The hymn For All the Saints will be sung by many church congregations this Sunday in celebration of All Saints Day. The words are by William Walsham How (1823-1897), the Anglican Bishop of Wakefield. The hymn was originally sung to the tune Sarum by the composer Joseph Barnby (1838-1896). In the 1906 Anglican Hymnal it was set, however, to Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) tune Sine Nomine, one of the great hymn tunes of the 20th century. Sine Nomine literally means without name and refers to the fact that All Saints Day honors all the saints, known and unknown. The original hymn has 11 verses, not all of which are always sung. The words to this hymn contain much of the Sixth Ray of Abstract Devotion and Idealism, in which a far-off, sacred goal is sought with great determination: 7. O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold, Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old, And win with them the victor’s crown of gold. Alleluia, Alleluia! 8. And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong. Alleluia, Alleluia! 9. The golden evening brightens in the west; Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest; Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed. Alleluia, Alleluia! 10. But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day; The saints triumphant rise in bright array; The King of glory passes on His way. Alleluia, Alleluia! https://youtube/watch?v=1OaBgaMcOvM
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 12:00:01 +0000
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