Descants

The first publication of Diademata by George Elvey (1816-1893) was in the 1868 Appendix to Hymns Ancient and Modern. The tune has from the beginning been associated with the text, "Crown him with many crowns," a composite of stanzas by Matthew Bridges (1851) and Godfrey Thring (1874), based on a verse from Revelation: "on his head are many crowns." Each wrote six verses, the latter out of concern that Bridge's "The song of the seraphs" was too close to Roman doctrine – perhaps not without justification; Bridges eventually left the Church of England to become a Roman Catholic. Personally? I'd be happy to sing all twelve! (See the links below.) The name Diademata derives from the Greek word for "crowns." 

Descant verses in the score are 2 and 5:

Verse 2

Crown Him the Son of God, before the worlds began,
And ye who tread where He hath trod, crown Him the Son of man;
Who every grief hath known that wrings the human breast,
And takes and bears them for His own, that all in Him may rest.

 

Verse 5

Crown Him the Lord of Heaven, enthroned in worlds above,
Crown Him the King to Whom is given the wondrous name of Love.
Crown Him with many crowns, as thrones before Him fall;
Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns, for He is King of all.

Links: View the texts by Matthew Bridges and Godfrey Thring.

downloads

Diademata version 5.7.3

Organ score with choral part

audio demo

descant verse (v5.7.3b)

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