EASTER HYMN originally appeared in the John Walsh collection Lyra Davidica (1708) as a very active tune. It was simplified to its present version by John Arnold in his Compleat Psalmodist (1749). It is one of the best and most widely known English hymn tunes for Easter.
See a list of other popular hymn and chorale themes here.
Written by George J. Elvey for the text “Crown Him with Many Crowns” by Matthew Bridges, DIADEMATA was first published in the 1868 Appendix to Hymns Ancient and Modern. The name of the tune is derived from the Greek word for “crowns.” While occasionally used for other texts, the melody retains a close association with the original lyrics.
See a list of other hymn and chorale themes here.
Videos:
Kerry Beaumont – Improvisation on Diademata – Coventry Cathedral
Gerre Hancock – Improvisation on Diademata – Texas
The melody for LASST UNS ERFREUEN is named for the Easter text “Lasst uns erfreuen herzlich sehr” in the Jesuit hymnal Ausserlesene Catlwlische Geistliche Kirchengesänge where it was first published in Cologne in 1623. The setting by Ralph Vaughan Williams first published in The English Hymnal in 1906 has become the most popular version of the tune paired with the text “Ye watchers and ye holy ones” by Athelstan Riley. Other texts often paired with the melody include “All Creatures of our God and King” and “From All That Dwell Below the Skies.”
See a list of other chorale and hymn themes here.
Videos:
DRJFK1986 – Improvisation ‘Lasst uns erfreuen herzlich sehr’
Healey Willan – Hymn and Improvisation – St Mary Magdalene, Toronto
Originally written by George F. Handel in 1747, this melody was later added to the oratorio Judas Maccabaeus with the lyrics “See, the Conqu’ring hero comes.” In 1884, Edmond L. Bundry wrote new words in French “A Toi la gloire.” This hymn was first translated from French into English by Richard B. Hoyle in 1923, becoming “Thine be the glory.” Other texts for this melody include a wedding hymn in the Netherlands (“Praised Be the Father” and an Advent hymn in Germany (“Tochter Zion, freue dich”).
See a list of other hymn and chorale themes here.
Video:
Naji Hakim – Improvisation A Toi la gloire – Trinité, Paris
One of four Marian Antiphons sung at vespers, this chant is normally used during the season of Easter.
See a list of other chant themes here.
Videos:
Eric Dalest – Improvisation on ‘Regina Caeli’ – Aubagne
Olivier Latry – Sortie on ‘Regina Caeli’ – Notre Dame, Paris
Pablo Márquez – Improvisation on ‘Regina Coeli’ – Nicolaasbasiliek, Amsterdam
Xaver Varnus – Improvisation on ‘Regina Coeli’ (1/2) – Saint Peter’s Cathedral, Frascati (Rome)
Xaver Varnus – Improvisation on ‘Regina Coeli’ (2/2) – Saint Peter’s Cathedral, Frascati (Rome)
This melody dates to the Fifteenth century and was very popular in France. The original nine verse Latin hymn was written by Jean Tisserand, OFM (d. 1494). It was assigned to the celebration of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament on Easter Sunday. While the triple alleluia was only to be sung at the beginning and ending, it has become a persistent refrain after each verse in most modern hymnals. The irregularity of the word stress may also have contributed to the great variety of rhythmic variations in the tune.
See a list of other chant themes here.
See a list of other hymn tunes here.
Videos:
François-Henri Houbart – Improvised Sortie on ‘O Filii et Filiae’ – La Madeleine, Paris
Jonathan Y. Tan – Postlude on ‘O Filii et Filiae’ – Grace Episcopal Church, Cincinnati
Bert Rebergen – Entree Improvisation “O Filii et Filiae” – St. Lambertus Castrop-Rauxel
Victimae paschali laudes is the Sequence chant for Easter Day. Charles Tournemire recorded an improvisation on the chant which was later transcribed be Maurice Duruflé. This transcription has become a popular piece of organ literature.
See a list of other popular chant themes here.
Videos:
Charles Tournemire (Philippe Lefebvre plays) – Victimae paschali laudes – Chartres Cathedral, France
Lorenzo Bonoldi – Versetti on Victimae Paschali Laudes – Basilica di San Carlo, Milano
Sergio Militello – Victimae paschali laudes
Daniel Roth with Eric Lebrun – Victimae paschali laudes – St. Sulpice, Paris, France
