O God beyond all praising
Five-piece ensmble
Arranged for a five-piece ensemble, compatible with the small-ensemble version of Requiem by John Rutter, is now in final preparation.
Complete Five-part small ensemble
Add the parts for the eight-piece setting
Audition the eight piece version.
About
Originally a figure in the symphonic suite The Planets, by Gustav Holst, located in the middle of Jupiter: the Bringer of Jollity, THAXTED was later arranged by the composer as a hymn tune. He gave it the name Thaxted, after the English village where he lived for many years, and where he was founder of an annual music festival. (As Pluto had not yet been discovered, the symphony is an eight-movement composition. And given Pluto's subsequent 'undiscovery,' The Planets remains very much a wonder.)
Michael Perry (1942-1996) was canon at Rochester Cathedral, and editor of Jubilate Hymns. As THAXTED is usually associated with the English patriotic hymn I vow to thee my country, Perry wrote this hymn to provide a text "more appropriate for Christian worship." Originally two verses, a middle verse was added later at the request of Richard Proulx in reference to the Pauline discourse connecting the passing of earthly splendor with future glory, a verse appropriate to some occasions such as a requiem or memorial. But Perry's own preference was that the additional verse should in most cases be omitted. The hymn was written in 1982 specifically for this tune, and a license from the copyright holder, Hope Publishing Company, is required for use.
References
Thaxted (tune) Wikipedia entry about the tune
Thaxted Parish Church official Thaxted wesbsite
History of Hymns (UMC Discipleship Minitries): "O God beyond all praising."
Edition
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Version 8.7.9.6
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Choral score includes a version for duplex printing on tabloid printer
Previous version in this voicing
- Version 5.9.3
Verses
Michael Perry © Hope Publishing Company
Though we can't publish them here due to copyrights, you can view on the Hope Publishing Company website (link will open a new tab)
"O God beyond all praising"