I saw the first Christmas display
in a shop during September. With each passing day, more and more retail stores
increase their seasonal sales pitch. I think my first Carol was heard during
the early days of November. This is not the forum to argue for and against the
commercialisation of Christmas, but I must state that personally I find it
unsettling.
Today, at Evensong, the season of
Advent formally begins. Tomorrow is Advent Sunday. I am reminded of a note
provided in the revised edition of Percy Dearmer’s The Parson’s Handbook.
(Cyril Pocknee, 1965). He begins by explaining that ‘Advent’ is the
season of ‘expectation and preparation’ for Christmas. It is not its ‘satisfaction’
as commerce would wish. He suggests that churches avoid the ‘deplorable
tendency to anticipate 25 December by the singing of [popular]
Christmas carols…’ He reminds church
officials that there are a host of good hymns that can be used during the
Advent season. I would add that that there are several good Advent carols that
would seem entirely appropriate.
So, what does Advent
celebrate? In the Western tradition the
season begins on the Sunday nearest to St Andrew’s Day which is always celebrated
on 30 November. This year, 2018, Advent Sunday is 2 December. Typically, the
Church regards this as a penitential season, although fasting is no longer
observed. There are two parts. Firstly, a preparation for the celebration of
the Incarnation of Christ on 25 December, but secondly it looks forward in the
longer term to the Second Coming of Christ. The first of these looks at Jesus
coming as a tiny, helpless child. The second envisages Christ in power, glory
and might. Meditation is given to the
‘Four Last Things.’ These are ‘the ultimate realities awaiting humanity and the
cosmos.’ They include Death, the Day of
Judgement, the nature of Heaven and of Hell.
Advent, then, is not about boozy Santas,
tipsy robins and improbable snow scenes. It is about the deepest realities of
the human psyche. And these thoughts need not only occur to practising
Christians. It is only on Christmas Day itself, that thoughts of joy and peace and
celebration can flow into the mind.
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| Figure 1 Opening Bars of Deo Gracias |
The appropriateness of using
Percy Whitlock’s ‘Deo Gracias’ as an Advent recessional voluntary surely
derives from one of the strands of liturgical theology inherent in the Season. Without developing this blog-post into a bible
study, the words ‘Deo Gracias’ mean ‘Thanks be to God.’ It is used as a
response in the Latin Mass and was derived from the Vulgate (Latin) text of 1
Corinthians 15:57 (KJV) and 2 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV). The first of these texts says ‘But thanks be
to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ Whilst equally
important is the second: ‘But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives
in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the
knowledge of him everywhere.’ The key part being the ‘triumphal procession’
inherent in the Second Coming of Christ.
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| Fig. 2 Original Agincourt Tune |
It should be admitted that the
text of the Agincourt Song has little to do with Advent or even Christianity as
such. The burden of the song is the triumph of Henry V at that battle. However,
it could easily be read as an allegory for the eschatological triumph of Christ
in the latter days. Or if we wish to evacuate theological and religious
terminology, simply the triumph of good over evil.
Percy Whitlock’s Six Hymn
Preludes were composed over a considerable period. The earliest would seem to
be 1923 with the final touches being applied shortly before publication by
Oxford University Press in 1945. It was the last work that Whitlock saw
published. According to Malcolm Riley’s (1998) catalogue printed in his study
of the composer, the holograph is missing. The six pieces are ‘Darwall’s 148th’;
‘Song 13’; ‘Deo Gracias’; ‘St. Denio’; ‘Werde munter’ and ‘King’s Lynn.’
‘Deo Gracia’s was transcribed for
organ by Whitlock from his Suite: Music for Orchestra which was composed in
1940. There were four movements in this orchestral work: ‘Peter’s Tune’, ‘Caprice’,
‘Reverie’ and the ‘Fanfare on the tune ‘Song of Agincourt.’’ Riley explains that this ‘fanfare’ was
composed during December 1940 after Whitlock had heard a broadcast of the ‘Agincourt
Song’ on the BBC Home Service. His wife, Edna, suggested that he ‘…should write
a piece on this fine tune…’ Apparently,
Whitlock started in the score immediately.
The broadcast in question would
appear to have been made on 4 September 1940 and featured the baritone John
Morel singing early English songs from the 13th to the 15th
century. ‘The Song of Agincourt’ dates
from 1415.
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| Fig.3 Deo Gracias 'Tune' highlighted in yellow |
The general effect of Whitlock’s
Hymn-Tune Prelude ‘Deo Gracias’ calls for the use of reed stops, including the
8’ Tuba stop as well as mixtures. Mixtures call for a range of pipes with more
than one note to each key. The sound produced includes the actual note as well
as some of that note’s harmonics. It adds brightness to the sound. The texture of ‘Deo Gracias’ calls for some
contrapuntal writing as well as some straight-forward harmonisation of the
‘chorale’ tune.
Whitlock has presented this
arrangement in a ‘military style’ which provides a triumphal effect, mirroring
the sentiment of victory of Henry V at Agincourt. It is worth recalling that
William Walton used the same tune in his score for Laurence Olivier’s Henry V.
YouTube:
Percy Whitlock’s ‘Deo Gracias’
can be heard on YouTube. (at 1
December 2018). It is from PRCD 542 (see below for details).
Bibliography:
Riley, Malcom, Percy Whitlock: Organist and Composer,
(London, Thames Publishing, 1998)
Brief Discography:
The Complete Organ Work of Percy Whitlock, Volume 3 includes Six
Hymn Preludes, the Sonata in C minor, the ‘Adagio’, the March: Rustic Cavalry,
Graham Barber, ogann of Downside Abbey, Priory PRCD 542 1998
The Organ of Chester Cathedral, includes Whitlock’s Sonata in C
minor, Six Hymn Preludes and Charles Hylton Stewart’s Five Short and Easy
Pieces on Hymn Tunes. Philip Rushworth, organ, Priory PRCD 1070, 2011.
The Gentle Art of Percy Whitlock, includes Six Hymn Preludes, Three
Reflections, Five Short Pieces, Salix etc. Roderick Elms, the organs of Rugby
School and Brentwood Cathedral. Herald, HAVP359, 2010.
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