CRUCIFER
Sydney H. Nicholson composed CRUCIFER for the text as revised by Newbolt. The tune name means “cross-bearer” and refers to one who carries the cross in a liturgical procession. The hymn was published in the 1916 Supplement to Hymns Ancient and Modern. Often considered Nicholson’s finest tune, CRUCIFER has broad melodic gestures and an effective cadence to the stanzas, which leads right back into the refrain without interruption, pause, or slowing down. Try having the congregation or choir sing harmony on the stanzas and unison on the refrain with select use of the descant. Use of the entire hymn as a processional or on other festive occasions will merit antiphonal groupings for the stanzas or, perhaps, use of a published concertato. Sing and accompa ny with stateliness and majesty. The descant was composed by Richard Proulx (b. St. Paul, MN, 1937). A composer, conductor, and teacher, Proulx was director of music at the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois (1980-1997); before that he was organist and choirmaster at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Seattle, Washington. He contributed his expertise to the Roman Catholic Worship III (1986), the Episcopal Hymnal 1982, The United Methodist Hymnal (1989), and the ecumenical A New Hymnalfor Colleges and Schools (1992). He was educated at the University of Minnesota, MacPhail College of Music in Minneapolis, Minnesota, St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota, and the Royal School of Church Music in England. He has composed mor Liturgical Use: Lent; Holy Week; profession of faith; baptism and similar consecration/renewal worship services; missions (thus for Epiphany or Pentecost); many other occasions, especially as an opening or closing hymn.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From public witness of Christ's love, to discipleship and identification with Christ, to eschatological hope in Christ's drawing power