I’m continuing my survey of hymns from Gather Australia while skipping the songs I’ve already blogged.
This one is another of the gems with a text by Australian poet James P. McAuley set, as usual, by the amazing Richard Connolly with a tune he called SANCTA SOPHIA.
Go read the text in the preview at As One Voice. McAuley writes with a terseness and power that is absent in most hymn writing. The tune is another of Connolly’s outwardly traditional sounding melodies that often surprise and are never conventional.
It is also in the Australian Hymn Book (No 607) where it is suggested that a cantor or small group sing the verses and the congregation the antiphon.
You can buy the sheet music as part of the collection of their hymns, Year of Grace at AOV.
BIAB had to make up chords for this one so I could make a backing.
Thank you for this uplifting recording! I heard the Hymn last week for the first time for many years . Am relearning the guitar for private enjoyment and enjoyed listening to the accompaniment.