I have also been looking for something similar to this. Something with a lot of A's rather than A minors if that makes any sense.

Are the Holst or the 1940 versions available online? (Free or for sale)

Go to the online version of the 1906 English Hymnal; it's #318, online page 482:

http://ia341305.us.archive.org//load_djvu_applet.php?file=0/items/theenglishhymnal00milfuoft/theenglishhymnal00milfuoft.djvu

The Holst is available online here

Also, a youtube recording with orchestra is available here

Thanks to Liam, we will be using the harmonization from the 1906 English Hymnal for Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence at Christmas Eve.
Woot woot!

Unfortunately, the online copy (and probably the real-life copy) of the 1906 is a bit hard to read.
Props my to my substitute organist who pointed out that the Presbyterian Hymnal has the same harmonization, in a much easier to read format.
(Apparently it is true that there are Calvinists and then there are Calvinists....)

Interestingly, the English Hymnal says this hymn is to be sung, "In Unison." The editors seemed to be aware that the harmonization was in support of chant-like singing, not a big production in and of itself.
(Yes, yes, I know Picardy is a French carol, not a Chant, but I think it is more related to Gregorian Hymnody than it is to Protestant Hymnody).

Anywho.
Here is the Presbyterian Hymnal printing of the 1906 harmonization. I like it.

Thanks for the info.

We're doing it during Communion on Christmas Eve. I chose it precisely because it is Eucharistic, and maybe slightly Christmas-y; rather than other texts which might be the other way around.

A little more about the Byzantine-rite origin of this hymn text: on Holy Saturday morning, a service of Christ's descent into Hades is offered: first the Blessing of the New Light, followed by the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, including the Procession of Triumph.

After the offertory procession of the Divine Liturgy, in place of the usual "Cherubic Hymn", this is sung:

"Let all mortal flesh be silent; let us stand in fear and trembling, having no earthly thought: for behold, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is coming to be sacrificed and to be given as food to the faithful. He is escorted by hosts of archangels and by all the principalities and dominions... escorted by the many-eyed Cherubim and by the six-winged Seraphim covering their faces, all chanting; Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!"

"Hymn Anthem: Picardy" by Healey Willan (Peters)

would love a copy.

Ditto.

Adam Wood and others, if tomboysuze can't resolve the file-size problem, send me a message and I'll scan Marier's "Let All Mortal Flesh" for you.

One last thought:
This is, undoubtedly, one of my favorite hymns that crosses into chant and a reverence that is worthy. My sense is that is must be done with an underlying forward motion that keeps it moving into a rhythm of arsis and thesis - much like chant. Too slow and can die and disappears into that heap of good hymns labelled as "boring." Too fast and you lose the drama and power of the text. This hymn is so exquisitely beautiful that it must be done at the perfect tempo and come to a series of waves that almost break, but then then fade back into dark, quiet, reverence - esp. in the text: "veil their faces to the presence...."
It's like a battle cry and then....retreat into humble restraint from measure to measure.
Such a wild ride in the microcosm of a hymn. Deo Gratias.

I just whipped up this transcription and an audio file:

Gustav Holst made a very beautiful and very easy SATB setting of this text and the tune 'Picardy' with a very simple organ accompaniment. Several of the stanzas are unison, while the ones in parts are not at all difficult. The last stanza has a rather exciting organ part on which one could enjoy the trumpet stop, and it ends with glorious harmonised 'amens'. It could easily become one of your choir's favourites.

The first stanza is, I think, for women, but could as well be done by men or even a soloist. It's very haunting what with the single sustained e on the organ throughout the first stanza.

>> his setting of "O God Beyond All Praising".

To be more precise, that text was written to fit the tune, not the other way 'round. So it isn't Holst's setting of a text, but rather an awesome tune by Holst, to which a fine, though lesser, talent set his own text to.

Here is the harmonization from The Hymnal 1940, again, slightly different from the 1906. I will confess, I have a soft spot for suspensions, and I think that the suspensions and the slow-moving but moving bass are what make this harmonization work.

tbsz-
yes, Jupiter. Holst then wrote the hymntune based on the Jupiter theme. The tune is named THAXTED. O God Beyond All Praising is not the first, or most popular, text set to THAXTED. In England they sing "I Vow to Thee, My Country."

(If you're strapped for contemporary-but-good Easter hymns next Spring, check out "Three Days" set to THAXTED, available (I believe) in WLP and OCP hymnals.

You know, sometimes I feel like a kid in a candy shop on this forum....(sacred music candy?).
Thank you all for sharing these settings!
@ Adam, will do!
@ Francis - thanks for reposting this. I downloaded and printed it before but lost it...(so much great music....only three masses a weekend.)
@ Earl - I don't know where you can get a Marier Hymnal Choir edition. BUT...I just did an search on the Marier hymnal and struck gold. You can actually download the entire hymnal on scribd at this link:

http://www.scribd.com/nicholasjordansherwood8993

Nicholas Jordan, who has some affiliation with the Boston Choir School, founded by Dr. Marier, has scanned and posted the entire hymnal (CHOIR AND ORGAN EDITION) in 12 (or so) different downloadable segments. You have to pay $9 for a day pass on scribd, but, obviously, most of us would pay a lot more for this gem.

Chonak, has said that it is probably unlikely that the promised revision of this hymnal will ever happen due to recent personnel changes at the BCS - the settings that are now outdated due to the new translation, etc. etc.

The accompaniment in The Collegeville Hymnal is interesting also - maybe as a last verse. But don't forget, on all of these hymn versions, use the "Amen" from The Hymnal 1940, with the "Picardy Third" at the end. (I don't like hearing it on the last note of the verse, though.