Hey! Advent is right around the corner!!
Related to this thread.
I like the idea of Tietze Introit hymns a lot, but I don't care for the specifics of the execution.
What I like about the idea is:
-It's the Proper text. Hoo-rah!
-While the Offertory and Communion song/hymns can easily (well...) be replaced with Chants or other choral works, the *Processional Hymn* seems like a hard nut to crack.
-Having a Proper text set to a congregational hymn in the Protesant style seems like a very worthwhile thing in the world which deliberately and traditionally lives on the border between Catholicism and Protestantism (Anglo-Catholics; Anglican Use Catholics; High Church varietals of Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and others; etc...)
What I don't like so much:
-I can't say I particularly care for the way the texts are set poetically.
-Lots of hymn tunes I don't know. Which almost certainly means lots of hymn tunes most congregations don't know.
-Lots of uncommon meters, making it difficult to correct the above point through re-setting to another tune.
-Under copyright. So even if I had a tune I could set some particular text to, I'm not sure I'd be allowed to. Plus, can I put them in my programs? I don't know.
******SO, THEREFORE...******
In a fit of Ritalin-induced creativity (and thanks be to God for my new doctor, and his Rx pad), and inspired by Kathy's compliment, I wrote some hymn adaptations of the Advent Introits.
Things to note:
************************************
Advent 1 - Introit
My soul is raised, in Faith, O God,
Let not my trust be put to shame.
Let not the evil ones be pleased;
Save those who wait upon your Name.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
Guide me along your pathways true.
You are the God who saves my soul,
All through the day I hoped in you.
Your love, and your compassion, God,
Are from of old, have always been.
Remember, in your goodness, Lord-
remember me, forget my sin.
---
Advent 2 - Introit
O Zion, and your people, hear
The majesty of God's own voice.
All nations shall be saved by him
Who stirs your spirit to rejoice.
O shepherd, hear your people cry,
Shine forth and lead us by your grace.
Rise up in might to save your own,
Bring us to you, show us your face.
How long, O God of Hosts, how long?
How long shall tears be daily bread?
How long shall weeping fill our days?
How long, O Lord, this night of dread?
--
Advent 3 - Introit
Rejoice, all people, in the Lord!
Rejoice, I say again, Rejoice!
Be never anxious for this world.
In prayer to God, raise up your voice.
The captive children of our race,
You set them free from sin's strong hand.
You turned your wrath away, O God.
And led them to your promised land.
Bring us into that land, O God.
Let not our sin call forth your rage.
Show us your mercy, set us free.
Let mercy be from age to age.
--
Advent 4 - Introit
Like morning dew, the Just One comes.
From heaven He, like rain, descends.
And from the Earth, which bears him forth,
the Saviour of our race ascends.
The skies proclaim the pow'r of God,
The star shine forth the message clear.
Day unto day the sound goes forth,
Night unto night, til all shall hear.
Across the sky, the Sun shall race,
Rejoicing as it brings the day.
The morning of our joy has come,
the light of love will show the way.
---
Possible Doxology:
To God the Father, God the Son,
And to the Spirit, Glory be.
All praises to the Three in One,
All glory to the One in Three.
Related to this thread.
I like the idea of Tietze Introit hymns a lot, but I don't care for the specifics of the execution.
What I like about the idea is:
-It's the Proper text. Hoo-rah!
-While the Offertory and Communion song/hymns can easily (well...) be replaced with Chants or other choral works, the *Processional Hymn* seems like a hard nut to crack.
-Having a Proper text set to a congregational hymn in the Protesant style seems like a very worthwhile thing in the world which deliberately and traditionally lives on the border between Catholicism and Protestantism (Anglo-Catholics; Anglican Use Catholics; High Church varietals of Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and others; etc...)
What I don't like so much:
-I can't say I particularly care for the way the texts are set poetically.
-Lots of hymn tunes I don't know. Which almost certainly means lots of hymn tunes most congregations don't know.
-Lots of uncommon meters, making it difficult to correct the above point through re-setting to another tune.
-Under copyright. So even if I had a tune I could set some particular text to, I'm not sure I'd be allowed to. Plus, can I put them in my programs? I don't know.
******SO, THEREFORE...******
In a fit of Ritalin-induced creativity (and thanks be to God for my new doctor, and his Rx pad), and inspired by Kathy's compliment, I wrote some hymn adaptations of the Advent Introits.
Things to note:
- I set the antiphon in one stanza, and compressed the ideas of the Psalm verses into two stanzas. If you repeat the Antiphon after the two other stanzas, and then sing a metrical doxology, you've got a five-stanza hymn, which I think is just about right for a good processional.
- These are VERY OBVIOUSLY PARAPHRASES. Sometimes I'm able to hew very closely. Sometimes I had to take liberties, which (of course) requires some interpretation of the underlying meaning. For that reason, I don't think that these satisfy "Option 1." I think of them as above-average Option 4.
- I put all of them in LM (88 88). This is because:
- It's my favorite meter.
- It gives potential users a pretty wide variety of options, and could even allow someone to re-use the same melody and doxology throughout the season.
- I was thinking of Conditor Alme Siderum
- This is a first draft. As always, suggestions and critiques are helpful.
- I will likely release these under a Creative Commons license, but notice that I have not yet.
- Given the speed of their production, I cannot vouch for the quality.
************************************
Advent 1 - Introit
My soul is raised, in Faith, O God,
Let not my trust be put to shame.
Let not the evil ones be pleased;
Save those who wait upon your Name.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
Guide me along your pathways true.
You are the God who saves my soul,
All through the day I hoped in you.
Your love, and your compassion, God,
Are from of old, have always been.
Remember, in your goodness, Lord-
remember me, forget my sin.
---
Advent 2 - Introit
O Zion, and your people, hear
The majesty of God's own voice.
All nations shall be saved by him
Who stirs your spirit to rejoice.
O shepherd, hear your people cry,
Shine forth and lead us by your grace.
Rise up in might to save your own,
Bring us to you, show us your face.
How long, O God of Hosts, how long?
How long shall tears be daily bread?
How long shall weeping fill our days?
How long, O Lord, this night of dread?
--
Advent 3 - Introit
Rejoice, all people, in the Lord!
Rejoice, I say again, Rejoice!
Be never anxious for this world.
In prayer to God, raise up your voice.
The captive children of our race,
You set them free from sin's strong hand.
You turned your wrath away, O God.
And led them to your promised land.
Bring us into that land, O God.
Let not our sin call forth your rage.
Show us your mercy, set us free.
Let mercy be from age to age.
--
Advent 4 - Introit
Like morning dew, the Just One comes.
From heaven He, like rain, descends.
And from the Earth, which bears him forth,
the Saviour of our race ascends.
The skies proclaim the pow'r of God,
The star shine forth the message clear.
Day unto day the sound goes forth,
Night unto night, til all shall hear.
Across the sky, the Sun shall race,
Rejoicing as it brings the day.
The morning of our joy has come,
the light of love will show the way.
---
Possible Doxology:
To God the Father, God the Son,
And to the Spirit, Glory be.
All praises to the Three in One,
All glory to the One in Three.