Set me as a seal upon thine heart

anthem for mixed chorus

General Information – Performing Forces – Manuscript – Publication – Recordings – Text

General Information:

Composition:
November 1938.

First Performance:
22 November 1938. St. Mary Abbots Church, Kensington, London. The Choir of St. Mary Abbots Church, F. G. Shuttleworth conductor. The wedding of Ivor Wimborne (son of Alice, Viscountess Wimborne) and Mabel Fox-Strangways.

Duration:
About 3 minutes

Text:
Adapted slightly from the Song of Solomon 8:6–7.
Click here for complete text.

Tempo:
Slow  [38 m.]

Dedication:
"Dedicated to the Honourable Ivor Guest and the Lady Mabel Fox-Strangways on the occasion of their marriage, Nov. 22nd 1938."

Craggs Catalogue Number:
C35

Performing Forces:

Mixed chorus (SATB)
Incidental solos for soprano and tenor

Manuscript:

There is no known surviving manuscript.

Publication:

Oxford University Press. Edited by E. Stanley Roper. Vocal score, 1938 and 1966, 019 3501511, Oxford Anthems # A86 (discontinued). Also included in the volume Anthems for Choirs 4, 1976, 019 353018X.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Anthems for Choirs 4]

Oxford University Press. Edited by Timothy Brown. William Walton Edition, Volume 6, "Shorter Choral Works without Orchestra", 1999, 019 3594323. Vocal score, 019 3594390.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Vocal score]
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: William Walton Edition, Volume 6]

Recordings:

Chorus Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge Richard Marlow 1988 Conifer CDCF 164 3'34"
Choir of Westminster Abbey, London Martin Neary 1989 Innovative PCD 919 3'30"
Choir of Winchester Cathedral David Hill 1991 Decca 467 613-2 3'41"
Choir of St. Paul's Cathedral, London John Scott 1991 Hyperion CDA 66618 3'50"
The Finzi Singers Paul Spicer 1992 Chandos CHAN 9222 3'16"
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford Stephen Darlington 1992 Nimbus NI 5364 3'18"
Choir of St. John's College, Cambridge Christopher Robinson 2001 Naxos 8.555793 3'32"
Polyphony Stephen Layton 2002 Hyperion CDA67330 3'16"

 

Text:

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death,
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.

                        —  Song of Solomon 8:6–7, slightly adapted

WilliamWalton.net – Catalogue of Works – Choral Music