Of the Father's Love Begotten
4-Part - Sheet Music

SATB choir, organ

SKU: C5.4350

Arranged by Andrew Motyka. Text: Divinum mysterium. Four verses of the popular Advent/Christmas carol. Advent, Christmas. Octavo. Published by CanticaNOVA Publications (C5.4350).

The 4th century text, Corde natus ex Parentis, in its 19th century translation, "Of the Father's Love Begotten," is a beloved carol for the Christmas season. Andrew Motyka, composer of the Laudate Dominum Communion Antiphons, has set four verses of this chant-like carol, each with different texture and voicing. Verse 1 is sung by sopranos and altos in unison, without accompaniment. The men have the melody in Verse 2, while the women (supported by soft organ) sing an open fifth throughout. Verse 3 is an SATB setting, mostly a cappella, with the organ supplying a moving pattern at cadence points. The last of these short organ phrases leads to an interlude before Verse 4, where a descant is sung over the rest of the choir's melody, accompanied by organ, which offers a very short coda. This anthem is an easy, but beautiful, addition to the Christmas repertoire. The tune represents an alternate tier in terms of carols, not so familiar as "Silent Night," but also not obscure. With its unison treble first verse and comfortable descant (range E-flat to high F), this piece would make a wonderful combined anthem for children and adults - why not schedule it for Epiphany or Baptism of the Lord, where an easy anthem with combined forces might be ideal?