HYMN TUNE DESCANTS AND ALTERNATIVE HARMONISATIONS
ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS’ NAME
Bb major. Tune: Diadem (CM) by James Ellor (1819-1899), words by Edward Perronet (1726-1792).
- 2017
- 4 minutes
- Commissioned by ETB.Samuel Jigme Harrison
- 9 April 2017: Palm Sunday Service at Parish of Christ Church, Singapore. ETB. Samuel Jigme Harrison (organ)
- 1 January 2018: New Year Service at Parish of Christ Church, 1 Dorset Road, Singapore. ETB Samuel Jigme Harrison (organ)
ALL PEOPLE THAT ON EARTH DO DWELL
- 2011
- 5 minutes
Performances
7 January 2018: Church of St Peter & St Paul, Wing, Rutland, UK.
COME DOWN, O LOVE DIVINE
A major. Tune: North Petherton 6 6 11. 6 6 11 by W.H.Harris (1883-1973); words by Bianco da Siena (d.1434) tr. R.F.Littledale.
- 2015
- 3 minutes
The descant (for verse 4) has a range from E’-A’’ and will suit a competent choir capable of soaring G#s/A. It is suggested that verse 3 is sung in unison whilst the organ plays the alternative harmonisation. This has a colourful minor mode flavour before returning to the major key, ready for an uplifting final verse with the ethereal descant.
COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME
G major. Tune: St George – 7777. D by Sir GJ Elvey, (1816–93), words by H Alford and compilers.
- 2017
- 3 minutes
- Commissioned by ETB.Samuel Jigme Harrison, Christ Church, Singapore
- 13 August 2017: 8am Service (in Tamil) at Parish of Christ Church, Dorset Road, Singapore. ETB. Samuel Jigme Harrison (organ)
- 8 October 2017: Harvest Festival service at St Peter & St Paul, Wing, Rutland, UK (composer)
GOD IS HERE, AND THAT TO BLESS US
A flat major. Tune by Chester G Allen (1838 to 1878); words by Fanny J Crosby (1820 to 1915)
- Op.47 No.22
- 2018
- 3 minutes
- Commissioned by Samuel Harrison, Parish of Christ Church, Singapore
God is here, and that to bless us has a jubilant contrapuntal vocal descant (range A flat’–Aflat”) and an alternative organ harmonisation mostly in related minor keys.
Performances
- 19 August 2018, Parish of Christ Church, Singapore. Samuel Harrison (organ)
GOOD CHRISTIAN MEN, REJOICE AND SING
C major. Tune: ‘Gelobt sei Gott’ 888 with Alleluias by M.Vulpius, Gesangbuch 1609 harmonised by F.Layriz, 1844.
- 2011
- 5 minutes
This is a stirring, ethereal descant with some melismatic writing. Range G–A”.
The alternative harmony is chromatic, with a rich, minor flavour. The abundant use of descending passing notes borrows from a bass line in the original.
LET US WITH GLADSOME MIND
C major. Tune: Monkland 7 7 7 7 by J Wilkes 1785-1869, adapted from J Lee’s Hymn Tunes of the United Brethren, 1824; words by John Milton.
- 2010
- 5 minutes
The straightforward descant is intended for the final, seventh verse, and there is an an alternative organ harmonisation suitable for, perhaps, verse 5. It is more elaborate than the original, modulating freely, and hovering initially around A minor, the relative minor key. This music can also be used for the hymn Praise, O praise our God and King (words by Sir HW Baker, see Ancient & Modern Revised no. 481 where the alternative harmonisation might be used in verse 3 or 4, and the descant on the final, eighth verse.
LORD, DISMISS US
A major. Tune: Dismissal 8.7.8.7.4.7. by WL Viner (1790 to 1867); words by J Fawcett (1740 to 1817).
- 2018
- 3 minutes
- Commissioned by Samuel Harrison, Parish of Christ Church, Singapore
Lord, dismiss us has a straightforward vocal descant (range A–A”) and a chromatic alternative organ harmonisation mostly in the relative minor.
