The Crowning Glory

New Descants for Church Choirs

Sep/2005, 110 Pages, PAPERBACK, 8 1/2 x 11

ISBN-13: 9780898695038

$20.95

$20.95

This is the first extensive collection of descants on hymns in Episcopal sources that do not appear in the published hymnals. It contains descants by twenty-two composers on one hundred one hymn texts set to eighty-one hymn tunes. An added bonus is that twenty-seven of the tunes have alternate harmonizations. In addition to dramatic descants on triumphal and celebrative hymns, several hymns are included that require the descant to be reflective and quiet. Many may be played by instruments rather than sung by sopranos and/or tenors.

These descants, harvested from working Episcopal church musicians, are examples of the useful day-to-day work in the local church. Even though they are small musical gems and greatly enjoyed by congregations, such practical compositions rarely obtain exposure beyond the local parish or diocese. The theme of the 2005 Annual Conference of the Association of Anglican Musicians in Baltimore, MD was "Come to us, Creative Spirit: The Art and Craft of the Church Musician." The vision embodied in that conference title echoes a hymn text by David Mowbray (Come to us, creative Spirit) which honors the creativity of those who speak their faith artistically and seeks to make such voices available to all. It is in that spirit that this book of descants is published.

Composer List
Alison Siener Brown, Jack Warren Burnam, Marty Wheeler Burnett, Albert Campbell, Thaddeus P.Cavuoti, Richard Clemmitt, Larry D. Cook, Peter Crisafulli, Michael J. Diorio, Paul M. Ellison, Harold Friedell, William D. Gudger, Charles Hogan, David Kelley, Gordon King, Carl MaultsBy, Thomas Pavlechko, Iain Quinn, William Bradley Roberts, Douglas C.Shambo II, Susan Stiller, Richard R. Webster

Tune List

Abbot's Leigh
Aberystwyth * (2)
Antioch
Aurelia
Austria
Bingham *
Birmingham
Bromley *
Brother James' Air
Carlisle *
Coronation
Cwm Rhondda * (2)
Decatur Place
Detroit
Deus tuorus militum
Diademata
Down Ampney * (2)
Duke Street
Dundee
Dunedin (4)
Earth and All Stars
Easter Hymn *
Ellers *
Engelberg
Evening Hymn
Eventide *
Festal Song
Finnian * (2)
Forest Green
Gloria * (2)
Grid
Hanover (2)
Helmsley
Hyfrydol * (4)
King's Weston
Lambillotte
Lancashire
Land of Rest
Langham
Lasst uns erfreuen * (3)
Laudes Domini (2)
 
  Le Cénacle
Leoni
Lux Eoi
Maryton
McKee
Michael * (3)
Mit Freuden zart
Morning Star *
Moscow
National Hymn
Nettleton
Newman
Nicaea (2)
Northampton
Nyland * (2)
Pleading Savior
Puer nobis
Raquel
Richmond
Rockingham *
Rockville *
Salve festa dies (2)
Sine Nomine (4)
Siroë Solemnis haec festivitas *
Sonne der Gerechtigkeit
St. Agnes
St. Anne
St. Botolph * (2)
St. Clement * (2)
St. Columba * (4)
St. Mark's, Berkeley
St. Matthew *
St. Thomas (2)
Stuttgart * (2)
Tysk *
Wareham *
Westminster Abbey
Zeuch mich, zeuch mich
Zion *
 

*includes an alternate harmonization
(2) indicates number of descants included

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