2020 – Son of God, Eternal Savior

This year’s selection of lyrics given a musical “sprucing up” comes to us from an English Vicar, one Somerset Corry Lowry (1855-1932). Written in 1893, Son of God, Eternal Savior is his most well-known hymn text. While not purely thematically “Christmas”, the opening verse references the birth of Jesus, and the text is suitable as a Christmas day anthem. Additionally, the text seemed particularly relevant given the many challenges of this year, especially the words found in the 4^th verse; it is truly a Christmas prayer fitting for these times.

Dark the path that lies behind us, filled with strife and cruelty; but before us gleams the vision of the coming unity. See the saints of Christ advancing, high and lowly, great and small, linked in bonds of common service for the common Lord of all.

For the musical setting, I composed a meandering melody that incorporates a technique called melisma, which is a series of notes sung over one syllable. This gives the melody a chant-like quality. It can be sung as a solo chant, with any of the harmony lines as a counter melody, or in full four-part harmony. When I listen to it in my head, I imagine it progressing in exactly that fashion, beginning with a soloist, then with verses 2-4 each highlighting a different harmony part, and finally in the last verse, all the parts joining together.

Song-of-God-Eternal-Savior

4 Part, 1 Verse:

Accompaniment, 5 Verses: