O Wondrous Type
SATB choral/organ score
PEL2056-Choir and Organ
A WORK FOR SATB CHOIR, BARITONE SOLO AND ORGAN.
This anthem combines the tune "Wareham" by William Knapp (1698-1768) with the plainsong melody Jesu dulcis memoria (Mode II) along with their respective texts, "O wondrous type! O vision fair" and "O light of Light! Love given birth". The baritone soloist declaims the text from Luke's Gospel.
Commissioned by the parishioners and choirs of Grace Church in thanksgiving for the dedicated and faithful ministry of the Reverend Donald S. McPhail, upon his retirement as the beloved ninth Rector of Grace Episcopal Church, Charleston, South Carolina. May 21, 2006. (Grace Episcopal Church, Dr. Scott Bennett, Director of Music.)
Texts
O Wondrous Type! O Vision Fair
The Gospel of St. Luke
Latin 10th cent; tr. Laurence Housman
& Latin 15th cent; tr. Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861,
after John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
Jesus took with him Peter, James and John, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments white as the light.
O wondrous type! O vision fair
of glory that the Church may share,
which Christ upon the mountain shows,
where brighter than the sun he glows!
With Moses and Elijah nigh
the incarnate Lord holds converse high;
and from the cloud, the Holy One
bears record to the only Son.
From the cloud a voice from heaven: This is my son, my beloved Son.
O Light of Light, Love given birth;
Jesus, Redeemer of the earth:
more bright than day your face did show,w.
May all who seek to praise aright
through purer lives show forth your light.
To you, the King of glory, now.
And faithful hearts are raised on high
by this great vision’s mystery;
for which in joyful strains we raise.
With shining face and bright array,
Christ deigns to manifest today
what glory shall be theirs above
O Father, with the eternal Son,
and Holy Spirit, ever One,
vouchsafe to bring us by thy grace
to see thy glory face to face.
