Praise, my soul, the King of heaven

Today is the Feast of Christ the King. It is the Last Sunday before Advent.

Mark Andrews (March 31, 1875-December 10, 1939) was born in England Lincolnshire, Gainsborough, England and died in Montclair, New Jersey in the USA.

He studied with John Thomas Ruch and was appointed organist of Farmingham Parish Church, Surrey in 1895. He emigrated to the US on Oct. 4, 1903 emigrated to the USA Montclair, and became organist of the First Congregational Church in Montclair, where he served from 1917 until 1938.

The tune "Andrews" was composed in 1930 for the text, "Praise my soul, the King of heaven." It is a splendid tune, and very rarely heard. As much it amazes me to say, it is a fine "alternative" for the usual, "Lauda anima," composed by John Goss.

The text is by Henry Francis Lyte, M.A.(1793-1847), the son of Captain Thomas Lyte. He was educated at Portora (the Royal School of Enniskillen), and at Trinity College, Dublin, of which he was a Scholar, and where he graduated in 1814. During his University course he distinguished himself by gaining the English prize poem on three occasions. At one time he had intended studying Medicine; but this he abandoned for Theology, and took Holy Orders in 1815, his first curacy being in Wexford.

In 1819 he moved to Lymington, where he composed his Tales on the Lord's Prayer in verse (pub. in 1826); and in 1823 he was appointed Perpetual Curate of Lower Brixham, Devon. That appointment he held until his death, on Nov. 20, 1847. His Poems of Henry Vaughan, with a Memoir, were published in 1846.

This really is one of those tunes that just makes you WANT to sing! Also, this version gives us the chance to hear the beautiful 4th verse, generally omitted from hymnals. You'll need to follow the music to see why it receives the "dynamic treatment" that I gave to it! ;-)

The score is attached below, as well as a photo of Mark Andrews, a photo of First Congregational Church, a drawing of H. Lyte.

The full text in First Comment.