Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending : Lichfield Cathedral Choir

[janice2274]

...and she is now with Him who is to return soon. To our friend and her family,Revelation 22:1 - 5.

[DagurKGJ]

What a beautiful but desecrated Catholic church.

[1JeanDeaux]

Thank you.

[rbz707]

This is not an advent hymn as the notes state, it is a hymn of the second coming of Christ, when He comes to judge the world. As you read the words it is clear this is not about the first coming of Christ as a baby (the liturgical season of "Advent), but the coming of Christ the King in splendor and pomp to rule in righteousness.

[janice2274]

The finishing photo of the Cathedral at sunset is a tribute to Anglican music, "The day Thou gavest " and the day is not yet ended; there are many still to hear, and music will play a vital role before the day really ends.

[DHS11999]

Oh my, that descant is sublime! I felt electricity up and down my spine.

[stephenpkotian]

Would someone know where I can get the Sheet music for the Descant, or who has arranged it?

[Rachel1California]

All creation, all creation, all creation,

Travails! groans! and bids Thee come!

[InnocentOkie]

Lovely choir!

[henrybn14ar]

Very nice but the midsummer picture doesn't go.

[ruthamyallan1]

Even so come Lord Jesus.

[marmadukesymesparker]

My nan worships at this church.

[todayinlondon]

I'm an atheist, a nonbeliever in all gods, a humanist and a liberal. But I can't listen to this and to many other Church of England hymns without feeling shivers down my spine.

[DHS11999]

@todayinlondon Well, old bean, being an "atheist, a nonbeliever in all gods (a tautology), a humanist and a liberal" is one thing. Not appreciating good music is another. Anglican hymnody is first rate. We Episcopalians in the US have managed not to destroy it, though we sure try! :/

[ecobenoman]

@todayinlondon I'm exactly the same. I'm singing this at the moment and enjoy it hugely. I can understand why people are religious because of the feeling of belonging and happiness that music like this can bring. I think religious beliefs have inspired many composers. But unfortunately, I just find the beliefs in religion to be completely absurd. However, I'm very glad to be able to appreciate religious music like this and so I will continue take part in religious events purely for the music!

[MrStan1941]

Always a great hymn in a cathedral, I've heard it in Durham

[archulucky]

very slow tempo for this Hymn

[kingsott]

To drwestbury: Many thanks for the download. Haven't been to Lichfield since 29-06-1963. It rained all day. Heavily. About 6pm, I was standing on the "up" side of Trent Valley station waiting for the London train when the sun broke through & lit up the cathedral. Breathtaking!

PS: I see too that you still have your Scott-Skidmore choir screen. Hold on to it. It's very precious now that Hereford & Salisbury have foolishly discarded theirs.

[hautyboy]

Just absolutely brilliant

[MrMusic1984]

This is one my favorite hymns, I can imagine all the saints and angels singing this at the Second Coming of Christ.

[todayinlondon]

@MrMusic1984 That ain't gonna happen.

[rasnick13]

beautiful beautiful rendition of a beautiful hymn

[sjnugee]

Ah ... my favourite.

[chappy211]

I had the pleasure of attending service in the wonderful Cathedral. It was my first visit to England. The choir then was great and the whole experience was one which fulfilled a life long dream. Thank you for posting this great music of the church.

From Canada with gratitude.

[lgvhnI5s]

Thousand thousand saints. Including the unknown martyrs.

[choirboyfromhell1]

Wonderful phrasing by keeping the line moving with no breaths in the moving passages!

[lgvhnI5s]

@choirboyfromhell1 There shall be no breaths on that day. AND NO MERCY!

[npuva1]

Don't wish to quibble but this is a hymn of the Second Advent, not the first.

[redbrian3655]

@npuva1 You are correct. Only when I was in an Independent College was this recognized. After serving Anglican parishes for 40+ years, I have yet to find one choir member or parishioner that knows this, or worse yet, the difference. It simply doesn't seem to matter, so.... oh well..... (sigh)... I play... they sing, with no understanding or desire to have any.

[afiregoat]

Just returned from singing this with our church choir. Our vicar is something of a modernizer and our choir is old fashioned! We have worked very hard to become an excellent choir - he's gone form trying to reduce the choral input in services, to enjoying and supporting it. A good choir attracts people to services. "Build it and they will come!".

[choirboyfromhell1]

@afiregoat Fight it with money....I am instrumental in keeping the last men & boys choir alive in the state of Ohio in the USA and have a first-rate music program in the nearby cathedral (30 miles away). Of course the rector/dean want to "swing" but they've figured it out. Great music performed with excellence endures and grows for the long run. God bless you and keep up the good fight, this is what we are called to do!

[lgvhnI5s]

@choirboyfromhell1 No.  This is what HE is called to do! (Malachi 3:2; Matthew 3:10)?

[ThePastorale]

What a wonderful advent hymn

[x8lover]

They will survive as it is too engrained in the English churchmanship. I don't like the way that the rest of the Anglican communion has to be tarred with the infighting that is going on in the Episcapal church. Rowen Williams needs to pull the ACNA in line like he has done with Forward in Faith over women bishops. This site should not be used to point score but rather to appreciate good music. Some of the argument in here makes us anglicans look bad in the face of those from other churches.

[x8lover]

This was made at my local cathedral which is a real gem and has a history going back to the 11th centuary. It has been a place of pilgramage since 970 following the death of the local saint - Chad who was the first Bishop in the midlands.

It saddens me that American Christians have hijacked the comments to have a theological slanging match about the problems of the facing one part of the anglican communion rather than appreciate the music.

[choirboyfromhell1]

@x8lover It saddens me as an American that we have people here that feel it is a 'duty' of a Christian to alienate first, mostly as an act of selfish grandstanding and attention-seeking, instead of listening to God's unconditional love that is amply demonstrated in this music. Thank God the UK has kept up these choirs. I hope that they can survive the austerity measures.

[alexandra94628]

this is sung really, really slowly

[maggijude]

Is it too early to start listening to Advent hymns and singing same over the dish-washing and in the shower?

[goofyguy340]

@maggijude for Christians, it is always Advent...Come Lord Jesus, come quickly!

[byrdsmaniac]

It's very old I'm afraid. Originally released on an LP in 1981

Oh geez! You make me feel ancient. :- (

[3NUNS]

@byrdsmaniac : 'geez' is cryptoc blasphemy ... kindly step off the planet !

[ichthyornis1928]

Unfortunately, Lichfield is not on the route for too many visitors to England, but it is well worth making the effort to get there

[obxemt]

You know, music is one thing that Anglicans do superbly. That is why I am here, and that is why I deeply appreciate all of what drwestbury posts.

I am over the bickering and the infighting. It has completely alienated me from the church of my birth and has strained my faith near the breaking point. Take your arguments elsewhere and don't reduce this fine Advent hymn to an argument over homosexuality or, worse yet, middle school filth as some of you have done. Have you no decency whatsoever?

[5355vbxjbj76rvn]

@obxemt

Anglican choral music is out of this world

[54mayford]

Lovely Advent hymn

[JusticeRW]

That has to be one of the most beautiful Cathedrals in England. If you ask me! Wonderful hymn, wonderful building, wonderful choir. God bless you for posting.

[vanguard1952]

My favourite hymn.

Thanks for posting.

[titusmountjoy]

Pray tell what on earth does this beautiful hymn have to do with homosexuality? This is NOT the place for theological debates.

[Fragocide]

H͖̩͈̭̠͇͚̋͌͐̄͌ͦ̿́e̼ͪ̿ ̇ͨ͑͋͐̾̀c̻ͥo͐ͫͬ̚m͍͓͍ͣ̈́e͈͔̜͌ͦͩͣ̂­̯͖̰͍s̨̪̣̻̜͙̠͍ͥ͌̑̚

[francoaustralien]

I remember the choir and the then St Francis Xavier Catholic Cathedrale administrator (Monseigneur Robert Aitken) singing this hymn beautifully. Thank you for the post.

[hiroshi2020]

@francoaustralien

What a shame the St. Francis Boys Choir is not here today..... I miss it's beauty!

[maggieandbecca1]

So beautiful. I never knew this hymn growing up, but have sung it as an adult. Love the choir!!

[bradbavarde]

Thank you for sharing this beautifuly sung version of one of my favorite hymns. It makes me proud to be an Epsicopalian (Anglican church in the USA).

[Rhuanjl]

Heard of the ACNA?

Compare the teachings of the episcopalian church with the teachings of the founders of anglicanism Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley. And as you love this hymn how about the teachings of it's author Charles Wesley. The bulk of episcopalian church is miles off the mark today. Much of the ACNA has catholic leanings as well, but it's a bit better than the episcopalian church. And has some great bits.

[bradbavarde]

The ACNA is a rougue break-away church from the Anglican communion. If you want to sit in judgement of other Christians without knowing what is in their hearts or even who they are, that is your perogative.

