HELMSLEY: my new favorite hymn tune
Wow .... I mean, the end of it isn’t as cool as the rest of it, but geez, the first two lines. I am especially enthralled with the end of the 2nd line, that great 3-2 motion (although, notice the parallel 5th between tenor and soprano?).
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/h/lhecomes.htm
Kinda too bad, the time of year for this one (early Advent) has passed. Eh well. Always next year. :)
NB: The MIDI takes it faster than my taste, which could just be my exposure to a slower, broader tempo at our local cathedral (where they typically take these things at a slow tempo because of super-bouncy acoustics). Quarter at about 92 sounds about right to me.
posted by Cantor @ 12:20 AM
5 comments
5 Comments:
I was juuuust about to introduce that one at my church, but I used the same text to ST THOMAS (the tantum ergo tune) instead. The text and tune are both glorious! Maybe next year we'll use Helmsley.
This has been one of my favorite hymns for years. Of course, I am an Episcopal/Anglican musician and this is quite the quintessential Anglican tune. Vaughan Williams did well in remaking a feebly decorated 18th Century tune.
This hymn goes well with big stone churches/cathedrals and lots of incense.
Way old thread, I hop you take notice -- although this appears in the Advent section of my New English Hymnal (I admit, I didn't know it before, except as a tune used for a voluntary in an organ book,) do you think the words LIMIT it to Advent?
It speaks of so many facets of the Christ-event, it reminds me of Let All Mortal Flesh, and I could see using it for Christ the King, or general use.
Would that be absurd?
Not at all absurd to use “Lo, He Comes” on Christ the King - it’s an eschatological hymn, and the last (two?) weeks of OT are focused on such matters, as is Advent through December 16th.
General use, I dunno. It seems awfully specific to a certain theme (which is, in turn, tied pretty specifically to a certain time of year).
Musicians might note that Helmsley is the longest hymn tune which contains no accidentals !
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