O Mother Mary of the Cross (Charles H. Giffen)
Music files
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- Plainchant original setting
- (Posted 2012-07-24) CPDL #26825:
- Editor: Charles H. Giffen (submitted 2012-07-24). Score information: Letter, 1 page, 91 kB Copyright: CPDL. Copyright by the composer for CPDL. May be freely copied, distributed, performed, or recorded. Please inform the composer of any performances of this work.
- Edition notes: Plainchant original composition, 4-line staves and neumes notation. Revised PDF uploaded 2013-07-23, reflecting a change in the wording of the second stanza.
- Four-part hymn with descant
- (Posted 2012-07-24) CPDL #26824:
- Editor: Charles H. Giffen (submitted 2012-07-24). Score information: Letter, 3 pages, 87 kB Copyright: CC BY NC SA. Please inform the composer of any performances of this work.
- Edition notes: Four-part harmonization with descant. The sound file presents the descant in the second stanza, and alternate harmonization in the third and fourth stanza with an alternate descant on the fourth stanza. Revised PDF and MP3 uploaded 2019-01-30, reflecting some changes in the descants and harmonization.
General Information
Title: O Mother Mary of the Cross
Composer: Charles H. Giffen
Lyricist: Veronica Brandt
Number of voices: 1 or 4vv Voicings: Unison or SATB, with Descant
Genre: Sacred, Chant, Hymn Hymn tune: MacKillop Meter: 88. 88 (L.M.)
Language: English
Instruments: A cappella (plainchant) or organ (harmonized)
First published: 2012
Description: This hymn with text by Veronica Brandt was composed in honor of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia's first saint, whose feast day is August 8. The music was first composed as a plainchant melody in Gregorian chant tradition, and the harmonized L.M. hymn tune MacKillop was composed from a simplification of the plainchant. There are two versions of the descant, one fitting the initial harmonization and a second fitting a somewhat altered harmonization for the final stanza.
External websites:
Original text and translations
English text
O Mother Mary of the Cross
The first Australian saint, we hail.
Thy work to lead the poor to truth
Awaking mercy in thy trail.
Thou ever soughtest Joseph's aid
Strong in the faith that he would be
An advocate to that dear Heart
That bled and died upon the Tree.
The Tree of life, the Cross of death
To which thy name and life were bound,
The paradox that pain and strife
To everlasting joy redound.
O Mary! intercede for us
And form us to His holy Will
With Father and the Holy Ghost
And Heart of Jesus burning still.
Veronica Brandt (1979-)