Psalter Hymnal (Gray) ‎#404

404. Sing, Choirs of New Jerusalem

1 Sing, choirs of new Jerusalem,
your sweetest notes employ,
your sweetest notes employ
the paschal victory to hymn
in songs of holy joy,
in songs of holy joy,
in songs of holy joy!

2 For Judah's Lion burst his chains
and crushed the serpent's head,
and crushed the serpent's head;
Christ cries aloud through death's domains
to wake the imprisoned dead,
to wake the imprisoned dead,
to wake the imprisoned dead.

3 Triumphant in his glory now
to him all power is given,
to him all power is given;
to him in one communion bow
all saints in earth and heaven,
all saints in earth and heaven,
all saints in earth and heaven.

4 All glory to the Father be,
all glory to the Son,
all glory to the Son,
all glory to the Spirit be
while endless ages run,
while endless ages run,
while endless ages run.

Text Information

• First Line: Sing, choirs of new Jerusalem
• Title: Sing, Choirs of New Jerusalem
• Author: Fulbert of Chartres, early 11th cent.
• Translator: Robert Campbell (1850, alt.)
• Meter: CM with repeats
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Scripture:
  Genesis 3:15
  ;
  1 Corinthians 15
• Topic: Doxologies; Biblical Names & Places: Jerusalem; Biblical Names & Places: Judah; Easter; Music; Opening of Worship; Trinity; Victory

Tune Information

• Name: LYNGHAM
• Composer: Thomas Jarman (c. 1803)
• Meter: CM with repeats
• Key: F Major

Text Information:

Scripture References:
st. 2 = Rev. 5:5, Gen. 3:15
st. 3 = Col. 1:15-18

Written in Latin by Bishop Fulbert of Chartres (b. Italy, c. 960; d. Chartres, France, 1028) early in the eleventh century, this Easter text originally began "Chorus novae Jerusalem." The text was used in British cathedrals and monasteries during the Easter season.

After studying at Rheims, Fulbert became head of the Cathedral School in Chartres. He lectured on various subjects, including medicine, and was able to attract many well known scholars to the school; thus the Chartres institution was one of the best schools of its time. Appointed bishop of Chartres in 1007, Fulbert entered into the political and theological controversies of his day. He left a substantial body of writings, including hymns, some of which were used in the British medieval Sarum Breviary.

Robert Campbell's English translation in six stanzas, which originally began “Ye choirs of new Jerusalem,” was published in Campbell's Hymns and Anthems (1850). The original stanzas 3 and 5 are omitted. Referring to the songs of Revelation 4, 5, and 7, stanza 1 expresses the triumph of Christ's "paschal victory"; stanza 2 speaks of Christ as “Judah's Lion,” who has “crushed the serpent's head”; stanza 3 is inspired by Colossians 1:15-18, and stanza 4 is a familiar Trinitarian doxology.

Liturgical Use:
Easter; Ascension; other occasions when a more elaborate musical setting would be helpful to ascribe glory to Jesus; the final stanza makes a fine doxology for any service.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

LYNGHAM is a fuguing tune by Thomas Jarman (b. Clipston, Northamptonshire, England, 1776; d. Clipston, 1862), published in his Sacred Music (around 1803). Jarman was a tailor by vocation, but he much preferred his musical avocation. He composed many hymn tunes, which were published in seventeen collections, including The Northamptonshire Harmony (1826), as well as in The Wesleyan Methodist periodical. Jarman was a popular choral director at the Clipston Baptist Chapel and at music festivals in neighboring villages.

Typical of fuguing tunes, LYNGHAM begins chordally and then moves to imitative lines that require part singing as well as repetition of some of the textual phrases. The tune has also been effectively set to "Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing" (501).

The tune works well for choral singing and for congregational singing in parts. The rhythmic vitality of the music needs brisk organ accompaniment, but keep the accompaniment light as well as vigorous!

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook