For all the Saints
Encyclopedia
"For All the Saints" was written as a processional hymn
by the Anglican Bishop
William Walsham How
. The hymn was first printed in Hymns for Saint's Days, and Other Hymns, by Earl Nelson, 1864.
, until the publication of the English Hymnal
in 1906. This hymnal
used a new setting by Ralph Vaughan Williams
which he called Sine Nomine (literally, "without name") in reference to its use on the Feast of All Saints
, November 1, or the first Sunday in November, All Saints Sunday in the Lutheran Church. It has been described as "one of the finest hymn tune
s of [the 20th] century."
While most English hymn tunes of its era are written for singing in SATB
four-part harmony, Sine Nomine is primarily unison (verses 1,2,3,7 and 8) with organ accompaniment; just three verses (4, 5 and 6) are set in sung harmony. The tune appears in this forms in most English hymnbooks (for example English Hymnal
(641), New English Hymnal
(197), Common Praise (232)) and American hymnals (for example, The Hymnal 1982
and the Lutheran Service Book
(677)).
Some versions substitute "far off we hear" for "steals on the ear" (verse 8). There are other minor variations as well. Most renditions omit verses 3, 4 and 5.
Processional hymn
A processional hymn is a chant, hymn or other music sung during the Procession, usually at the start of a Christian service although occasionally during the service itself. The procession usually contains members of the clergy and the choir walking behind the processional cross...
by the Anglican Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
William Walsham How
William Walsham How
William Walsham How was an English bishop.The son of a Shrewsbury solicitor, How was educated at Shrewsbury School, Wadham College, Oxford and University College, Durham. He was ordained in 1846, and for upwards of thirty years was actively engaged in parish work at Whittington in Shropshire and...
. The hymn was first printed in Hymns for Saint's Days, and Other Hymns, by Earl Nelson, 1864.
Tune
The hymn was sung to the melody Sarum, by Victorian composer Joseph BarnbyJoseph Barnby
Sir Joseph Barnby , English musical composer and conductor, son of Thomas Barnby, an organist, was born at York. He was a chorister at York Minster from the age of seven, was educated at the Royal Academy of Music under Cipriani Potter and Charles Lucas, and was appointed in 1862 organist of St...
, until the publication of the English Hymnal
English Hymnal
The English Hymnal was published in 1906 for the Church of England under the editorship of Percy Dearmer and Ralph Vaughan Williams. The preface to the hymnal began with the statement, "A collection of the best hymns in the English language." Much of the contents was used for the first time at St...
in 1906. This hymnal
Hymnal
Hymnal or hymnary or hymnbook is a collection of hymns, i.e. religious songs, usually in the form of a book. The earliest hand-written hymnals are known since Middle Ages in the context of European Christianity...
used a new setting by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
which he called Sine Nomine (literally, "without name") in reference to its use on the Feast of All Saints
All Saints
All Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...
, November 1, or the first Sunday in November, All Saints Sunday in the Lutheran Church. It has been described as "one of the finest hymn tune
Hymn tune
A hymn tune is the melody of a musical composition to which a hymn text is sung. Musically speaking, a hymn is generally understood to have four-part harmony, a fast harmonic rhythm , and no refrain or chorus....
s of [the 20th] century."
While most English hymn tunes of its era are written for singing in SATB
SATB
In music, SATB is an initialism for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, defining the voices required by a chorus or choir to perform a particular musical work...
four-part harmony, Sine Nomine is primarily unison (verses 1,2,3,7 and 8) with organ accompaniment; just three verses (4, 5 and 6) are set in sung harmony. The tune appears in this forms in most English hymnbooks (for example English Hymnal
English Hymnal
The English Hymnal was published in 1906 for the Church of England under the editorship of Percy Dearmer and Ralph Vaughan Williams. The preface to the hymnal began with the statement, "A collection of the best hymns in the English language." Much of the contents was used for the first time at St...
(641), New English Hymnal
New English Hymnal
The New English Hymnal is a hymn book and liturgical source, aimed towards the Church of England, first published in 1986. It was published by the Canterbury Press . The copyright is held by The English Hymnal Company Limited. It is a successor to, and published in the same style as, the 1906...
(197), Common Praise (232)) and American hymnals (for example, The Hymnal 1982
The Hymnal 1982
The Hymnal 1982 is the hymnal of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It is one in a series of 7 official hymnals of the Episcopal Church, including The Hymnal 1940...
and the Lutheran Service Book
Lutheran Service Book
Lutheran Service Book is the newest official hymnal of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and the Lutheran Church–Canada . It was prepared by the LCMS Commission on Worship and published by Concordia Publishing House, the official publisher of the LCMS...
(677)).
Text
- 1. For all the saints, who from their labours rest,
- Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
- Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
- Alleluia, Alleluia!
- 2. Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
- Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
- Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
- Alleluia, Alleluia!
- 3. For the Apostles’ glorious company,
- Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
- Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
- Alleluia, Alleluia!
- 4. For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
- Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
- Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
- Alleluia, Alleluia!
- 5. For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
- Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
- And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.
- Alleluia, Alleluia!
- 6. O blest communion, fellowship divine!
- We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
- All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
- Alleluia, Alleluia!
- 7. O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
- Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
- And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
- Alleluia, Alleluia!
- 8. And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
- Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
- And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
- Alleluia, Alleluia!
- 9. The golden evening brightens in the west;
- Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
- Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
- Alleluia, Alleluia!
- 10. But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
- The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
- The King of glory passes on His way.
- Alleluia, Alleluia!
- 11. From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
- Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
- And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
- Alleluia, Alleluia!
Some versions substitute "far off we hear" for "steals on the ear" (verse 8). There are other minor variations as well. Most renditions omit verses 3, 4 and 5.