Nicaea
May 31, 2016
The opening hymn in the Episcopal Church takes place as the leaders of worship carry the cross (followed by the choir) from the back of the sanctuary up to the alter. This gives the organist an opportunity to introduce the hymn in an especially ceremonial way. I prefer to write something imitative, often fugal. My setting of Nicaea — 362 Holy, Holy, Holy (Episcopal Hymnal 1982) for May 22nd included a short sequence and cadence after the statement of the first phrase of the tune.
I found the text and music for the hymn online at www.songsandhymns.org which you may want to read along with for stanzas 1-3.
1. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.
2. Holy, holy, holy! All saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
3. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the sinful human eye thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love, and purity.
My setting of stanza 4 has a lot of running 8th notes in it. Finding a tempo that was comfortable for congregational singing was a bit tricky. Sometimes I add a tag on the end of the opening or closing hymn, to make things a little more grand, but I decided that would be overdoing it for this service, so you'll notice a few bars crossed out at the end.
4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.
Peace,
Aaron
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