CHAPTER 3 | THE RISE AND FALL OF NEW ENGLAND PSALMODY 65
date: 1785
performers: Theatre of Voices; Paul Hillier,
director
genre: fuging tune
meter: duple
form: strophic, each stanza divided into two
sectionsListen & Refl ect
- As part of the shape-note tradition described later in this chapter, SHERBURNE has remained
popular to the present day. View any of the amateur performances posted on YouTube and
elsewhere. How do those performances differ from the sound of this professional choir?
which do you prefer, and why? - SHERBURNE is sometimes sung with the counter (alto) voice omitted. Of the four vocal lines,
why is the counter the one likeliest to be treated as optional? How does this refl ect Bill-
ing’s description of the psalmodists’ compositional process, as related in chapter 1?
WHAT TO LISTEN FOR- division of each stanza into a section in block
chords and a polyphonic “fuge” - melody in tenor
timing section text comments
0:00 stanza 1 While shepherds watched their fl ocks
by night,
All seated on the ground,Beginning with a stark “open” sonority, the
four vocal lines move in nearly identical
rhythm, creating a homophonic texture.
0:05 The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.Halfway through the text of stanza 1,
the texture becomes polyphonic, with
rhythmically independent vocal lines: the
“fuge.” The music is extended by repeating
phrases of the text.
0:24 The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.The entire “fuge” repeats.0:43 stanza 2 “Fear not!” said he, for mighty dread
had seized their troubled mind...The text of the “fuge” sections for stanzas
2–6 are not shown here. How easily can you
make out the words by ear?
1:26 stanza 3 “To you, in David’s town, this day
is born of David’s line...
2:11 stanza 4 “The heavenly babe you there shall fi nd
to human view displayed...The singers in this recording choose to sing
this stanza at a softer volume.
2:55 stanza 5 Thus spake the seraph and forthwith
appeared a shining throng...A return to the full volume of the earlier
stanzas.
3:39 stanza 6 “All glory be to god on high,
and to the earth be peace...
note Hymn text by Nahum Tate (1700).CD 1.9 Listening Guide 3.1Sherburne
DANIEL READ172028_03_063-085_r3_ko.indd 65 23/01/13 8:12 PM