ELLACOMBE

Published in a chapel hymnal for the Duke of Wurtemberg (Gesangbuch derHerzogl, 1784), ELLACOMBE (the name of a village in Devonshire, England) was first set to the words “Ave Maria, klarer und lichter Morgenstern.” During the first half of the nine­ teenth century various German hymnals altered the tune. Since ELLACOMBE’s inclu­ sion in the 1868 Appendix to Hymns Ancient andModern, where it was set to John Daniell’s children’s hymn “Come, Sing with Holy Gladness,” its use throughout the English-speaking world has spread. ELLACOMBE is a rounded bar form (AABA), rather cheerful in character, and easily sung in harmony. Try having a soloist sing the story in stanzas 1 and 2, with the children (or entire congregation) joining in on stanza 3. [Liturgical Use] Palm Sunday, in conjunction with the Palm Sunday gospel reading or the children’s message.

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From Christ's welcome of children to congregational praise to eschatological 'Hosanna' acclamation

Associated Hymn Texts (6)

• O Christ, your heart, compassionate
• The Day of Resurrection
• We Sing the Almighty Power of God — Isaac Watts (1715)
• Judge Eternal Throned in Splendor — Henry Fothergill Chorley (1864)
• Song of Moses and Israel — Isaac Watts (1715)
• The King of Glory Comes — Par Harling (1960)

Set to This Tune in The Lutheran Hymnal (2)

• TLH 9 O Day of Rest and Gladness
• TLH 161 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

Notes on the Tune

From Hymn Desk's analyses of the hymns sung to it.

TLH 9, O Day of Rest and Gladness : ELLACOMBE — a lively German melody (1784) widely used in English hymnals.