User:Simon the Likable/The Hymn of Jesus

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The Hymn of Jesus, Op. 37 is a composition for choirs and full orchestra by the British composer Gustav Holst, written in 1917, and held by some to be his masterpiece^[1]^[2]. The first performance was given by the Royal Philharmonic Society, and took place at the Queen's Hall, London on 25 March, 1920, conducted by the composer.^[3]

The Hymn of Jesus, for 2 choruses, semi-chorus, and orchestra, Op.37, H.140
Year: 1917
Pr. Instrument: Chorus/Choir
- 1.Prelude: Vexilla regis proderunt
- 2.Hymn: Glory to Thee, Father!
- 3.Hymn: Fain Would I be Saved
- 4.Hymn: Divine Grace is Dancing
- 5.Give Ye Heed Unto My Dancing
Performance time: 20 minutes (approx)

In 1917, Holst wrote The Hymn of Jesus based on the Apocryphal gospels. With his usual thoroughness, Holst learnt sufficient Greek to translate the original hymn. He then pondered at length over the meaning of the words so that he could maintain the spirit of the poem as much as possible.[1]

Gustav Holst conducted the first performance of The Hymn of Jesus in 1920. Like The Planets, it was very successful. Life was becoming easier by the end of 1922. Holst found for the first time he had earned more than one thousand pounds in a year. However, he was to have no more major popular successes.[2]

Instrumentation

Woodwind: 3 flutes, 2 oboes, an English horn, 2 clarinets, and 2 bassoons
Brass: 4 horns, 2 trumpets, and 3 trombones
Keyboards: a celesta, a piano, and an organ
Percussion: 2 timpani, a big drum, a side drum, cymbals, and a tambourine (one player only for these last four instruments)
Strings: violins one and two, violas, violoncellos, and double basses
Voices: two SATB choruses (of equal strength and, if possible, well separated), and a TT A semi-chorus (placed above and well separated, supported, if necessary, by a soft harmonium)

Genesis and composition

Premieres

Reception

Recordings

Text

Prelude

Part	Text	Tr1	Notes
Semi-chorus:	Vexilla regis prodeunt Fulget Crucis mysterium Quo carne carnis Conditor Suspensus est patibulo	The King's banners come forth; Shines the Cross's mystery, Whereby in flesh the Creator of all flesh Is hung upon the gibbet.	Vexilla Regis is a Latin hymn by Venantius Fortunatus (530–609), Bishop of Poitiers.
A few T & B:	Pange lingua gloriosi praelium certaminis et super crucis trophaeum Dic triumphum nobilem Qualiter Redemptor orbis Immolatus vicerit. Amen.	Rehearse, O tongue, the battle of glorious strife, and above the trophy of the cross tell out the noble triumph, how the world's Redeemer, being sacrificed, hath vanquished. Amen.	Pange Lingua Gloriosi Proelium Certaminis is another sixth-century Latin sequence hymn generally credited to the same poet, Venantius Fortunatus.

Hymn

Experiment:

Part	Text	Notes
Choir I & II:	Glory to Thee, Father!
Semi-chorus:	Amen. Amen.
Choir I & II:	Glory to Thee, Word!
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir I & II:	Glory to Thee, O Grace!
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir I & II:	Glory to Thee, Holy Spirit!	(spoken)
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir I & II:	Glory to Thy Glory! We praise Thee, O Father; We give thanks to Thee, O shadowless light! Amen.
Choir II:	Fain would I be saved:	Look up fain (adverb) in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Choir I:	And fain would I save.
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir II:	Fain would I be released:
Choir I:	And fain would I release.
Choir I & II (S&T):	Divine ye in dancing what I shall do;
Choir I & II:	For yours is the passion of man that I go to endure.

