LINDESFARNE

Arranger: Francesca Leftley

Polman wrote the text with the Israeli folk tune LINDESFARNE in mind. The tune was published in its current arrangement in the Oxford children's hymnal Their Words My Thoughts (1983). A charming tune in minor tonality, LINDESFARNE features a striking climax at the end of the second line that creates an effective melodic contour for the entire tune. It is intended for unison singing with accompaniment by keyboard or a variety of instruments; the tempo should be solid and majestic.

The tune was arranged by Francesca Leftley (b. Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, 1955), who presumably named the tune for the English island famous for its religious history and its castle; Lindesfarne, also known as Holy Island, is located in the North Sea off England's Northumberland coast and south of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Leftley graduated from Digby Stuart College of Education, London, England, with a degree in music education. She has directed choirs and orchestras and has been active in church music at the local parish level. Her many songs have been published in a number of collections. Leftley was also involved in revising and composing new works for the Veritas Religious Education Syllabus used by Roman Catholic schools in Great Britain and Ireland.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

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