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Remember, O Thou Man (arr.)
Voicing: SATB, s.a.t.b. soloists, cello, harp(also available for SATB and piano)
Text & Tune: Thomas Ravenscroft (ca. 1611)
Duration: 7:00 min.
Premiere: December 2, 2006, St. Paul, MN; The Singers--Minnesota Choral Artists, Laura Sewell (cello), Judith Kogan (harp)
See the score: PREVIEW THE SCORE (pdf)
Published by: Abbie Betinis Music Co., AB-045-00
Order now: Online order form
LISTEN
Remember, O Thou Man: mp3, 7:00, 5.4 MB
Performed live by The Singers--Minnesota Choral Artists with special guests Laura Sewell (cello) and Judith Kogan (harp). Opening tenor solo by Eric Hopkins. Matthew Culloton, conductor.
Performed live by The Singers--Minnesota Choral Artists with special guests Laura Sewell (cello) and Judith Kogan (harp). Opening tenor solo by Eric Hopkins. Matthew Culloton, conductor.
REVIEWS (Click to view/hide)
"Abbie Betinis' arrangement of an Elizabethan ballad honors its origins while making it more contemporary and compelling."
- William Randall Beard, The Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), Dec 2006
"The 'harp' stop on the grand organ was delightful... The music was bell-like and clear . . . with a modern twist... resolves untraditionally and has the quality of a dream."
- Sherri Rase, [Q]onStage (New York), Dec 2012 [see all]
- William Randall Beard, The Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), Dec 2006
"The 'harp' stop on the grand organ was delightful... The music was bell-like and clear . . . with a modern twist... resolves untraditionally and has the quality of a dream."
- Sherri Rase, [Q]onStage (New York), Dec 2012 [see all]
PROGRAM NOTE
This Elizabethan era "suffering ballad" was printed in 1611 in the curious musical work of Thomas Ravenscroft, entitled "Melismata. Mvsicall Phansies. Fitting the Covrt, Citie, and Covntrey Hvmovrs. To 3, 4 and 5 Voyces. To all delightfull, except to the Spitefull, To none offensiue, except to the Pensiue." It is there headed A Christmas Caroll and is set as a 4-part chorale. Over 250 years later, Thomas Hardy referred to it as the 'ancient and time-worn hymn' in his Under the Greenwood Tree (1872).
Ravenscroft was a British composer, theorist, and editor who is - or should be - better known for having compiled many still-popular canons and catches (including "Three Blind Mice," which may or may not be quoted in this arrangement).
Ravenscroft was a British composer, theorist, and editor who is - or should be - better known for having compiled many still-popular canons and catches (including "Three Blind Mice," which may or may not be quoted in this arrangement).
TEXT
Remember, O Thou Man
Remember O thou man, O thou man, O thou man.
Remember O thou man, Thy time is spent.
Remember O thou man, How thou art dead and gone,
And I did what I can, therefore repent.
Remember He was borne, O thou man, O thou man,
Remember He was borne. For mankind sake,
Remember He was borne, For us that were forlorne.
And therefore tooke no scorne our flesh to take.
To Bethle'm did they goe, O thou man, O thou man,
To Bethle'm did they goe, The shepherds three,
To Bethle'm did they goe, To see if it were so,
Was this child borne or no to set us free?
Angels before did say, O thou man, O thou man,
Angels before did say, So it came to passe,
Angels before did say, They found a babe who lay
In a manger wrapt in hay, so poore he was.
Give thanks to God alway, O thou man, O thou man,
Give thanks to God alway, With heartmost joy,
Give thanks to God alway, For this our happy day.
Let all men sing and say holy, holy.
This text, to the best of my knowledge, is in the public domain, and may be reprinted from this website for use in concert programs and for promotional use as related to this musical work.
Remember O thou man, O thou man, O thou man.
Remember O thou man, Thy time is spent.
Remember O thou man, How thou art dead and gone,
And I did what I can, therefore repent.
Remember He was borne, O thou man, O thou man,
Remember He was borne. For mankind sake,
Remember He was borne, For us that were forlorne.
And therefore tooke no scorne our flesh to take.
To Bethle'm did they goe, O thou man, O thou man,
To Bethle'm did they goe, The shepherds three,
To Bethle'm did they goe, To see if it were so,
Was this child borne or no to set us free?
Angels before did say, O thou man, O thou man,
Angels before did say, So it came to passe,
Angels before did say, They found a babe who lay
In a manger wrapt in hay, so poore he was.
Give thanks to God alway, O thou man, O thou man,
Give thanks to God alway, With heartmost joy,
Give thanks to God alway, For this our happy day.
Let all men sing and say holy, holy.
This text, to the best of my knowledge, is in the public domain, and may be reprinted from this website for use in concert programs and for promotional use as related to this musical work.
PERFORMANCE NOTES
The final page (mm. 112 - end) should feature many soloists, all ringing out as a handbell choir. Perhaps assigning one voice per pitch would produce the desired effect.
This arrangement may be performed with chorus, cello, and harp, or with chorus and piano. In the latter case, the piano should play the harp part, and vocal soloists may be used in the particularly important cello solos as noted in the full score.
This arrangement may be performed with chorus, cello, and harp, or with chorus and piano. In the latter case, the piano should play the harp part, and vocal soloists may be used in the particularly important cello solos as noted in the full score.
PERFORMED BY
Bucknell University (William Payn), Pennsylvania
Harmonium Choral Society (Anne Matlack), New Jersey
Heartland Voices (John G Slawson), Illinois
Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill (Jane Tavernier), Virginia
Rooke Chapel Choir, Pennsylvania
The Singers--Minnesota Choral Artists (Matthew Culloton), Minnesota
(Have you performed this piece? Add your performance!)Harmonium Choral Society (Anne Matlack), New Jersey
Heartland Voices (John G Slawson), Illinois
Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill (Jane Tavernier), Virginia
Rooke Chapel Choir, Pennsylvania
The Singers--Minnesota Choral Artists (Matthew Culloton), Minnesota