Chorale Prelude on "Melcombe"

Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry is perhaps best known for his choral writing, most famously his choral song Jerusalem, the hymn tune Repton, and his setting of verses from Psalm 122, better known as I was glad, composed for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. Amongst his other compositions is a handful of pieces for organ including two books of Seven Chorale Preludes, published in 1912 and 1916. His setting of "Melcombe" is taken from the former volume.

The original tune was composed by Samuel Webbe in 1782 and is often sung to the words 'New every morning is the love'. Originally published as a chant tune in the Roman Catholic Mass (Webbe composed much music for Roman Catholic services) but its popularity meant that it was included in many Protestant hymnals as well. The tune was named after Melcome Regis, now an area of Weymouth in Dorset, not too far from where Parry was born in Bournemouth.

Parry's lilting setting in 12/8 time is a lyrical one, with each phrases of the gently ornamented melody separated by a short-interlude, showing the influence of Bach on Parry's writing. The 'Father' Willis organ of Salisbury Cathedral is a perfect match for this quintessentially English music.