Hymn Desk
Hymn Tunes /

ST. FLAVIAN

ST. FLAVIAN is found in John Day’s Whole Booke ofPsalmes (Day’s Psalter, 1562) as an eight­ line tune set to Psalm 132. The first four lines were published in the 1875 edition of 201 THE PSALMS, BIBLE SONGS, AND HYMNS Hymns Ancient and Modern and given the name ST. FLAVIAN, after a fifth-century bishop of Constantinople. ST. FLAVIAN is notated in isorhythm, rather than in the more varied rhythms of the original tune in Day’s Psalter. Though it has lost some of its rhythmic vitality, this music has a majestic character that suits the text. An early English printer, John Day (b. Dunwich, Suffolk, England, 1522; d. Walden, Essex, England, 1584) is primarily known for his printing of the Whole Booke ofPsalmes by Thomas Sternhold and John Hopkins (1562). In 1559 Day had already received a printing monopoly for this psalter from the crown; he printed thirty-six separate editions. Day further established his reputation by the excellence of his product, devising different printing types and illustrating his books with ornate woodcuts. His publications included Queen Elizabeth I’s Prayer Book, Foxe’s Book ofMartyrs, and Archbishop Parker’s Psalmes (for which Thomas Tallis provided some noteworthy tunes). Organists will want to use the alternate harmonization by Alan Gray (b. York, England, 1855; d. Cambridge, England, 1935) for one or more stanzas. Gray composed the descant for Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied law and music. A compos­ er of church music and works for organ Liturgical Use: Good Friday (especially st. 7-8); stanza groups 5-6 and 10-12 may be used as prayers for deliverance.

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Christ's Lenten self-denial models our repentance; His victory over Satan empowers our spiritual triumph; His presence sustains us through suffering toward Easter joy and eternal paradise.

Associated Hymn Texts (40)