Graduation Hymn/Alma Mater
  • magistraelizabeth
    Posts: 16
    Need help selecting an appropriate hymn for our school graduation! We are a newish Catholic hybrid school named after St. Ambrose - who (as you know) was one of the fathers of hymnology. I thought this would be kind of easy, but I'm stumped. I searched to find what St. Ambrose University uses for an Alma mater song, but didn't love it for us - too specific to their school. Can you think of a hymn that would be perfect to use for combined K and 8th graduation in May? Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
    Thanked by 1Anna_Bendiksen
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,496
    Well, I am no expert, but why should that prevent beginning the responses?

    The category of "Ambrosian hymns" is large, though how many of them have their ultimate source in St Ambrose hymself ... varies. They tend to be . . . direct? . . . in expression and set in iambic tetrameter - think Long Meter (8.8.8.8.) for tunes with which to pair texts.

    As for themes: hymns to the Holy Spirit and general hymns of praise are often most suitable to academic celebrations. You can consider if you want your text to be in Latin or English: Latin might be fine for the students - especially if they are to be the primary singers - but might not engage others attending the graduation for whom the event is a one-time experience. That's a valid pastoral consideration in your choice.

    You could have a wealth of text options depending on whether you care or not so much if a given text has a strong likely ultimate author in St Ambrose. Here's a text that seems likely to be so - I would classify it as a general hymn of praise, though strictly speaking it's a vesperal hymn (Ambrosian hymn texts frequently pair with the Liturgy of the Hours), but vesperal texts admit of the character of farewells, and graduation celebrations partake of a certain farewell quality:

    https://hymnary.org/text/o_trinity_of_blessed_light

    You could go to town choosing a tune with which to pair it if you don't choose a chant.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • Anna_BendiksenAnna_Bendiksen
    Posts: 274
    Hi magistraelizabeth. Personally, I would think something that the adults already know would make a lasting impression upon the children, for which reason I would put forth:

    Faith of our fathers
    Holy God, we praise Thy Name
    Holy, holy, holy
    Thanked by 3Liam CHGiffen eboydston1
  • liampmcdonough
    Posts: 327
    I use "O Jesus I Have Promised (to serve thee to the end)" a lot for Baccalaureate Masses.

    You could write an alma mater.
    Alternatively, you might consider a school wide contest to write a verse for St Ambrose to add to a well known hymn. If you received an exceptional contribution, you could spin that into an alma mater. For instance, to the tune of GROSSER GOTT:

    Great Saint Ambrose, guide us now
    Though this vale of tears and sorrow
    Help us gain that undimmed Light
    Earth today, but Heav'n tomorrow!
    ||:Christ, by faith, with charity,
    Win for us the victory! :||
    Thanked by 1Roborgelmeister
  • oldhymnsoldhymns
    Posts: 263
    I think Liam's suggestion of using an Ambrosian hymn for graduation is a good one. The Ambrosian-style hymn that comes to mind is "With Christ," and it is attached (2 pages).

    Another very appropriate hymn for graduation is "Lord, I Give My Life to Thee" by Louis Berge. The music for this is also attached. You will see an * on this copy next to the word "life," which makes it appropriate for many occasions: graduation, confirmation, and even weddings. The original, however, used the word "youth," which makes it especially appropriate for graduation.
    Lord_I_Give_My_Life_to_Thee.pdf
    155K
    WithChrist_Ambrosian_page 1_000493.jpg
    4958 x 6874 - 2M
    WithChrist_Ambrosian_page 2_000494.jpg
    4958 x 6874 - 2M
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen Don9of11
  • magistraelizabeth
    Posts: 16
    You guys are the best - thanks for all of these wonderful suggestions!
  • SponsaChristi
    Posts: 627
    I would choose a good strong hymn that has stood the test of time and will continue to stand the test of time. Something that rises to the dignity of the Mass. Choose it, and then keep it as the closing hymn of all school Masses as fitting as possible (obviously, if it has Alleluias in it you can’t sing it during Lent.

