blog.sinden.org

I have searched every year for the past several years for the following information: what carol does the Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge sing from the Chapel Tower on Ascension Day?

Today, via the Choir's Facebook page, I found a definitive answer:

Every year since 1903 the Choir has ascended the Chapel Tower to sing the Ascensiontide Carol.

At 163 feet the Tower is the highest point in Cambridge and, once the bells have struck midday, the Choir sings each year to a massed crowd down below in First Court.

Praetorius - The Lord Ascendeth up on High
Marenzio - O Rex Gloriae

"The Lord ascendeth up on high" is found in the Episcopal Hymnal 1982 at hymn 219, Words by Arthur T. Russell (1806-1874), altered, and music by Michael Praetorius (1571-1621).

The answer to this puzzle has been within easy reach lo these many years!

There are, of course, other carols for this major feast -- the American Prayer Book calls it a "Principal Feast" -- of the church.

You can find a few more in the Cowley Carol Book (1922), compiled by G. R. Woodward

The second anthem (not a carol) seems to change, as a YouTube video shows the choir singing Stanford's "Coelos Ascendit Hodie" in a previous year.

Labels: Ascension, Praetorius, St John's (Cambridge)