Of the Father’s love begotten
F.180
A festive SAB arrangement of the beloved Divinum mysterium chant, available in two scorings: handbells and flute (F. 180a), or organ (F. 180b). Three verses build from intimate homophony to joyful polyphony with staggered entries and independent texts.
Listen
Perusal Score
Original setting is F. 180a for SAB, Flute, Handbells (two octaves).
Also available as F. 180b for SAB and Organ.
Program Notes
The chant Divinum mysterium imbues this Christmas text with wonder and is one of my favorite chants. A new Christmas tradition in my family is my writing a Christmas carol arrangement for my mom’s choir (the perks of having a composer as a son…), and this year she requested Of the Father’s love begotten for bells and SAB choir. My goal was to write something very easy to prepare (especially since our choirs are just getting back to singing after a two-year hiatus because of COVID). When a flautist became available for the premiere performance, I jumped on the opportunity to include it because I thought the flute nicely complemented the bells and would create interest without making the choir or handbell parts more difficult. Finally, I also created an SAB and Organ arrangement to make this piece accessible to more choirs.
Performance Notes
Purely diatonic harmony, simple rhythms (whole, half, and quarter notes only), and comfortable ranges place Of the Father’s love begotten at Level 2 (Easy). The main challenge is maintaining independent vocal lines with staggered entries and different texts in verses 2 and 3.
Notes for Directors
- The key to a successful performance is remembering how celebratory this text is: the Father so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son to save us! The handbells provide the gladsome tolling bells, but a quicker tempo is critical to maintaining a festive atmosphere.
- Verse 1 (mm. 4–25) is homophonic—all three parts sing the same text together.
- Verses 2 and 3 feature staggered entries with independent text across parts. Each voice carries different portions of the hymn text simultaneously, requiring ensemble awareness and the ability to hold one’s part against contrasting material.
- Dynamics build across the three verses (p → mf → f), with the organ reaching ff at the climax. A poco a poco approach to this dynamic arc helps shape the overall trajectory.
The Text
Of the Father’s love begotten
Of the Father’s love begotten,
ere the worlds began to be,
he is Alpha and Omega,
he the source, the ending he,
of the things that are, that have been,
and that future years shall see,
evermore and evermore!
O that birth for ever blessed,
when the Virgin, full of grace,
by the Holy Ghost conceiving,
bore the Savior of our race;
and the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
first revealed his sacred face,
evermore and evermore!
Let the heights of heaven adore him;
angel hosts, his praises sing;
powers, dominions bow before him,
and extol our God and King:
let no tongue on earth be silent,
every voice in concert ring,
evermore and evermore!
Words: Marcus Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348–410?); tr. John Mason Neale (1818–1866) and Henry Williams Baker (1821–1877)
Music: Divinum mysterium, 11th cent; adapt. Piae Cantiones, 1582; arr. Christopher Lee Fraley, 2022
Related Works
Christmas Carols
Brightest and Best · Let All Mortal Flesh · Let Us Be Merry · Lully Lullay · On this day earth shall ring