Three Sacred Rounds

Use: Advent, Palm Sunday, General
Required Resources: choir, organ
Language: English

From the "Master of the Canon" come these Three Sacred Rounds for four-part singing which are practical and useful in a variety of ways.

The texts of the rounds are:

• Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
• Praise and bless the Lord always, and give thanks unto him for ever; and serve him with humility. Alleluia, alleluia.
• Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort me and restore me.

Blessed Is He, which is accompanied, would make an effective processional for Palm Sunday, perhaps at the beginning of Mass to accompany the celebrant to the place where the branches will be blessed.

The other two rounds, both a cappella, can be flexibly used by small groups or combined choirs, in the choir loft or sanctuary, around or outside the church. Instruments can play the round as an introduction, or double the sung parts.

Born in Melbourne in 1933, Colin Brumby graduated from the Melbourne University Conservatorium of Music in 1957, and studied advanced musical composition in Spain, London and Rome. He was awarded one of the first Advance Australian Awards in 1981 for his services to music. He retired in 1998 from a position as Associate Professor in the School of Music at the University of Queensland.