Eastern Division R & S

Male Choirs

Free Arrangements! - 1
 

Chairperson:  John Delorey

Dear Men's Chorus Directors,

Here is the first of four arrangements that I will be posting for us this year. It's a raucous Medieval text and three-part discantus that is found in an early thirteenth-century manuscript at the University of Cambridge Library. In 1993, Oxford University Press published a transcription of the three-part song which it made available to the public for free - which can be found here for the adventuresome. (It also includes a later version of the tune which is found in the the Moosburg Gradual of 1355 - 60.)

It also comes with permission to photocopy and suggestions for historic performance practice. It is also found in the Shorter Oxford New Book of Carols and the Oxford New Book of Carols where it is suggested that it was composed for the New Year's festival of the subdeacons. I have performed it before using the Oxford-suggested technique first, followed by the arrangement. Nice contrast, especially if you are performing in a building that can accommodate chant.

I took the liberty of changing one of the Latin words - "He, he, hei" was altered to "He, he, hea" for a slighter better vowel sound. However, if one substitutes the original, the effect of the "I" on an accented beat can be quite raucous. In addition, I employed a Medieval technique of imposing a rhythmic mode (Mode I) for the fourth iteration of the tune when it is first heard fully harmonized and a cappella. The addition of percussion is to add to the "rambunctious" effect and may be used as desired. Lastly, the arrangement is scored for two equal parts which divide into three equal parts. The Oxford transcription has the verse starting on C3 (the C below middle C), the manuscript starts on the G3 ( the G below middle C), and I chose to compromise and start my arrangement on D3, (the D below middle C) to try and accommodate both young and mature voices.

Specifications:

Men's Chorus (Tenor/Bass split followed by Tenor/Baritone/Bass) with optional percussion: drum (tom or conga) and finger cymbal.
Ranges:  Bass: Bb2 to A3; Baritones: Bb3 to E4; Tenors: Bb2 to E4.
Difficulty:  Easy (though the crunchy harmonies may prove hard for some singers)
Length:  1:47
Use:  Semi-religious text that was probably used in secular environment.

The attached recording is a performance of the piece at a lower pitch (starting on C3) by the WPI Men's Glee Club under the direction of John Delorey.

EACDA Verbum Patris - mp3 recording - 2.5 MB
EACDA Verbum Patris.pdf

Last revised May 01, 2012