    My high school used Lead Me Lord for every school Mass including our graduation Mass.
  • magistraelizabeth
    Posts: 16
    How do I access the attachments some respondents have said they've shared? I don't see any within the comments.
  • MatthewRoth
    Posts: 3,281
    If you are on your mobile device, change to the desktop version.
  • magistraelizabeth
    Posts: 16
    Ahhh ok thanks!
  • magistraelizabeth
    Posts: 16
    Even when I switch to desktop view, I can't access the attachments from oldhymns. Would you share them as a link to to doc holding space or can you email them directly to me? Lwittman@saintambroseacademy.org
  • oldhymnsoldhymns
    Posts: 263
    I will email them to you.
  • magistraelizabeth
    Posts: 16
    Tysm!
  • dannyboi0513
    Posts: 33
    An Army of Youth
    Thanked by 1oldhymns
  • magistraelizabeth
    Posts: 16
    Hey, everyone! As an update, my dad and I have started writing an Alma Mater to the hymn tune for "On this day the first of days" by Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen.

    Saint Ambrose, our teacher, friend,
    Your great wisdom to us lend.
    Loyally, to you we turn,
    Pray for us to grow and learn.

    Saint Ambrose, our leader true.
    Constant, firm, and sure are you.
    Help us be courageous, bold,
    In your valiant, faithful mold.

    As we march in joyful ranks;
    We, your followers, give you thanks.
    Our gratitude to you express,
    In friendship, love and faithfulness.

    Does anyone have a recommendation for some kind of program or app that will allow me to merge the hymn tune with our new lyrics?

    We are also going to use "Lord I Give My Life to Thee" which was suggested by OldHymns! He even sent me images of the hymn in two different keys. I'm going to feature three of our male students on it. I'm really excited!! Thanks again!
    Thanked by 1oldhymns
  • GambaGamba
    Posts: 652
    Watch out for the accents, though. With the tune “On this day….” it seems to scan wrongly. “Saint amBROSE….”

    You could hack it by a change to

    “AMbrose, THOU our LEADer TRUE….” (and corresponding changes to other pronouns/verbs to their older forms

    or “HOly AMbrose, LEADer TRUE”, and the same in the 2nd verse.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • Liam
    Posts: 5,496
    The tune is GOTT SEI DANK, a 7.7.7.7 (decidedly trochaic) meter*. Consider your desired key, and if you wish to make further changes to the draft text that, in its current form, if recited would scramble iambic (weak-strong) and trochaic (strong-weak) metrical "feet".

    Working with a tune's metrical foot pattern can make it easier for congregants to embrace it with less effort; for example, "O, Saint Ambrose, teacher, friend" is more consistently trochaic. IMO, it's also prudent to expressly show textual elisions in a new text rather than assume a congregation will automatically know how to sing them: "foll'wers".

    * https://hymnary.org/tune/gott_sei_dank_freylinghausen
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • magistraelizabeth
    Posts: 16
    This is all great advice! Thank you!
  • GerardH
    Posts: 628
    Your last two lines also have one syllable too many, which can't be sung without altering the tune
  • magistraelizabeth
    Posts: 16
    Thanks! Got it. Ok so, our hymn may be a variation on Gott Sei Dank - it's "On This Day" in the Adoremus hymnal. I'm never sure how to post attachments here. Anyway - here are the edits for your... amusement? Enjoyment? Ridicule? lol
    I think "foll'wers" may be here to stay. We'll see.

    Holy Ambrose, teacher, friend;
    Thy great wisdom to us lend.
    Faithfully, to thee we turn;
    Pray for us to grow and learn.

    O, Saint Ambrose, guide us now;
    Constant, firm, and sure art thou.
    Help us be courageous, bold;
    In your valiant, fearless mold.

    As we march in joyful ranks,
    We, your foll’wers, give thee thanks.
    Words of gratitude we pray,
    As, in faith, we make our way.
  • GambaGamba
    Posts: 652
    This works! Just check for consistency in “thee/thou” vs. “you” – pick one and stick with it! :)
    Thanked by 1Liam
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