Setting: Messe a trois voix – André Caplet
Motet: Rejoice in the Lord alway – Healey Willan
For more information about music at St. James’, visit the Concerts page at www.stjames.bc.ca.
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This Sunday’s entrance hymn in church, God of Mercy, God of Grace, was written by Henry Francis Lyte, based on Psalm 67. He included it in his Spirit of the Psalms 1834 in three stanzas of six lines. Born near Kelso in Scotland, Lyte was educated at the Royal School of Enniskillen and at Trinity College, Dublin. There he received the prize for English poetry three times. He graduated in 1814 and took holy orders the following year. For eight years he was jostled from one curacy to another, until in 1823 he settled at Lower Brixham, a fishing village on Devon’s south shore, where William of Orange had landed in 1688. William IV visited the village shortly after Lyte arrived, and was so pleased with the reception accorded him by Lyte and the choir of the church that he presented Lyte with Berry Head House, where Lyte lived for twenty-four years.
“Heathlands” is the customary tune for Lyte’s text. It was composed for it by Henry Thomas Smart and first appeared in Psalms and Hymns for Divine Worship 1866. Born in London, England, Smart was surrounded by music from his youth. He often visited the organ firm of Robson & Flight in St Martin’s Lane and learned much about the mechanics of organ construction. He even attached pedals to the family piano so that he could “fiddle away at Bach fugues.” Organ playing became his consuming passion. He was largely self-taught, but his amazing natural abilities enabled him to achieve what tutored musicians hesitated to attempt. He was a strong advocate of congregational praise, and favoured unison singing. Many of his hymn tunes possess a quality that will ensure they are sung for a long time to come.
God of mercy, God of grace,
Show the brightness of thy face:
Shine upon us, Saviour, shine,
Fill thy Church with light divine;
And thy saving health extend
Unto earth’s remotest end.
Let the people praise thee, Lord;
Be by all that live adored:
Let the nations shout and sing,
Glory to their Saviour King;
At thy feet their tributes pay,
And thy holy will obey.
Let the people praise thee, Lord;
Earth shall then its fruits afford;
God to man his blessing give,
Man to God devoted live;
All below, and all above,
One in joy, and light, and love.
Gerald Harder