VESPER HYMN (Bortnianski)

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VESPER HYMN (Bortnianski)

Composer: Dmitriĭ Stepanovich Bortnianskiĭ (1818)
Published in 240 hymnals

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Audio files: MIDI, Recording

FlexScore
	Now, on Land and Sea Descending

Piano/Organ
	The Art of Hymn Playing Volume II - Intr…

Choral
	Listen to the Holy Voices

Composer: Dmitriĭ Stepanovich Bortnianskiĭ

Dimitri Stepanovitch Bortniansky (1751-1825) Ukraine 1751-1825 Born in Glukhov, Ukraine, he joined the imperial choir at age 8 and studied with Galuppi, who later took the lad with him to Italy, where he studied for 10 years, becoming a composer, harpsichordist, and conductor. While in Italy he composed several operas and other instrumental music, composing more operas and music later in Russia. In 1779 he returned to Russia, where he was appointed Director to the Imperial Chapel Choir, the first as a native citizen. In 1796 he was appointed music director. With such a great instrument at his disposal, he produced many compositions, 100+ religious works, sacred concertos, cantatas, and hymns. He influenced Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovshy… Go to person page >

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Tune Information

Title:	VESPER HYMN (Bortnianski)
Composer:	Dmitriĭ Stepanovich Bortnianskiĭ (1818)
Meter:	8.7.8.7 D
Incipit:	35453 52535 42171
Key:	E♭ Major
Source:	Geneve
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Texts

Now on land and sea descending

Evening Prayer

All texts published with VESPER HYMN (Bortnianski)^ top

Alternative Tunes

More tunes with meter 8.7.8.7 D ^ top

Notes

VESPER HYMN appeared in John A. Stevenson's Selection of Popular National Airs (1818) as a setting for Thomas Moore's "Hark! The Vesper Hymn Is Stealing." A footnote in that hymnal explained that Stevenson had added what is-now the first line of the retrain to a "Russian Air." Some later hymnals attributed the tune to Dimitri Bortniansky, but no tune resembling this one has been found in that Russian composer's published works. Stevenson is generally recognized as being the arranger if not also the composer.

As a youth, Stevenson (b. Dublin, Ireland, 1761; d. Kells, Ireland, 1833) was a chorister at Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. He later worked as a church musician in both cathedrals: at St. Patrick's from 1783 to 1800 and at Christ Church from 1800 to 1814. In 1814 he became organist and musical director at the Castle Chapel. Stevenson published Morning and Evening Services and Anthems (1825) and an oratorio, Thanksgiving (1831). But he is better known for his operas and songs for the stage and his collection of Irish Melodies (1807-1809) to lyrics by Thomas Moore.

This bar form (AAB) tune reaches an early climax in its refrain. Preferably sing with children, but begin and end with the refrain as a frame sung by the entire congregation. For choral singing at a special service, try having the sopranos sing the final line of the refrain up an octave.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988

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Timeline

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Piano/Organ The Art of Hymn Playing Volume II - Introductions, Preludes, Free Accompaniments, and Alternate Harmonizations Hallelujah, What a Savior!, Vol. 2 (Extraordinary Settings of Hymns, Spirituals, and Chants) Now, on Land and Sea Descending More Piano/Organ...
Choral Listen to the Holy Voices More Choral...
Handbells EVENSONG Ring for Joy! – Volume 2 (Easy Reproducible Hymn Medleys for Prayer and Rejoicing) Ring for Joy! – Volume 2 (Easy Reproducible Hymn Medleys for Prayer and Rejoicing) More Handbells...
PowerPoint SAVIOR, BREATHE AN EVENING BLESSING (Trinity Hymnal 403) More PowerPoint...

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations

The Art of Hymn Playing Volume 2: 250 Preludes Introductions Free Accompaniments & Alternate Harmonizations
Composer/Editor Charles Callahan
Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (2009) pp. 168-169
The Organ Portfolio Volume 60 Number 3 January February 1997: A Bi-monthly Anthology for the Church Organist
Composer/Editor Dorothy Wells
Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1997) pp. 29
48 Hymn Decants for Festive and General Use: By Various Composers
Composer/Editor Eugene H. Bonham
Published By: G. I. A. Publications, Inc. (1980) pp. 33
55 Hymn Intonations
Composer/Editor Harald Rohlig
Published By: Abingdon Press (1962) pp. 15
The St. Thomas Church Descant Book
Composer/Editor Norman Coke-Jephcott
Published By: The H. W. Gray Company, Inc. (1959) pp. 16
Hymn Tunes with Varied Harmonies Book 3: For Pianoforte or Organ
Composer/Editor Joseph E. Newell
Published By: Edwin Ashdown, Limited (London) (1920) pp. 9

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations: Piano

Piano Arrangements of Great Hymn Tunes
Composer/Editor Don Whitman
Published By: Standard Publishing Company (1951) pp. 6

Organ Solo

The Organ Portfolio Volume 60 Number 3 January February 1997: A Bi-monthly Anthology for the Church Organist
Composer/Editors Dorothy Wells; Carl Simone
Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1997) pp. 27
The Sacred Organ Journal Volume 18 Number 1 September 1983: A Bi-Monthly Anthology for Church Organists
Composer/Editors Howard Wells; Carl Simone
Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1983) pp. 21
At the Console: Organ Interpretations
Composer/Editor Eleanor Whitsett
Published By: Hinshaw Music, Inc. (1974) pp. 2
Sunday Night at the Console: Organ Interpretations of Gospel Hymns
Composer/Editor Eleanor W. Whitsett
Published By: Lillenas Publishing Company (1974) pp. 25
Ten Choral Preludes and a Fantasy on Familiar Hymn Tunes: For the Organ
Composer/Editor Harry Alexander Matthews
Published By: Theodore Presser Company (1949) pp. 24
Ashford's Hymn Voluntaries No. 1: A Collection of Organ Voluntaries Based on Familiar Hymn Tunes
Composer/Editor Emma Louise Ashford
Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1901) pp. 12

Piano Solo

Piano Arrangements of Great Hymn Tunes
Composer/Editor Don Whitman
Published By: Standard Publishing Company (1951) pp. 6

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Christian Classics Ethereal Hymnary #614

Four-part harmony, full-score (PDF, NWC)

The Cyber Hymnal #2666

Text: Hark! The Vesper Hymn Is Stealing

Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
XML score (XML)

The Cyber Hymnal #4637

Text: Now, on Land and Sea Descending

Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
XML score (XML)

The Cyber Hymnal #6829

Text: Take Me, O My Father, Take Me

Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
XML score (XML)

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #484

Text: Humble Praises, Holy Jesus

Full Score (PDF, XML)
Bulletin Score (PDF)
Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)

Small Church Music #5727

Text: Отче жизнь мою отныне (Take My Life, O Father)

PDF Score (PDF)

Small Church Music #7220

Text: O! tahio ny havanay re (O! Bless our family)

PDF Score (PDF)

The United Methodist Hymnal #685

Text: Now, on Land and Sea Descending

Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
Bulletin Score (PDF)
Full Score (PDF)

With Heart and Voice: songs for all God's children #131

Text: Humble Praises, Holy Jesus

Full Score (PDF, XML)
Bulletin Score (PDF)
Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)

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Page Scans

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Voices Together (2020), p.516

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Instances

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VESPER HYMN (Bortnianski)

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