Advent Sunday: Charles Wood’s O thou, the central orb

Tomorrow is Advent Sunday. Christians are encouraged to prepare for the Feast of the Nativity, or the Incarnation. There is a twofold emphasis here. Firstly, the Birth of Christ as a tiny child in the stable at Bethlehem, and secondly, the anticipation of his Second Coming in Glory at the End of the World. In the Anglican Church, the collect and the lessons (in the Book of Common Prayer) call for Humility, which is deemed to be the forerunner of repentance. It demands that we “cast away the works of darkness,” whilst the first lesson (Romans 13) explains how the believer should pray towards this end. The Gospel (Matthew 21.1) portrays the Coming of Christ in “meekness and humility and casting out the world of darkness.” The liturgical colour of this season is purple.

In his book O Sing Unto the Lord, (Profile, 2015), Andrew Gant speaks of Charles Wood’s anthems as making “the archetypal noise of Anglicanism”. He amusingly refers to O thou, the central orb as the ultimate all-purpose English anthem, “equally suitable for every occasion from a wet Thursday to a Diamond Jubilee, and every Sunday-after-something in between. It sounds good, and the words don’t mean anything at all. Perfect.”

I demur. With its notion “Of this our wintry world; thy radiance bright/Awakes new joy in faith: hope soars above” and “Let thy bright beams disperse the gloom of sin,” it makes a fitting start for Advent.

Charles Wood (1866-1926) was an Irish composer and teacher, best known for his contributions to Anglican church music. Born in Armagh, Ireland, he studied at the Royal College of Music in London under Charles Villiers Stanford and Hubert Parry. Wood's students included notable composers Ralph Vaughan Williams, Arthur Bliss, and Herbert Howells. He co-founded the Irish Folk Song Society in 1904 and, later, served as Professor of Music at Cambridge University.

Despite a vast catalogue of music featuring most of the common genres, Charles Wood is recalled for only a handful of anthems, Christmas carols and liturgical pieces. Hail Gladdening Light is by far his most popular work. Wood's music is celebrated for its melodic beauty, harmonic resonance, and liturgical significance.

Henry Ramsden Bramley (1833-1917) was an English clergyman and hymnologist. He is best known for his collaboration with composer Sir John Stainer on the influential collection Christmas Carols, New and Old (1871), which revived many traditional carols. Bramley served as Vicar of Horspath, Oxfordshire, and later as Canon and Precentor of Lincoln Cathedral. His work significantly impacted the Victorian carol revival, popularizing carols like The First Nowell and God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen.

O thou, the central orb of righteous love,

Pure beam of the Most High, eternal light

Of this our wintry world; thy radiance bright

Awakes new joy in faith: hope soars above.

Come, quickly come, and let thy glory shine;

Gilding our darksome heaven with rays divine.

Thy saints with holy lustre round thee move,

As stars about thy throne, set in the height

Of God's ordaining counsel, as thy sight

Gives measured grace to each, thy power to prove.

Let thy bright beams disperse the gloom of sin:

Our nature all shall feel eternal day

In fellowship with thee, transforming ray,

To souls, erewhile unclean, now pure within. Amen.

O Thou the Central Orb is a setting of a text that praises the central sphere of righteous love, symbolising divine light and purity. The anthem is known for its deep harmonies and expressive depth, reflecting Wood's skill in blending traditional Anglican choral style with his own unique voice. The piece is often performed in cathedrals and churches, displaying its liturgical significance and melodic beauty. It remains a popular work in the Anglican choral repertoire. It ‘speaks of the joy of faith, the company of the saints and the transformation of love that God brings to those who trust him.’ Wood’s setting is romantic in sound and comforting ternary form. There is also an important organ part. The powerful conclusion is stunning.

Listen to Charles Wood’s O thou, the central orb, on YouTube, here. The Choir of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge is directed by Geoffrey Webber. The organist is Gavin Roberts.