The real thing:

Choir I & II:	Glory to Thee, Father!
Semi-chorus:	Amen. Amen.
Choir I & II:	Glory to Thee, Word!
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir I & II:	Glory to Thee, O Grace!
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir I & II:	Glory to Thee, Holy Spirit!	(spoken)
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir I & II:	Glory to Thy Glory! We praise Thee, O Father; We give thanks to Thee, O shadowless light! Amen.
Choir II:	Fain would I be saved:	Look up fain (adverb) in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Choir I:	And fain would I save.
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir II:	Fain would I be released:
Choir I:	And fain would I release.
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir II:	Fain would I be pierced:
Choir I:	And fain would I pierce.
Choir II:	Fain would I be bourne:
Choir I:	Fain would I bear.
Choir II:	Fain would I eat:
Choir I:	Fain would I be eaten.
Choir II:	Fain would I hearken:
Choir I:	Fain would I be heard.
Choir II:	Fain would I be cleansed:
Choir I:	Fain would I cleanse.
Choir I & II:	I am Mind of All!
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir I & II:	Fain would I be known.
Semi-chorus & choir I & II (S&A):	Divine Grace is dancing:
Choir I (S&A):	Fain would I pipe for you.
Choir I & II:	Dance ye all!
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir II (S&A):	Fain would I lament:
Choir I & II (S&A):	Mourn ye all!
Choir I & II (T&B):	Amen.
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir I & II (S&A):	Amen.
Choir I & II:	The Heavenly Spheres make music for us;
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir I & II:	The Holy Twelve dance with us; All things join in the dance. Ye who dance not, know not what we are knowing.
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir I & II:	Fain would I flee: and fain would I remain.
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir II:	Fain would I be ordered:
Choir I:	And fain would I set in order.
Choir II:	Fain would I be infolded:
Choir I:	Fain would I infold.
Choir II:	I have no home;
Choir I:	In all I am dwelling.
Choir II:	I have no resting place:
Choir I:	I have the Earth.
Choir II:	I have no temple;
Choir I:	And I have Heav'n.
Choir I & II:	To you who gaze, a lamp am I.
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir I & II:	To you that know, a mirror.
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir I & II:	To you who knock, a door am I: To you who fare, the way.
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir I & II (S&T):	Amen.
Choir I & II (A&B):	Give ye heed unto my dancing: In me who speak, behold yourselves;
Semi-chorus:	Amen
Choir I & II:	And beholding what I do, keep silence on my mysteries.
Choir I & II (S&T):	Divine ye in dancing what I shall do;
Choir I & II:	For yours is the passion of man that I go to endure.
All trebles:	Ah, ah.
Choir I & II:	Ye could not know at all What thing you endure, had not the Father sent me to you as a Word.
Choir I & II (S&A):	Beholding what I suffer, ye know me as the sufferer.
Choir I & II:	And when ye had beheld it, ye were not unmoved; But rather were ye whirled along, ye were kindled to be wise. Had ye known how to suffer, ye would know how to suffer no more. Learn how to suffer, and ye shall overcome. Behold in me a couch: Rest on me!
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir I & II:	When I am gone, ye shall know who I am; For I am in no wise that which now I seem. When ye are come to me, then shall ye know: what ye know not, will I myself teach you.
Semi-chorus:	Fain would I move to the music of holy souls!
Choir I & II:	Know in me the word of wisdom! And with me cry again:
Choir I & II:	Glory to Thee, Father!
Semi-chorus:	Amen. Amen.
Choir I & II:	Glory to Thee, Word!
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Choir I & II:	Glory to Thee, O Grace!
Semi-chorus:	Amen.
Semi-chorus:	Glory to Thee, Holy Spirit!
Semi-chorus:	Amen. Amen.
Choir I & II:	Amen. Amen. Amen.

References

^ Palmer, Christopher, Liner notes, "Holst: The Cloud Messenger, The Hymn of Jesus", cond: Richard Hickox, Chandos 8901, 1990
^ Tippett, Michael (1995). Bowen, Meirion (ed.). Tippett on Music. Oxford University Press. p. 73. ISBN 9780198165422.
^ "Holst's 'Hymn of Jesus.' New British Choral Work". The Times. London. Friday, Mar 26, 1920. p. 12. Issue 42369. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

[Palmer-1] Palmer, Christopher, Liner notes, "Holst: The Cloud Messenger, The Hymn of Jesus", cond: Richard Hickox, Chandos 8901, 1990

[Tippett-2] Tippett, Michael (1995). Bowen, Meirion (ed.). Tippett on Music. Oxford University Press. p. 73. ISBN 9780198165422.

[Times-review-3] "Holst's 'Hymn of Jesus.' New British Choral Work". The Times. London. Friday, Mar 26, 1920. p. 12. Issue 42369. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

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