Welcome to Anthem 49 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.
By contrast to last week, this anthem was much easier to compose. In order to catch up with the rapidly disappearing weeks of 2024, I set myself the target of writing this anthem in 2 days. I wondered if I could write a carol that would fit into one of the ‘standard’ patterns congregations would recognise – and I think I got pretty close with anthem 49.
THe words come from another carol service, this time at St Stephen’s Church, Canterbury. It’s a 15th century Kent carol.
Here are the words I chose:
Words for Anthem 49:
Today our God of his great mercie
Hath sent his Son with us to be,
To dwell with us in verity,
God who is our Saviour.Today in Bethlehem did befall,
a child was born in ox’s stall,
Who needs must die to save us all,
God who is our Saviour.Today there spake an angel bright,
To shepherd there who watched by night,
And bade them take their way forthright,
To God who is our Saviour.Therefore ’tis meet we kneel today,
And Christ, who died on cross, we pray
To show his grace to us alway,
God who is our Saviour.
I used the whole carol text this time.
The pattern I chose to replicate was something like –
- Short organ introduction playing just the melody
- Soli trebles/sopranos for the first verse
- Short organ interlude between verses
- Soli tenors on the second verse
- Sopranos and altos on the third verse
- Tenors and basses on the fourth verse
- SATB unaccompanied on the last verse
- Repeated final line of the last verse, with organ accompaniment
The time signature is 6/8, again to be comfortable and familiar, and the melody sung by the trebles/sopranos is similarly designed to be approachable for choir and congregation. Despite this, I am happy with the results. The tune feels slightly unusual, not too predictable.
I also tried to veer away from predictable organ accompaniment. I still worry my organ parts are less than ideal but I tried to create counter-melodic and interesting organ accompaniment, especially where it’s an accompaniment to solo or duet parts.
One example of this approach I like is the single organ line to accompany the tenors and basses at bar 32 onwards. I came up with this high line as a contrast to the lower voices. I’m quite pleased with the effect.
The ending of the carol leads from 4-part harmony to a repeated, organ accompanied 2 bars and brings the short anthem to a satisfying close.
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 3 to go – but until then the question remains – will I make it to Anthem 52?
