Welcome to Anthem 42 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.

You might have picked up elsewhere that our home situation has changed dramatically in the last week or two as we have moved my father-in-law in with us. This new caring responsibility has meant very little time for anything else as we get used to it but, somehow, I did manage to squeeze in a bit of composition.

Probably due to the situation, I found writing music a bit of a slog this week but I did get there in the end. Isaac Watts came to my rescue once again with some words. I chose a short, 2-verse hymn that wouldn’t tax my brain too much (not that it really matters how long the text is to be fair) and this was the turn of the unaccompanied choir anthem.

Here are the words I chose:

Words for Anthem 42:

Thy name, al­migh­ty Lord,
Shall sound through dist­ant lands;
Great is Thy grace, and sure Thy Word;
Thy truth for ev­er stands.

Far be Thine hon­our spread,
And long Thy praise en­dure,
Till morn­ing light and ev­en­ing shade
Shall be ex­changed no more.

I wanted to continue my journey into unusual and memorable harmony but it wasn’t flowing, most likely because of the difficult home situation. I ended the day several times unhappy with the direction of the anthem. It did sound better each new morning, though, which may well have been because I was a bit fresher.

The resulting anthem starts with some imitation between parts and heads to a now traditional unusual cadence. At one point I was displeased how ordinary it was all beginning to sound so I threw in some ascending quavers and a key change. I think the words are reflected pretty well by the opening music.

Listening back as I was working on the anthem, I decided it really needed some more contrast so I added a 3/4 section with lots of fast-moving quavers and additional layers. I’m pleased with how that part turned out, adding a bit of interest to an otherwise fairly predictable tonality and movement.

The rest of the ‘return to normal’ section reflects the lyrics well, I think, and ends declaiming “light and evening shade shall be exchanged no more.” As quite often, the ending returns to the opening material and extends it to provide a definite ending, slowing and building to a climax. I might adapt this ending slightly but for now it’s okay.

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 – and a new anthem – only 10 to go – but until then the question remains – will I make it to Anthem 52?