhaps exultatesingers could fill in.

[Petrushka]

I have a slightly similar query. Many years ago as a treble in our Parish Church choir we sang a setting of All creatures of Our God and King that I am convinced was by Sir William Harris. However, all searches on the web etc have proved fruitless and I now doubt my own memory. I remember the tune vividly but the only way I can descibe it here is to say that the central section bears an uncanny resemblance to the quiet section of Elgar's Cockaigne Overture.

Any takers among you choral experts?

(I hope Cornet IV doesn't mind me butting in with a query of my own. These things do bug one don't they?)

[ardcarp]

I can't recall singing (or playing) a chant by VW, a name not usually associated with psalm chants. However the chant you have notated, mopsus, sounds familiar, though not in that key (top A a bit shrieky for sops!) Hope others can help with CornetIV's and Petrushka's enquiries.

[Suffolkcoastal]

The only setting I've come across is the one by Healey Willan, which was composed for the present Queen's coronation and it is slightly Vaughan Williams like.

[mopsus]

I can't recall singing (or playing) a chant by VW, a name not usually associated with psalm chants. However the chant you have notated, mopsus, sounds familiar, though not in that key (top A a bit shrieky for sops!) Hope others can help with CornetIV's and Petrushka's enquiries.

No, I don't know what key that chant was originally in, and it's the only one I know of by Vaughan Williams; perhaps someone has arranged it from one of VW's works? But such isolates do exist, for example the two chants by Finzi. And no, I've never sung a chant that went above G (Talbot's, familiar to devotees of York Minster & St Thomas 5th Ave.) unless it was a descant.

[Vox Humana]

I know of two double chants by RVW. One has the melody described above by mopsus, though it is a fourth lower in G major; apparently it was written for St Martin's Church Dorking, to be sung to Psalm 67. The other, in D major, is dated 12/10/57 and was composed for St Andrew's, Norwich, to be sung to the Nunc Dimittis. I have to say I would not trouble to include either if I were compiling a collection.

I have a slightly similar query. Many years ago as a treble in our Parish Church choir we sang a setting of All creatures of Our God and King that I am convinced was by Sir William Harris. However, all searches on the web etc have proved fruitless and I now doubt my own memory.

You are correct. It is for SATB unaccompanied and appeared in RSCM Choir Book Number Ten (1959). Perhaps it was available separately as well.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The only setting I've come across is the one by Healey Willan, which was composed for the present Queen's coronation and it is slightly Vaughan Williams like.

Yes; the opening treble line follows the contour of the first phrase CornetIV mentions, but the answering phrase doesn't:

http://www.classicalarchives.com/work/268672.html

(there's an MP3 sample of the opening underneath the image of the CD cover to check - perhaps more Parry-like than RVW, but closer to him than the Purcell, Bond and Wesley examples that were the only other settings I could find. )

[egg counter]

I have a slightly similar query. Many years ago as a treble in our Parish Church choir we sang a setting of All creatures of Our God and King that I am convinced was by Sir William Harris. However, all searches on the web etc have proved fruitless and I now doubt my own memory. I remember the tune vividly but the only way I can descibe it here is to say that the central section bears an uncanny resemblance to the quiet section of Elgar's Cockaigne Overture.

Any takers among you choral experts?


(I hope Cornet IV doesn't mind me butting in with a query of my own. These things do bug one don't they?)

It does exist and I have a copy, it was published in the RSCM Choirbook number 10.

All creatures of our God and King by Sir William Harris copyright RSCM 1959.

ec

[ardcarp]

The other, in D major, is dated 12/10/57

A late work.

[Vox Humana]

A late work.

Written on his last birthday, it would seem. Definitely not what Cornet IV is seeking, anyway.

I should add that the information about both those chants is what was written on the copy that was sent to me. I am taking it at face value...

[Petrushka]

Many thanks to Vox Humana and egg counter for proving my memory hasn't completely gone. Now all I need is a recording. Anyone?

I recall several editions of the RSCM Choirbooks. Sang twice under Dr Gerald Knight (Victoria Hall, Hanley, 1965 and Lichfield Cathedral 1972).

Hope Cornet IV has his problem solved too.

[Cornet IV]

Hope Cornet IV has his problem solved too.

So do I! But you're welcome.

I fear I have muddied the waters a little. The "O Lord our governor" opening bit could be developed as a chant but it is not heard again until the end when it is repeated as a conclusion. In between, the construction is free form, melodic and, now that you mention it Eine Alpensinphonie, surprisingly Mendelssohnic. I shall "throughly" pursue this avenue.

I "wrote" the example in C maj simply because G# or similar would have defeated my transcription - and Windows 95!. Actually, I have no idea what the original key might have been.

I'm grateful to all you sleuths for your help.