Ralph Vaughan Williams: O how amiable.
This anthem is part of Music for the Pageant of Abinger, composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) in aid of the Abinger Church Preservation Fund in 1934. It originally had military band accompaniment, but was later arranged by the composer for organ. It sets biblical texts from Psalms 84 and 90 and closes with the first verse of the hymn, O God our help in ages past (Tune: ST. ANNE), words by Issac Watts (1674-1748).
O how amiable are thy dwellings: thou Lord of hosts!
My soul hath a desire and a longing to enter into the courts of the Lord:
My heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
Yea, the sparrow hath found her a house,
and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young:
even the altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be always praising thee.
The glorious Majesty of the Lord our God be upon us:
prosper thou the work of our hands upon us.
O prosper thou our handywork, O prosper thou our handywork.
O God our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home.
The Choir of Somerville College, Oxford
Douglas Knight (organ)
David Crown (conductor)
Somerville College Chapel, 4 March 2012
Ralph Vaughan Williams: O how amiable