CORONAE (Monk)

Composer: William Henry Monk

Known in his day as an organist, church musician, and music editor, William Henry Monk (16 March 1823 – 18 March 1889) composed popular hymn tunes, including one of the most famous, "Eventide", used for the hymn "Abide with Me". He also wrote music for church services and anthems. William Henry Monk was born in London on 16 March 1823. His youth is not well-documented, but it seems that he developed quickly on the keyboard, but perhaps less so in composition. By age 18, Monk was organist at St Peter's Church, Eaton Square (Central London). He left after two years, and moved onto two more organist posts in London (St. George's Church, Albemarle Street, and St. Paul's Church, Portman Square), each also for two years and each serving a… Go to person page >

William H. Monk (PHH 332) composed CORONAE in 1871. The following year it was published in J Ireland Tucker's Hymnal with Tunes Old and New as a setting for Thomas Kelly's text "Look, ye saints, the sight is glorious." That text had "Crown him!" in each stanza, thus the title for this tune.

A bar form tune (AAB), CORONAE is noteworthy for the rhythmic structure of its final line. Sing stanzas 1 and 4 in unison and stanzas 2 and 3 in harmony. Apply crisp articulation on the repeated melody tones and use bold accompaniment.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook