Americans are used to reading hymns with the text set between the treble and bass clef staffs with the syllables more or less lined up with the music. British hymns are usually set with the music at the top of the page and all the lyrics at the bottom in a format that makes the poetry more obvious. The score for The Crucifixion by John Stainer presents the five hymns in British style. While preparing for the CFAGO combined choir performance of the work, this has proved a bit of a challenge for my American choir, I have taken the time to set the text within the music and am offering the files for download below. Some files include the performance instructions which we followed.
Hymns from the Crucificion by John Stainer:
- 5-Mystery of the Divine Humiliation
- 10-Litany of the Passion
- 13-The Mystery of Intercession
- 15-The Adoration of the Crucified
- 20-For the Love of Jesus