O God of Gods (Edmund Hooper)

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Early text (ca.1603)

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• (Posted 2023-01-31)  CPDL #72474:       

Editor: Hugo Janacek (submitted 2023-01-31).   Score information: A4, 24 pages, 393 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: This edition is transposed a minor third above the original written pitch, and is scored for SAATTB/SAATTB with SSAAT verses. It uses an early version of the text setting, which mentions the Inauguration (a.k.a. the Accession) of the Monarch. It is texted to ‘Charles, our blessed King’.

• (Posted 2023-01-31)  CPDL #72473:       

Editor: Hugo Janacek (submitted 2023-01-31).   Score information: A4, 24 pages, 390 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: This edition is transposed a tone below the original written pitch, and is scored for AATTBB/AATTBB with AATTB verses. It uses an early version of the text setting, which mentions the Inauguration (a.k.a. Accession) of the Monarch. It is texted to ‘Charles, our blessed King’.

Later text (ca.1625)

• (Posted 2023-01-31)  CPDL #72472:       

Editor: Hugo Janacek (submitted 2023-01-31).   Score information: A4, 25 pages, 396 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: This edition is transposed a minor third above the original written pitch, and is scored for SAATTB/SAATTB with SSAAT verses. It uses a version of the text that was adapted in the late 1620s. This version is more nationalistic in tone than earlier versions, explicitly including prayers for the Empire of Great Britain. It is texted to ‘Charles, our blessed King’.

• (Posted 2023-01-31)  CPDL #72471:       

Editor: Hugo Janacek (submitted 2023-01-31).   Score information: A4, 25 pages, 436 kB   Copyright: Personal

Edition notes: This edition is transposed a tone below the original written pitch, and is scored for AATTBB/AATTBB with AATTB verses. It uses a version of the text that was adapted in the late 1620s. This version is more nationalistic in tone than earlier versions, explicitly including prayers for the Empire of Great Britain. It is texted to ‘Charles, our blessed King’.

General Information

Title: O God of Gods
Composer: Edmund Hooper
Lyricist: George Buck^{create page}
Number of voices: 12vv   Voicings: SAATTB.SAATTB or AATTBB.AATTBB
Genre: Sacred, Anthem

Language: English
Instruments: Organ

    Manuscript c. 1625-1640 in the Peterhouse Partbooks: Latter Caroline Set (John Cosin)
Description: This is a verse anthem in celebration of the Monarch. It is one of the grandest and most elaborate verse anthems composed by Hooper. It is likely it was intended to be performed on the ‘King’s Day’. This traditionally coincided with Epiphany, but this was later moved to the separate celebration of the Accession of the Monarch. The surviving sources for this work include a substantially modified version of a text setting originally written for James I. Most surviving early sources of this anthem date from the time of Charles I, and are texted to him.

Original text and translations

English text

Early text (ca.1603):

O God of Gods, O King of Kings,
Eternal Father of all things,
in heav'n and earth and everywhere,
by whom all Kings their sceptres bear,
Great God of Charles, our blessed King,
Great King of peace, Great King of peace,
Heav'n's darling, England's happiness,
Heav'n's darling, England's happiness,
To him we pray thee in this song,
that he may live and prosper long.

And we beseech thee, mighty Lord,
to us such favour to afford,
that his triumphant festival,
his holy day Imperial,
to his Inaug'ring consecrated,
may be so often celebrated,
that finally it be not done
till the great coming of thy Son,
And that his health, his joy, his peace,
may as his reign and years increase.

To the Almighty Trinity,
three persons in one Deity,
all glorious in heav'n, in heav'n,
all praise, all thanks, all laud be giv'n,
With organs, trumpets, and with flutes,
with cornets, viols, and with lutes,
with harps, with cymbals, and with shawms,
with sacred anthems, hymns, and psalms,
with notes of angels and of men,
sing Alleluia, Amen.

English text

Later text (ca. 1625):

O God of Gods, O King of Kings,
Eternal Father of all things,
in heav'n above and everywhere,
by whom all Kings their sceptres bear,
Great God of Charles, our blessed King,
who peace and joy to us doth bring,
Whom thou a chief and royal guide
did'st for our guideless troupe provide.

Now we beseech thee, mighty Lord,
to us such heav'nly grace afford,
to this united Monarchy,
this Empire of Great Britainy,
to thy high pleasure consecrate,
may so long bless his Royal State,
that finally it be not done
till the great coming of thy Son,
And that his health, his joy, his peace,
may as his reign and years increase.

To the Almighty Trinity,
three persons in one Deity,
most bright and glorious in heav'n above,
all praise, all thanks, all laud be giv'n,
With organs, trumpets, and with flutes,
with cornets, clarions, and with lutes,
with harps, with cymbals, and with shawms,
with sacred anthems, hymns, and psalms,
with notes of angels and of men,
sing Alleluia, Amen.