The central theme around the week before Lent in the RSCM "Sunday by Sunday" guide is that of light; or more precisely Christ as our light, alongside the Transfiguration Gospel which I wrote about here. But the theme of light would ostensibly appear rather odd as we brace ourselves to enter the chasm of light that is Lent!
Light has been a theme since Christmas Eve when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World. At Candlemas Jesus was presented to Simeon in the Temple, who proclaimed him
"a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” Luke 2:32 (KJV)The reading of the Transfiguration Gospel (Luke 9:28-36) before Lent would seem the culmination of this theme of light. Three disciples went up the mountain with Jesus, and for a moment had a glimpse of Jesus as God could see him. He was in fact no different, it was their perception that was altered. They simply saw him in a different light- God’s light. Thus the Light of Jesus' divinity shines before Peter, James, John, and us. This glimpse of glory in Christ seen by the disciples on the mount of the Transfiguration was perhaps to sustain them through the darkness of Good Friday, when we wait for the brighter light which is the Church's sole reason for existing: the Light of Jesus' resurrection. In the Bible, light has always been a symbol of holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, grace, hope, and God's revelation, which makes sense as the theme as we embark on the season of Lent.
There are many options for anthems with such a theme; "O Nata Lux" by Tallis, "Be Thou my Vision" by Chilcott, McDowall's "Aurea Luce" or Howells' "My eyes for beauty pine" but I've chosen an anthem by Harold Darke. Darke held an enviable reputation as an organist and choral composer during his lifetime, but the popularity of his setting of Rossetti's poem "In the Bleak Midwinter" has perhaps resulted in some of his other works achieving less attention in recent years.
Harold Edwin Darke was an English composer and organist, with a world-wide reputation as one of the finest organists of his era. He is particularly known for his choral compositions, which are an established part of the repertoire of Anglican church music. Educated at the Royal College of Music, he became organist at St Michael Cornhill in 1916, and stayed there until 1966, briefly deputising for Boris Ord as Director of Music at King's College during World War II. Famous for his 1909 setting of Christina Rossetti's "In the Bleak Midwinter" (Voted the greatest Christmas carol of all time in a poll of choral experts and choirmasters in December 2008) his Communion Service in F is a popular staple in the repertoire of many choirs. "Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies" is not an anthem I have sung, but was once a standard of parish church repertoire.
Christ Whose Glory fills the Skies - Harold Darke
Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only Light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Triumph o’er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high, be near;
Day-star, in my heart appear.
Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by Thee;
Joyless is the day’s return
Till Thy mercy’s beams I see;
Till they inward light impart,
Glad my eyes, and warm my heart.
Visit then this soul of mine,
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, Radiancy divine,
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more Thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.
