Chorale Prelude on "Christe, redemptor omnium", Set 1, No. 6

Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 1st Baronet (27 February 1848 - 7 October 1918) was an English composer, teacher and historian of music.Parry's first major works appeared in 1880. He was director of the Royal College of Music from 1895 until his death and was also professor of music at the University of Oxford from 1900 to 1908. He also wrote several books about music and music history. Some contemporaries rated him as the finest English composer since Henry Purcell, but his academic duties prevented him from devoting all his energies to composition. Parry was a great lover of the music of Bach, and many of his works demonstrate this interest and mastery. This prelude with it's flowing and expressive counterpoint and accompaniment really show the Bach influence, translated into the early 20th century English style. First published in 1912, it is the 2nd piece in the First Set of Chorale Preludes. This prelude with it's flowing and expressive counterpoint and accompaniment really show the Bach influence, translated into the early 20th century English style.

The prelude on "Christe, redemptor omnium" is the 6th of the first set of preludes. It is wonderfully "atmospheric," and sets the Gregorian melody one time (complete), interspersed with flowing interludes based on the melodic phrases. It is gentle, almost "pastel-like," as the piece "flutters" as if upward borne on the wings of angels.

Not to "correct" Parry, but the tune set is more usually called "Jesu dulcis memoria", and this melody, which is in the first mode (Dorian) is often called "The Rosy Sequence." The plainsong melody directly precedes the choral prelude.

The first verse of the hymn is:

Jesu! - the very thought is sweet!
In that dear Name all heart-joys meet;
But sweeter than the honey far
The glimpses of his presence are.

The score is attached below, as well as two photos of C.H.H. Parry.