Welcome to Anthem 5 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.

Before I talk about this week’s composition, I thought I might give a few recommendations of folk on social media who I have enjoyed following this week. Perhaps you’d like to follow them as well.

On Instagram, @emily.oxtoby_music is a talented young organist and singer who shares her exploits in a very engaging way. Also on Instagram, composer and choir leader of @singspacechoir, @oliviasparkhall’s latest venture is a book for children and young adults about vocal health. I’ve bought a copy for my daughter, Charlotte. Do follow those accounts which I will add to the show notes for this episode and while you’re at it, why not follow Charlotte @artistwhoisautistic?

This week’s anthem writing went rather well. Maybe it’s because I have recovered from my annoying illness or something completely different but I enjoyed producing a Candlemas anthem from traditional English words I found on the remarkable A Clerk of Oxford site. I don’t think it’s active any more but it still contains a lot of blog posts connected with choral singing. I’ll put the link to it in the show notes over on Anthem52.com.

Here are the two verses and one chorus I set from A Clerk of Oxford:

Words for Anthem 5:

The greatness of God in his love has been shown,
The light of his life on the nations is thrown:
And that which the Jews and the Greeks did divine
Is come in the fullness of Jesus to shine.

The Light of the World in the darkness has shone,
And grows in our sight as the ages flow on.

The Light of the World is more clear to our sight
As errors disperse and men see him aright:
In lands long in shadow, his churches arise
And blaze for their neighbours the Way of the Wise.

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 47 to go – but until then the question remains – will I make it to Anthem 52?