Performances
- 19 August 2018: Parish of Christ Church, Singapore. Samuel Harrison (organ)
LORD, THY WORD ABIDETH
F major. Tune: Ravenshaw 6 6 6 6 German Medieval Melody; words by Sir HW Baker.
- 2009
- 5 minutes
Lord, thy Word Abideth has a straightforward vocal descant (range F–G”) and a chromatic alternative organ/choral harmonisation.
LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVES EXCELLING
A flat major. Tune: Blaenwern 8.7.8.7.D by William P Rowlands (1860-1937); words by Charles Wesley (1707-88).
- 2014
- 4 minutes
The descant (for verse 3) has an octave range from Ab’ to Ab”, and is suitably ethereal and stirring with several lofty top A flats. It is suggested that verse 2 is sung in unison, whilst the organ provides the alternative harmonisation. This has a chromatic, walking bass with several cadential minor key modulatory excursions.
Performances
- 16 August 2014: at the wedding of Francesca and James, St Andrew’s Church, Lyddington, Rutland UK
- 3 May 2015: Church of St John the Baptist, Harringworth, Northants UK
O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES TO SING
G major. Tune by T Jarman (1782 to 1862); words by Charles Wesley (1707 to 1788).
- 2018
- 3 minutes
- Commissioned by Samuel Harrison, Parish of Christ Church, Singapore
O for a thousand tongues to sing has a jubilant contrapuntal vocal descant (range G’ – A”) and the alternative organ harmonisation is mostly in related minor keys, or with unexpected major chording. It ends triumphantly in a confident G major.
Performances
- 2 September 2018: Parish of Christ Church, Singapore. Samuel Harrison (organ)
- 4 October 2020: Saint Anne Episcopal Church, Desoto, Texas, USA. Kristen Avery (organ)
O GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST
- 2015
- 3 minutes
- Commissioned by ETB.Samuel Jigme Harrison
The descant (for verse 6) has a range from G’-A’’. It is suggested that either verse 3 or verse 4 is sung in unison whilst the organ plays the alternative harmonisation. This has chromatic modulation and infilled passing notes to vary the texture of the original.
Performances
- 1 January 2017: Parish of Christ Church, Singapore. ETB.Samuel Jigme Harrison (organ)
- 12 November 2017: Remembrance Day Service, St John the Baptist Church, North Luffenham, Rutland UK (composer – organ, Bob Rennard – soprano cornet).
- 1 January 2018: New Year Service at Parish of Christ Church, Singapore. ETB Samuel Jigme Harrison (organ)
- 11 November 2018: Remembrance Day Service, St John the Baptist Church, North Luffenham, Rutland UK.
- 10 November 2019 Remembrance Day Service, St Peter and St Paul Church Choir with Cottesmore Military Wives’ Choir, Uppingham, Rutland UK.
O PRAISE YE THE LORD
B flat major. Tune: Laudate Dominum 10 10 11 11 by Sir Hubert Parry 1848-1918; words by Sir HW Baker.
- 2010
- 5 minutes
The descant (for the final verse) is suitably stirring, with octave leaps and rising scalic figures in keeping with the noble sentiment of this hymn. The alternative harmonisation (for verse 3) is suitable for both organ and choir: its gentle chromaticism creates a more restrained mood, but it also uses rising scales, in the bass, to maintain something of the fervent atmosphere.
Performances
- 19 July 2013 at St Barnabas Church, Kensington, London UK. St Barnabas and St Philip’s CE Primary school Leavers’ Service, director Louisa Roberts Lynagh
Reviews
The descant went very well indeed. Our new line-up Senior Singers (23 Year 4 and 5 pupils) supported the rest of the school with all the singing throughout the service. O Praise Ye The Lord was the concluding hymn right at the end of the service and parents and staff thought the singing was excellent – the overall effect with the descant and organ was stunning.
