Victory
The Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 12, 2019
During the Great Fifty Days of Easter, my articles in Praying Twice are focusing on Easter hymns. Today's entrance hymn is "The strife is o'er, the battle done," set to the tune Victory. One of the most popular Easter hymns, this pairing of text and tune was first published in England in 1861. It first appeared in an Episcopal hymnal in 1892.
Hear a recording: The strife is o'er.
The original, anonymous Latin text appears in a publication from 1695; it is believed to be older. The music was adapted from a Magnificat by the great Italian Renaissance composer, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. William H. Monk, who adapted the music, composed the distinctive "Alleluias" that begin and end the hymn.
The tune conveys a stately grandeur appropriate for the Easter feast. The opening and closing alleluias form a fanfare, joyfully proclaiming Christ's resurrection. Every stanza concludes with a jubilant alleluia as well, providing a unifying element to the poetic text.
Why has this hymn endured the test of time? The strong text, paired with music from one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance, creates a powerful impact. The tune is straightforward, and the repeated "alleluias" make it memorable.
I have a personal connection with this hymn. For organ majors studying church music, one of the rites of passage is the completion of a service playing examination. At my alma mater, Rice University, each student played all of the components of a typical service - hymns, psalms, anthem accompaniments, etc. - for a grade. These selections were assigned by the professor. The other students formed the choir to sing the various pieces of music. At the conclusion of the exam, each student had the opportunity to choose one final hymn to play, and the class sang. Students performed in alphabetical order, so as a "Wheeler," I had the honor of going last. (Those of you with last names starting with W, X, Y or Z are familiar with this phenomenon.) My hymn choice: "The strife is o'er, the battle done," which was sung with great gusto by the class as we ended the semester! Every time I play this hymn, I think of my fellow students and the exceptionally joyful alleluias sung at the end of that class. This hymn reminds me to give thanks for the opportunities to learn the great music of the Episcopal Church and to share it with others.
This Sunday is traditionally known as "Good Shepherd Sunday," since the lessons focus on this theme and the appointed psalm is Psalm 23. Learn more in this previous post: Good Shepherd Sunday
Music for the Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 12, 2019
Hymns
208 The strife is o’er, the battle done (Victory)
304 I come with joy to meet my Lord (Land of Rest)
193, stanza 5 That Easter day with joy was bright (Puer nobis)
645 The King of love my shepherd is (St. Columba)
Service Music
Anthems
Instrumental Music
An Easter Prelude for Flute and Organ -Charles Callahan
Gelobt sei Gott (Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing) -Healey Willan
May 12, 2019
During the Great Fifty Days of Easter, my articles in Praying Twice are focusing on Easter hymns. Today's entrance hymn is "The strife is o'er, the battle done," set to the tune Victory. One of the most popular Easter hymns, this pairing of text and tune was first published in England in 1861. It first appeared in an Episcopal hymnal in 1892.
Hear a recording: The strife is o'er.
The original, anonymous Latin text appears in a publication from 1695; it is believed to be older. The music was adapted from a Magnificat by the great Italian Renaissance composer, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. William H. Monk, who adapted the music, composed the distinctive "Alleluias" that begin and end the hymn.
The tune conveys a stately grandeur appropriate for the Easter feast. The opening and closing alleluias form a fanfare, joyfully proclaiming Christ's resurrection. Every stanza concludes with a jubilant alleluia as well, providing a unifying element to the poetic text.
Why has this hymn endured the test of time? The strong text, paired with music from one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance, creates a powerful impact. The tune is straightforward, and the repeated "alleluias" make it memorable.
I have a personal connection with this hymn. For organ majors studying church music, one of the rites of passage is the completion of a service playing examination. At my alma mater, Rice University, each student played all of the components of a typical service - hymns, psalms, anthem accompaniments, etc. - for a grade. These selections were assigned by the professor. The other students formed the choir to sing the various pieces of music. At the conclusion of the exam, each student had the opportunity to choose one final hymn to play, and the class sang. Students performed in alphabetical order, so as a "Wheeler," I had the honor of going last. (Those of you with last names starting with W, X, Y or Z are familiar with this phenomenon.) My hymn choice: "The strife is o'er, the battle done," which was sung with great gusto by the class as we ended the semester! Every time I play this hymn, I think of my fellow students and the exceptionally joyful alleluias sung at the end of that class. This hymn reminds me to give thanks for the opportunities to learn the great music of the Episcopal Church and to share it with others.
This Sunday is traditionally known as "Good Shepherd Sunday," since the lessons focus on this theme and the appointed psalm is Psalm 23. Learn more in this previous post: Good Shepherd Sunday
Music for the Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 12, 2019
Hymns
208 The strife is o’er, the battle done (Victory)
304 I come with joy to meet my Lord (Land of Rest)
193, stanza 5 That Easter day with joy was bright (Puer nobis)
645 The King of love my shepherd is (St. Columba)
205 Good Christians
all, rejoice and sing! (Gelobt sei Gott)
Service Music
Gloria in excelsis S-278 -William Mathias
Psalm 23, A Hymntune Psalter -Carl P. Daw, Jr. and Kevin R. Hackett
Sanctus S-128 -Mathias
Fraction Anthem S-167 The
disciples knew the Lord Jesus -Mode
6 melody, adapt. Martens
Anthems
The Lord Is My
Shepherd -Thomas Matthews
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us -William
Bradley Roberts
Instrumental Music
An Easter Prelude for Flute and Organ -Charles Callahan
Gelobt sei Gott (Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing) -Healey Willan
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