[Rhuanjl]

I know it's a breakaway, the question is why did it break away. I'm not judging you, I'm worried about you, I would like you to compare, what you're taught with the historic anglican faith. Thomas Cranmer would have had no time for accepting homosexuality, nor would he have had any time for various other things I see in the episcopalian church today which seem more Papist than reformed... (If you don't know Thomas Cranmer wrote the first Book of Common Prayer)

[bradbavarde]

Wow, thanks for the insight! (I did of course know that Thomas Cranmer wrote the first BCP.) Are you an ex-gay? I find that those who are the first to bring up homosexuality have some underlying identity problem. I find it sad that you need to start a theological discussion from a comment based solely on one I made about the beauty of a hymn. IMO, you are way out of your time zone (Papist isn't used too often). You're a Calvinist Puritan, not Anglican

[Rhuanjl]

My underlying problem is with the false teaching filling the church. JC Ryle used the term Papist.

"Do not be decieved neither the sexually immoral nor... nor men who pracitse homosexuality... will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (ESV)

"For the time is coming when men will not endure sound teaching, but havnig itching ears will accumulate for themselves teachers according to their own passions" 2 Timothy 4:3

[ammsul]

@Rhuanjl

Well said, except for one important thing. Powerful segments in the Anglican church have drifted away from the historic teaching of the Christian church, thereby 'breaking away' from it. The ACNA and like hearted bodies are only standing up for the whole gospel, nothing less. 2 Tim 4:3 says it all.

This is a fantastic hymn by the Wesleys, but it will sound much better when belted out at full strength by the entire congregation.

[Rhuanjl]

@ammsul Depends what you're defining as the historic teaching of the Christian Church. The idea of the real presence in the bread and wine I would define as heresy... Along with the idea of saying that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality. (The former being an error that many in the ACNA seem to teach, the latter being an error of much of the episcopalian church) Slightly amusing seeing the thumbs down... I wonder how many thumbs down Charles or his brother John Wesley would get....

[backnumber1662]

"any presence that is not real to the soul of the faithful receiver, this Church does not by her Articles and Formularies affirm" Shepperd v Bennett (as quoted with approval by T C Hammond principal Moore College Sydney "Bathurst Ritual Case, Moore College 1943)

[pipeup1]

@Rhuanjl I Cor 6:9-10 says nothing of the sort!!

[Rhuanjl]

@pipeup1 I can't post links, but I assure you that it does, I just double checked, the full text of 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 is

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."(ESV)

[pipeup1]

@Rhuanjl I apologise Rhuanjl, you are correct, I was looking at the wrong text! But the King James version or the RSV does not mention homosexuals however (they say "effeminate" - not the same thing.

[Rhuanjl]

@pipeup1 The KJV splits it into "effeminate" and "abusers of themselves with mankind" The ESV is the more accurate rendering...

[itzapopocatepetl]

Absolutely, positively, magnificent.

[queenrocks21]

I remember recording this in 2004, whilst we were the world cup was on and the organist had set up a TV so we could watch it after recording. :) I miss being there so much

[sarsfieldhuy1]

I think a more gusto performance of this magnificent hymn is called for to hail the birth of our Great Almighty - wasn't Wesley a great genius, though!

[pacificaaurawynn]

Lovely. :)

[IggyAntiochus]

I like the restrained joy of the choir. With Advent being a penitential season, it is appropriate to dial back the pomp just a bit.

[rainbearing]

Just back from Advent evensong where this all-time favourite was the last hymn, preceded by the Hallelujah Chorus. - two breath-taking pieces of music. Well done Lichfield. I am moved to tears. Thanks for posting this here.

[Rosiemoore]

This is always SOO Awesome to sing - every word, every note, just draws you deeper and deeper into the Joy of Advent and waiting for Christ :-) x

[onemanandapiano]

Do you know what year this was recorded as my son is currently a chorister?

[drwestbury]

It's very old I'm afraid. Originally released on an LP in 1981 which was remastered and released as a CD in 2007.

[3NUNS]

@onemanandapiano : And Chinese immigration into the United Kingdom has meant that he ended up in a cooking pot in a Chinese Joss House. What poor taste !

[wizard9a9]

Beautiful hymn, and some fantastic images there!

[pjdonagh]

My all time favourite Advent hynm...where would you hear such gloriously rich language allied to a wonderfully singable tune?

It needs a more strident rendering than Lichfield give us here though.

Never the less very enjoyable!

Thank you!

[titussenlair]

Beautiful meditation . Thanks !

[blandinevig]

très agréable!!

[davidmoseley1988]

Many Thanks. Just Wonderful

[treblechoir99]

Rewarding. Thank you David.

[loupblanc26]

Magnificent performance of the Lichield Cathedral Choir! Thanks Drwestbury