"Ave Maria" Robert Parsons

The world of Choral Evensong has perhaps never enjoyed such an exciting, high profile, edge-of-seat week since the Reformation; or since Thomas Tomkins was fined for urinating on the Dean of the Chapel Royal. As the final few anthems competed for the increasingly coveted top spot to win the "Evensong Anthem World Cup" title, even Radio 3 got involved! The final resulted in a draw between Harris' "Faire is the heaven" and Bainton's And I saw a new heaven"; an incredibly appropriate result since Harris and Bainton were reputed to be friends. (And let's face it, most of us were just grateful we didn't break Twitter all over again with the 48:52 result which looked likely a few hours previously!)

During the competition intense discussion proliferated on the specific criteria for an evensong "anthem", although the definition is fairly broad:

a musical composition for a choir, usually set to words from the Bible, sung as part of a church service. a religious chant sung antiphonally.

Or from Wikipedia:-

An anthem is a piece of music written for a choir to sing at an Anglican church service. The difference between an anthem and a motet is that an anthem is sung in English. Also most anthems are accompanied by an organ.

The best description I have found is from John Ewington (General Secretary, Guild of Church Musicians):-

In origin, an anthem was written especially for a choir to sing during Anglican services, usually matins or evensong, when, after the third collect, the rubric states: "In Quires and Places where they sing here followeth the Anthem." It was normally sung in English. A motet is a piece that was sung at mass and was usually in Latin. At various times, anthems have also been composed with Latin words, and motets have similarly been composed with English words. These days, they seem to be interchangeable. 

This obviously leaves the floor pretty open and the competition had ten minute pieces such as Howells' (incredible) "Take Him Earth for Cherishing" which is not only challenging to sing but pretty long for your average evensong service; and the equally long (and amazing) "The Deer's Cry" by Arvo Pärt. The firm favourites were there too, you can check out the full list on my earlier post here. (There is also a link to the Spotify playlist I created which is a fantastic way of enjoying familiar pieces again and discovering some fabulous new ones!)

So with 128 anthems from 100 composers there was something for everyone. Until there wasn't. In the preliminary rounds alone 89 942 votes were cast and as voters' favourites left the competition the visceral attachment we have to our choral music became all too apparent. Deprived of all opportunities to sing these wonderful anthems during the pandemic our only option was to fight their corner at every turn...

My personal favourite is "Ave Maria", by Robert Parsons.
Born around 1535, little is known about Parson's early life but it is likely that he was a choir boy. He was an assistant to Richard Bower, Master of the Children of the Chapel Royal and was later appointed as a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal. Parsons is especially noted for his choral motets, of which "Ave Maria" is the best known after its inclusion in the Oxford Book of Tudor Anthems in 1978. Recognised as a master of polyphonic writing for choirs, Parsons was composing during the religious upheaval of the Reformation. He is thought to have collaborated with John Sheppard in the 1550s (or at least been influenced by him) and Richard Farrant in the early 1560s. It is believed he taught William Byrd at Lincoln Cathedral. He died prematurely from drowning in the Trent River.

Parson's "Ave Maria" ("Hail Mary") was likely written in the 1550's under Queen Mary 1; it's a Catholic prayer which would have found little favour later in Elizabethan England and it's also likely he was a Catholic sympathiser, like Sheppard, Tallis and others. Parsons' "Ave Maria" is a truly magical setting of the text with *the* most exquisitely beautiful Amen coda. It encapsulates the very essence of early english choral music, combining scripture with music to capture the hearts and minds of both choir and congregation. It sends our prayers soaring, surely elevating our worship.

So for me, this post should really be titled "The anthem which *should* have won the Evensong Anthem World Cup on Twitter", because of every anthem on the list, the one piece which will have me crying with total happiness and contentment when I'm back in the choir stalls is Robert Parsons' "Ave Maria".

Amen.

There is a Green Hill Far Away

"There is a green hill far away" is an Anglican hymn. The words are by Cecil Frances Alexander; and the most popular tune by William Horsley. It was written to create a musical version of the words from the creed 'Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.’"

It is a hugely evocative hymn for me, one I have loved since school assembly days; and the words are particularly pertinent right now. Our "green hill" is currently beyond the horizon, hidden from view as we all stay at home during the Covid-19 enforced lockdown. We must trust in God as we approach Holy Week; remembering Jesus' suffering and perhaps using this time away from the rollercoaster of our busy lives to consider our own faith. This period of "lockdown" is useful for contemplation, a gift of time during turbulent world events. One day soon we can emerge from our isolation and celebrate Christ's resurrection with perhaps a more enlightened understanding of his Passion and the Easter story.




Cecil Frances Alexander lived 1818-1895 in Dublin, Ireland. She also wrote "All things Bright and Beautiful", and "Once in Royal David's City" amongst many others. She was a prolific verse writer, her hymns heavily influenced first by Dr. Walter Hook, Dean of Chichester, and later her connections within the Oxford Movement.

Whilst many of us are unfamiliar with the controversies surrounding both the Movement and Alexander's endorsement of the class system, her hymns are known and loved by Christians the world over. Alexander also published poetry in english and french, for adults and children.


Below is a recording of the hymn by Kings' College Choir, my friend's son is a current chorister and will miss his first Easter with the choir.

1. There is a green hill far away, 

outside a city wall, 

where the dear Lord was crucified, 

who died to save us all. 

2. We may not know, 

we cannot tell what pains he had to bear; 

but we believe it was for us 

he hung and suffered there. 

3. He died that we might be forgiven, 

he died to make us good, 

that we might go at last to heaven, 

saved by his precious blood. 

4. There was no other good enough, 

to pay the price of sin; 

he only could unlock the gate 

of heaven and let us in. 

5. O dearly, dearly has he loved, 

and we must love him too; 

and trust in his redeeming blood, 

and try his works to do. 

 Cecil Alexander

Lightwave Suffolk

Lightwave is the new name for the Suffolk Fresh Expressions community: Lightwave is a Christian community, usually meeting in small groups in homes, pubs, offices, schools and other places which works alongside more traditional ways of doing church. The name comes from the idea of lightwaves being the way in which light spreads into dark places. Lightwave is committed to shining the light of Jesus in Suffolk through acts of kindness and practical service as well as worship and witness.

During this time of social distancing the wonderful team at Lightwave are dreaming up wonderful new ways to connect with each other and God's world via their "100 things to do". Each day there is an activity plus a bible verse or story to read and discuss. Go to their Facebook Page to find out more!