Welcome to Anthem 31 in my attempt to write a new choir anthem every week for a year. I’m Kevin Mulryne and I hope you will enjoy listening to my progress throughout 2024. Please do visit the website Anthem52.com, follow along on x.com – @realanthem52 or Instagram – @realanthem52 and send me a message to show@anthem52.com.
It was back to Compline this week – again. Imagine my surprise when I found these words, very close to the others I had used for Lux and Nox:
I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; for it is thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
As usual, there was a word that when translated into Latin follows the same pattern as the previous two anthems – peace – pax. So the theme and mood of this week’s anthem was set. It was time to write for choir and organ, so it would be another challenge and, presumably, it would result in a different sound to Nox and Lux … or maybe not. Anyway, here are the Latin words:
Words for Anthem 31:
In pace in idipsum * dormiam et requiescam.
Quoniam tu Domine singulariter in spe constituisti me.
Gloria Patri et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
The other approach I had intended to take this week was to use one of my favourite anthems as a model – So They Gave Their Bodies by Peter Aston:
We tend to sing this anthem on Remembrance Day as the words are obviously highly appropriate.
I decided to combine the words I discovered and the approach of this anthem so I started mine off with a vaguely similar idea. The organ has a repeated figure and the choir come in singing in unison. Beyond this, there isn’t a great deal of similarity between the two anthems but it was a good way to get started. It helped me to set a mood and general feel.
I was concerned that the continuous pedal note in the organ part would become annoying or tedious but, in the end, I rather like the effect of stillness and peace it evokes. It also makes the eventual change of note in the organ more refreshing.
I like the offbeat pattern of the organ bass notes and I deliberately elaborated and changed the right hand of the organ part both to fit in with what the choir parts were doing and to provide a little interest and colour.
A second ‘verse’ was fairly obvious so I repeated the opening material, with appropriate changes. There is a crescendo to the ‘Gloria’ passage and I like the overlapping choir parts in this section. I think the move to different bass notes helps to emphasise the words and even though I wasn’t expecting the anthem to have a climax, I like the way it has transpired.
Next, we are back to the opening material again but with a subtle change in the rhythm of the organ bass part and some unaccompanied choir thrown in. As this passage continues, I add different bass organ notes to keep the momentum going and the short Amen section is based on the opening more completely. Very few of the anthems I have composed so far have ended quietly but this one does and I like it.
Overall, I think this is one of the most satisfying anthems so far. It feels more finished that a lot of the other ones and it sounds rather like it has been written by someone who knows what they are doing. How wrong appearances can be.
Unfortunately, the Logic Pro issues continue to frustrate me so this week it’s another MuseScore production, albeit with a different organ sound.
Anyway, see what you think:
Well, what do you think? Let me know on X.com @realanthem52, Instagram @realanthem52, as a comment below or via email show@anthem52.com
I hope you will join me next week for a new episode (perhaps featuring my second interview – will I ever record another?) – and a new anthem – only 21 to go – but until then the question remains – will I make it to Anthem 52?
