This Is the Record of John
"This Is the Record of John" | |
---|---|
Tudor | |
Genre | Anglican church music |
Form | Motet |
Written | 1600s: England |
Text | John 1:19–23 |
Language | Early Modern English |
Based on | Gospel of John |
"This Is the Record of John" is a verse anthem written by the English composer Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625). It is based on a text from the Gospel of John in the Geneva Bible and is a characteristic Anglican-style composition of its time. "John" (whose record is being told) refers to John the Baptist. The piece is divided into three sections, each beginning with a verse for solo contratenor (more like a modern tenor, but often now sung by a countertenor[1]) followed by a full section (consort of voices), echoing words of the verse. The singers are usually accompanied by
History
This 'verse-anthem' was written at the request of William Laud, who was president of St John's College, Oxford, from 1611 to 1621; the St John to whom college is dedicated is John the Baptist. It was written for the college chapel, and presumably received its first performance there.[3] The text forms one of the readings for Advent.
According to Morris,
Sources
The original text comes from
Verses
- This is the record of John,
when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him,
Who art thou?
And he confessed and denied not, and said plainly,
I am not the Christ.
Chorus- And they asked him, What art thou then? Art thou Elias?
And he said, I am not.
Art thou the prophet?
And he answered, No.
Chorus- Then said they unto him,
What art thou? that we may give an answer unto them that sent us.
What sayest thou of thyself?
And he said, I am the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,
Make straight the way of the Lord.
Chorus
References
- ^ Smith (2013). "Obituary: John Whitworth, countertenor". Gramophone. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- JSTOR 3125808. accessed via JSTOR, subscription required
- ^ "History". St John's College Oxford. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-0193533257. This publication uses a broad definition of Tudor and includes music from the reign of James I.
External links
- This is the Record of John by Orlando Gibbons on YouTube- St Mary Magdalene's choir and viol consort
- This Is the Record of John: Free scores at the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)