Louisa Roberts Lynagh
O thou who camest from above
F major. Tune: Hereford LM by SS Wesley 1810-76; words by C Wesley.
- 2009
- 5 minutes
The descant is straightforward (ranging from F–A”) and there is an alternative harmonisation for organ.
OFT IN DANGER, OFT IN WOE
F major. Tune: University College 7 7 7 7 by HJ Gauntlett 1805-76; words by H Kirke White and others.
- 2009
- 5 minutes
The descant is straightforward, and ranges from F–A’. There is an alternative harmonisation, intended for organ use but feasible for a competent choir.
PRAISE HIM! PRAISE HIM!
A flat major. Tune by Chester G Allen (1838 to 1878); words by Fanny J Crosby (1820 to 1915)
- Op.47 No.21
- 2018
- 3 minutes
- Commissioned by Samuel Harrison, Parish of Christ Church, Singapore
Praise Him! Praise Him! has a jubilant contrapuntal vocal descant (range B flat’–A flat”) and an alternative organ harmonisation mostly in related minor keys.
Performances
- 19 August 2018: Parish of Christ Church, Singapore. Samuel Harrison (organ)
PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY
G major. Tune: Praxis Pietatis – 14 14. 4 7 8 by J Neander tr. Catherine Winkworth.
- 2017
- 3 minutes
Performances
- 12 November 2017: Remembrance Day services, St Peter and St Paul Church, Wing, Rutland, UK and St John the Baptist Church, North Luffenham, Rutland, UK
- 11 November 2018: Remembrance Day services, St Peter & St Paul Church, Wing, Rutland UK and St John the Baptist Church, North Luffenham, Rutland UK.
TEACH ME, MY GOD AND KING
D major. Tune: Sandys S.M. from Sandys’ Christmas Carols, 1833; words by George Herbert (1593-1632).
- 2012
- 5 minutes
The straightforward descant is intended for the final, fifth verse, and there is an alternative organ harmonisation suitable for either verses 3 or 4.
THE CHURCH’S ONE FOUNDATION
E flat major. Tune: Aurelia 7 6 7 6 D by SS Wesley 1810-76; words by SJ Stone.
- 2009
- 5 minutes
A lyrically shaped descant is given here for the final, fifth verse. A chromatic alternative harmonisation, commencing in C minor, is offered, preferably for verse 4 to suit the prevailing words. Although intended for organ use with unison verse, it could well be employed by a more competent church choir.
THOU WHOSE ALMIGHTY WORD
- 2017
- 5 minutes
- 26 February 2017: St Andrew’s Church, Lyddington, Rutland, UK (composer)
THY HAND, O GOD, HAS GUIDED
D major. Tune: Thornbury 7 6 7 6 D by B Harwood,1859-1949; words by EH Plumptre.
- 2009
- 5 minutes
Thy hand, O God, has guided has a stirring descant and a contrapuntal elaboration for trumpet. The descant may be used as printed – ie voices singing simultaneously with the optional trumpet elaboration (during verse 6). Alternatively, the trumpet could play the vocal descant line during verse 5, as a prelude to playing the elaboration for verse 6. If preferred, the organist could use the original Harwood version, which has alternative harmony for verses 3 and 5 – this would also fit the above vocal descant.
Ye that know the Lord is gracious
F major. Tune: Hyfrodol 8 7 8 7 by R.H. Prichard 1811-87; words by CA Alington.
- 2009
- 5 minutes
Ye that know the Lord is gracious has a stirring descant and an optional elaboration for trumpet. The descant (range G–A”) may be used as printed – ie the sopranos/trebles singing simultaneously with the trumpet elaboration during the last verse of the hymn. Alternatively, the trumpet could play the (vocal) descant line during the penultimate verse, as a prelude to playing the elaboration in the final verse. The hymn Alleluia! Sing to Jesus (words by W Chatterton Dix, see Ancient & Modern Revised no.399) may be used as an alternative. There is no alternative harmonisation provided here.