Spiritual songs > Hymns of the Great Fast >
Having suffered
Current version
Here is the version in the Byzantine Catholic Hymnal (2007):
See this article for a discussion of the Slavonic original, Preterpivyj, and this article for a discussion of the English version and its use in our church.
Discussion
I have no problems whatsoever with the English version; in the Slavonic, several cantors have asked for the harmony note in the first measure to be kept; I think it might be appropriate, however, to eliminate the passing eighth note.
I would like to include a harmonization of both the English and Slavonic; as with O who loves Nicholas the saintly, this hymn is sung often enough to make it a good introductory piece for new choral singers.
In the past, this hymn has simply been incorporated into various booklets for Lenten services. More recently, I have been asked by at least one member of the Inter-Eparchial Music Commission to refrain from including these hymns into liturgical books, even at the end. With this in mind, it makes good sense to include it (in both English and Slavonic versions) in the proposed hymnal.
Thoughts or suggestions?
Please leave a comment on this blog entry: Songs for the Great Fast.