Faithful Cross

- arr. Raymond Clark

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Use: Lent, Holy Week, Holy Cross
Required Resources: SATB choir
Language: English

The wonderful Gregorian chant, Crux fidelis, part of the traditional music for the Adoration of the Holy Cross on Good Friday, is the basis for this work. Also used is the melody for the hymn, Pange lingua gloriosi, lauream certaminis.

The men and women, a cappella, sing alternate stanzas of the hymn, translated "Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle …" Two refrains are given, with the texts:

1. Faithful Cross, above all others, One and only noble Tree;
   None in foliage, none in blossom, None in fruit thy peer may be.
    
2. Sweetest Wood and sweetest Iron, Sweetest Weight is hung on thee.

Both these refrains are sung at the beginning; they are then sung alternately at the end of each stanza.

Since only one Cross may be used for the Adoration on Good Friday, and since all the congregation are invited to venerate, this time can be quite lengthy. Rather than falling into the tedious practice of singing a series of congregational songs and hymns, why not schedule one or two hymns (at the beginning and/or end) and allow the choir to sing some of the proper music? This English setting by Raymond Clark is ideal!