Hymn of Faith

SKU: BT.DHP-1064014-130

9x12 inches. English-German-Dutch.

The French composer Louis Bourgeois lived from c.1510 to 1560. Bourgeois was cantor in Geneva and, commissioned by John Calvin, he composed melodies for metrical (rhyming) versions of the psalms. After completing about a hundred one-part psalms, he made some four-part arrangements, which were denounced and even resulted in his imprisonment for a day. Later, Bourgeois published a number of psalm collections, and judging from his book Le droict chemin de musique he was also an excellent educator. The melodies Bourgeois composed, are (contrary to Gregorian chants) particularly suitable for community singing. This applies to his hymn tune Saint Michael, which is why this melody hasbeen used for various texts, written for many occasions. John Blanken made this arrangement for a wedding ceremony: an occasion in which faith and trust play a large - if not the largest - role. Hence the title Hymn of Faith. The arrangement contains four verses of the hymn. After a majestic opening the hymn follows twice, the second verse being embellished in the tenor register. After a short interlude verse three follows, played by a quartet. The majestic opening is then repeated as a modulation into the fourth verse, which concludes the work in a brilliant tutti.

Der Komponist, Kantor und Pädagoge Louis Bourgeois lebte im 16. Jahrhundert in Genf und komponierte Psalm- und Kirchenliedmelodien, die sich besonders gut für den Gemeindegesang eigneten. Die vorliegende Bearbeitung einer seiner Melodien schrieb John Blanken für eine Hochzeitszeremonie - ein Anlass, bei dem Glaube und Vertrauen eine große Rolle spielen: Daher der Titel Hymn of Faith. Ein wunderbares Stück ernste“ Musik, das zu vielen Gelegenheiten passt.