Hark! From the Tombs a Doleful Sound

This is an arrangement I made of the Issac Watts hymn "Hark! From the Tombs a Doleful Sound" for strings and tubular bells. It is scored in grand-staff notation with an additional staff for the bells. The theme is by W. Tanzer, circa 1734. His original is the first eight measures; the rest is mine. I have a few renditions of different old hymns, and if this one goes over well here, I can eventually post more. In this one, I tried to invoke a moribund atmosphere, the sepulchural introspection Watts so effectively captures in the hymn itself. The words (along with the music), can be viewed in the video I made on my YouTube channel for anyone interested.

By the way, this hymn was sung at the funeral of George Washington, the first president of the United States.

YouTube - Hark! From the Tombs a Doleful Sound - Watts

Doleful Sound.mid

Well, pretty good work - you created a sombre mood with the piece. Nevertheless, I felt you were much too safe with it - you stuck with the tune and rather added ornamental lines rather than develop it to some extent or hide it. You also didn't explore the motivic structure or harmonies of the piece that much . If you have had exposure to good organ improvisers you hear they do that with hymn melodies. Excellent material for a set of chorale variations.

One question though, do you have a reason for sticking so close to the melody and harmony? If not I suggest you rework it taking into considerations my critique as it is a great melody and you did create a sombre mood.

Well, pretty good work - you created a sombre mood with the piece. Nevertheless, I felt you were much too safe with it - you stuck with the tune and rather added ornamental lines rather than develop it to some extent or hide it. You also didn't explore the motivic structure or harmonies of the piece that much . If you have had exposure to good organ improvisers you hear they do that with hymn melodies. Excellent material for a set of chorale variations.

One question though, do you have a reason for sticking so close to the melody and harmony? If not I suggest you rework it taking into considerations my critique as it is a great melody and you did create a sombre mood.

Well, I deliberately wanted to play it safe with these hymn arrangements and not get too fancy. The idea here is somber introspection and not so much technicalities or musical pedantics. I guess I should have explained this in the introduction. Indeed, I could have modulated and really explored the motivic structure, but with this one I just wanted to invoke the mood. Actually, the music takes a back seat to the words, which are phenomenal for this particular hymn. The music was merely there to accompany, and I tossed in the tubular bells to give it an added sepulchural tone. I do see what you're saying, though, and I understand your point; my point here, however, was not to exhaust the harmonic possibilities of Tanzer's "Bangor", but to accent and embellish the fine melody (isn't it great?) wihout taking away from the efficacy of the wonderful words.

Here's one where I took a bit more liberty in elaboration, adapting it almost into French overture form. The original melody (St. Flavius, 1562) is a bit more hidden here, yet I still managed to play it safe:

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyD5K8p8ohs

Paul

Ah, then it is a successful piece - but more a reharmonization/arrangement wouldn't you say than a composition? Tough to say though as this is a grey area.

Midid also doesn't help. I hope you get a choir to sing it as their can be all sorts opf color gained from inflection, dynamics and shaping of vowels that would add variety to it.

Look forward to more - preferably with a choir!

Hey,

I heard your piece, it sounds quite alright, but one area, i would like to point out, that is the notes for the tubular bells. I think if youre planning to get a real tubular bells set it will sound really muddy with those 16th notes.