Of The Father’s Love Begotten
Terry J. Barham
- Composer:
- Terry J. Barham
- Lyricist:
- Aurelius Prudentius
- Publisher:
- Terry J. Barham Music Co.
- Instrumentation:
- Keyboard/Vocal
- Key:
- E
- Vocal Range:
- N/A
- Vocal Pitch Range:
- E2 - E5
- MP3 Duration:
- 02:28
This SSAATTBB choral arrangement of a 13th-century plainsong (chant) is striking in its simplicity. It can be very effective as a solo. It features unison melody singing—first the men and then the women—over one continuously sung chord on a neutral syllable. If the low “E” (E2) second bass part is too low for one of your male singers, it can be eliminated without any harm to the overall spiritual quietness and intensity of the work. The resolution of the somewhat dissonant F-sharp in the next-to-last chord of the alto part, measure 33, to an E in the final chord should be followed by a long decrescendo into quietness.
Lyrics
Of The Father’s Love Begotten
Original text: Aurelius Prudentius, b. 348 A.D.
Composer: Terry J Barham
Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!
O that birth forever blessed, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!
O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing evermore and evermore!