LANGDON (Langdon)

Composer: Richard Langdon

LANGDON is the only example of Anglican chant in the Psalter Hymnal. Published in a group of twenty anonymous chants at the end of Richard Langdon's Divine Harmony, a Collection in Score of Psalms and Anthems (1774), it is considered to be Langdon's own composition because all the other chants can be traced to other composers. The melody is constructed with three statements of a basic formula; after the first statement, "Give us today. . . “and "And lead us not. . . “each begins the pattern again. In keeping with the Anglican style and tradition, sing in harmony; organ accompaniment should be light (until the final phrases), though unaccompanied singing is very appropriate. The rhythmical notation is approximate, for in this style of chant, speech rhythms determine musical ones.

Little is known about Richard Langdon (b. Exeter, England, c. 1729; d. Exeter, 1803) other than that he filled a series of organist positions. His family had a long involvement in the music program at Exeter Cathedral, and he was organist there from 1753-1777; he also served as Master of the Choristers during much of that time.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

LANGDON appears to have been adapted for the text "Let the Words of My Mouth," as found in the Pilgrim Hymnal (1958), as well as other psalm settings. The first three phrases are identical to LANGDON, but the tune is then abbreviated to accommodate the shorter text. [Tina Schneider]

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Voices United: The Hymn and Worship Book of The United Church of Canada (1996), p.966