Angel Voices, Ever Singing

"Angel Voices, Ever Singing" is an English Christian hymn. It was written in 1861 by the Church of England vicar Francis Pott (1832–1909).[1] It was written for the dedication of an organ.[2]

"Angel Voices, Ever Singing"
Written1861 (1861)
Textby Francis Pott
Meter85 85 87
Melody
  • "Angel Voices"
Published1866 (1866)
  • #336 in the NEH

History

The hymn's words were written by Francis Pott. Pott was invited by William Macrorie, the future Bishop of Maritzburg in what would become South Africa, to compose a hymn to commemorate the installation and dedication of a new organ at St John's Church in Lancashire.[2][3] Pott wrote it at Brasenose College in Oxford, Oxfordshire.[1] Pott set the hymn to the newly written tune called "Angel Voices" by his friend Edwin George Monk as they collaborated to create "Angel Voices, Ever Singing".[4] It was originally titled "For the Dedication of an Organ or for a Meeting of Choirs".[1]

Pott then published "Angel Voices, Ever Singing" in 1866 in his Hymns fitted to the Order of Common Prayer hymnal.[5] The hymn eventually gained popularity in the United Kingdom and in the United States. In 1872, Arthur Sullivan wrote a separate tune, which was also called "Angel Voices" for the hymn.[6] Though it gained popularity in the United States and was published with it, Pott did not like Sullivan's tune and banned it from being published alongside his words.[7][8] He stated "I am afraid that some of its popularity arose from Sullivan having, contrary to my desire, set it in The Hymnary to a pretty, trivial but altogether unfit tune of his own – which caught the ear of people who did not trouble themselves to see that the hymn was of quite another character. In giving permission since for the printing of the hymn I have always made it a condition that Sullivan’s tune shall not be in any way referred to".[7] Due to Pott's ban of Sullivan's tune being published with the words, "Angel Voices, Ever Singing" has predominantly been played using Monk's "Angel Voices" tune up to the 21st century.[9]

It is the 589th hymn in Hymns Ancient and Modern.[1]

References
  1. "Angel voices, ever singing". Dictionary of Hymnology. Retrieved 2020-03-29.(subscription required)
  2. "More about the hymns". BBC. 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  3. "Angel voices ever singing". Church of Scotland. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  4. "Thank God for hymns". The Spectator. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  5. "Angel voices, ever singing". Hymnary.org. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  6. Jones, Aled (2009). "14". Aled Jones' Forty Favourite Hymns. Random House. ISBN 978-1409050773.
  7. Bradley, Ian (2013). Lost Chords and Christian Soldiers: The Sacred Music of Arthur Sullivan. SCM Press. p. 78. ISBN 978-0334049937.
  8. "Angel Voices Ever Singing". Conservative Woman. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
  9. "Angel-voices ever singing – Angel Voices (Monk)". Hyperion Records. Retrieved 2020-03-29.
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