Descants

The author of the text "God of our fathers," Daniel C. Roberts, rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Brandon, Vermont, wrote of his work:

"The hymn was written in 1876 for a celebration of the Centennial Fourth of July, and sung at Brandon, Vermont, to the tune called Russian Hymn! When our General Convention appointed a Commission to revise the Hymnal, I sent it, without my name, promising to send the name if the hymn were accepted. It was accepted and printed anonymously in the report of the Commission. Before the Hymnal was printed, the Reverend Dr. Tucker, late of Troy, editor of our best musical Hymnal, and Mr. George William Warren, organist of St. Thomas’ Church, New York, were appointed to choose a hymn for the centennial celebration of the adoption of the Constitution. They selected this hymn, then anonymous, and wanting a tune, Mr. Warren composed a tune to which it has since been set in the Tucker Hymnal."

This descant was written at the request of Phil Johnson, organist and choirmaster at All Saints Episcopal Church, Peterborough NH and first sung by the Youth Choir of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Cambridge MA, as choral guests of Mr. Johnson on the Sunday morning of Memorial Day weekend in 1995.

The descant verse is:

Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,

Lead us from night to never ending day;

Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,

And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.

[Note: a version of the accompaniment arranged for a trio of trumpets and organ is available upon request.]

downloads

National Hymn

Organ score

Choral part

audio demo

descant verse

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