Holy, Holy, Holy
The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
February 9. 2020
This Sunday is our annual parish meeting at Trinity Cathedral, so, naturally, we sing some Trinitarian hymns! Last year in Praying Twice, I wrote about "God of hope and joy and wonder," our Trinity Cathedral hymn written by Nebraska hymn poet Rae E. Whitney. Read more here: Our Trinity Hymn
Perhaps the best-known example of a Trinitarian hymn is "Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty." The text by Bishop Reginald Heber was first published in Hymns Ancient and Modern in 1861 and has appeared in every Episcopal hymnal published since that date.
The tune, Nicaea, was composed specifically for this text by John Bacchus Dykes. As The Hymnal 1982 Companion states: "Dykes' specially written tune has become universally regarded as the tune for the text; indeed, it is often regarded as the archetypal Victorian hymn tune."
The tune bears similarity to plainsong Psalm tone 5 and several earlier hymn tunes. The melody's opening triad (D-F#-A, or do mi sol) was considered by some music theorists to be symbolic of the Trinity.
The tune name is drawn from the Council of Nicaea, 325 A.D. As The Hymnal 1982 Companion explains, it was at this Council that " the doctrine of the Trinity was defined and formulated into an early form of what has become known as the Nicene Creed." Hear a recording: Holy, Holy, Holy
This Sunday, you'll hear a remarkable soprano descant on the final stanza composed by David McK. Williams, organist-choirmaster at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in New York City from 1920-1947 and one of the creators of The Hymnal 1940. In my opinion, it's a perfect descant that encourages all of our voices to soar in praise of our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.
Music for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
February 9, 2020
Hymns
God of hope and joy and wonder (Westminster Abbey)
593 Lord, make us servants of your peace (Dickinson College)
533 How wondrous and great thy works, God of praise! (Lyons)
302 Father, we thank thee who hast planted (Rendez a Dieu)
362 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty! (Nicaea)
Service Music
Gloria in excelsis S-277, New Plainsong, David Hurd
Psalm 112:1-8, St. Martin's Psalter, Thomas Pavlechko
Sanctus S-125, A Community Mass, Richard Proulx
Memorial Acclamation S-138, McNeil Robinson II
Great Amen S-146, Robinson
Fraction Anthem S-154, New Plainsong, David Hurd
Anthems
Arise, shine, for your light has come -Martin How
If Ye Love Me -Thomas Tallis
Handbell Voluntary
Now Thank We All Our God -arr. Jason W. Krug
Organ Voluntaries
Prelude on Slane -Healey Willan
Now Thank We All Our God -Sigfrid Karg-Elert
February 9. 2020
This Sunday is our annual parish meeting at Trinity Cathedral, so, naturally, we sing some Trinitarian hymns! Last year in Praying Twice, I wrote about "God of hope and joy and wonder," our Trinity Cathedral hymn written by Nebraska hymn poet Rae E. Whitney. Read more here: Our Trinity Hymn
Perhaps the best-known example of a Trinitarian hymn is "Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty." The text by Bishop Reginald Heber was first published in Hymns Ancient and Modern in 1861 and has appeared in every Episcopal hymnal published since that date.
The tune, Nicaea, was composed specifically for this text by John Bacchus Dykes. As The Hymnal 1982 Companion states: "Dykes' specially written tune has become universally regarded as the tune for the text; indeed, it is often regarded as the archetypal Victorian hymn tune."
The tune bears similarity to plainsong Psalm tone 5 and several earlier hymn tunes. The melody's opening triad (D-F#-A, or do mi sol) was considered by some music theorists to be symbolic of the Trinity.
The tune name is drawn from the Council of Nicaea, 325 A.D. As The Hymnal 1982 Companion explains, it was at this Council that " the doctrine of the Trinity was defined and formulated into an early form of what has become known as the Nicene Creed." Hear a recording: Holy, Holy, Holy
This Sunday, you'll hear a remarkable soprano descant on the final stanza composed by David McK. Williams, organist-choirmaster at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in New York City from 1920-1947 and one of the creators of The Hymnal 1940. In my opinion, it's a perfect descant that encourages all of our voices to soar in praise of our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.
Music for the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
February 9, 2020
Hymns
God of hope and joy and wonder (Westminster Abbey)
593 Lord, make us servants of your peace (Dickinson College)
533 How wondrous and great thy works, God of praise! (Lyons)
302 Father, we thank thee who hast planted (Rendez a Dieu)
362 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty! (Nicaea)
Service Music
Gloria in excelsis S-277, New Plainsong, David Hurd
Psalm 112:1-8, St. Martin's Psalter, Thomas Pavlechko
Sanctus S-125, A Community Mass, Richard Proulx
Memorial Acclamation S-138, McNeil Robinson II
Great Amen S-146, Robinson
Fraction Anthem S-154, New Plainsong, David Hurd
Anthems
Arise, shine, for your light has come -Martin How
If Ye Love Me -Thomas Tallis
Handbell Voluntary
Now Thank We All Our God -arr. Jason W. Krug
Organ Voluntaries
Prelude on Slane -Healey Willan
Now Thank We All Our God -Sigfrid Karg-Elert
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