Choral settings of the Trisagion (Thrice-Holy Hymn)
  • shawnk
    Posts: 57
    I'm interested in memorable choral settings of the Trisagion ("Holy God, Holy Mighty One...), or Thrice-Holy Hymn, that are also very singable. English or Latin would be of interest. Of course the text is set in the Victoria reproaches, but I'd like to find something else. Could anyone with a good collection of Byzantine hymnals dig some out for us?

    Am I asking because of Good Friday? Am I asking because of Divine Mercy devotions? The world may never know. ;)
  • canadashcanadash
    Posts: 1,499
    I have no idea.
    However, during our shut-down, the Byzantine priest had Divine liturgy for 9 people at a time and we were invited to our own liturgy even though he knew we would not continue after the shut-down. It was truly divine and I will be forever grateful.

    If you are on FB, ask to join the Catholic Organists page. You may find something there.
  • CharlesW
    Posts: 11,933
    You can listen to an Orthodox version here. What I have I could get into copyright issues if I copied them for you. You might try Byzantine Seminary Press site for an English Catholic setting.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lzQcSzirJg&list=RD-lzQcSzirJg&start_radio=1
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,366
    We sing one at Walsingham throughout Lent, a four part one that at least sounds very Russian. I don't know the composer, but it is very syllabic, very moving, and very easy. It can be sung with melody only or in four parts - which have a very Russian sound.

    The treble parts run thusly -
    Ho - - - | ly } God, (notes = ) G-F-Bb } A | G- F

    Ho - - - | ly | Migh - | ty (notes = ) G- F - Bb | A | G - | F

    Ho - - | ly - Im -| mor - tal | One | have \ mer- | cy . up | on . us.
    (notes =) Bb | C . C | D . D | C | Bb | A . A. A | G . G.

    I hope that's not unclear.
    It should be sung at a very, very sober pace.
    Your could fill in the G-minor harmony.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • Felicia
    Posts: 110
    There's a harmonized chant setting for three voices in the Johannine Hymnal, published by the American Catholic Press in 1970. The words are in Latin, Greek, Old Church Slavonic and English. It's a rather surprising find in such a collection. One of the editors, Rev. Joseph Cirou, was a priest of the Ukrainian rite. As CharlesW mentioned, this could run into copyright issues.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • Jehan_Boutte
    Posts: 264
    I found this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FeTzMCe0BA
    Thanked by 3canadash CHGiffen Nisi
  • canadashcanadash
    Posts: 1,499
    Jehan_Boutte: We have sung this in the past! Gorgeous!
    Thanked by 1Jehan_Boutte
  • liampmcdonough
    Posts: 282
    The setting at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham is by Aleksandr Amdreevich Arkhangel'skīi, and can be found at https://hymnary.org/tune/holy_god_holy_and_mighty_archangelsky
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen M. Jackson Osborn
  • shawnk
    Posts: 57
    Thank you, all, for your responses. You have given me food for thought. Happy Easter!
    Thanked by 1Jehan_Boutte
  • rich_enough
    Posts: 1,032
    In case you haven't checked CPDL, these settings of the Reproaches for Good Friday include the Trisagion in various languages.
  • shawnk
    Posts: 57
    Thank you. Yes, I did check CPDL. ;)
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,157
    Roman Hurko's "Liturgy no. 3" in English has this setting:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INvfhPVOe_E
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