ANIMA CHRISTI (Maher)

Composer: William J. Maher

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Tune Information

Title: ANIMA CHRISTI (Maher)
Composer: William J. Maher (1863)
Meter: 10.10.10.10
Incipit: 51117 11223 32317
Key: F Major

Notes

ANIMA CHRISTI became popular in the latter half of the nineteenth century in British Roman Catholic churches, where it was used for evening benediction services. It is believed that Jesuit priest William J. Maher (b. Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, 1823; d. Paris, France, 1877) composed the tune around 1863 for a fourteenth-century Latin hymn, "Anima Christi sanctifica me." The obscure British collection Mission Hymns (1864) first published ANIMA CHRISTI for use with an anonymous English translation of this Latin text. Maher both studied and taught at Stonyhurst College. He entered the Jesuit Order in 1841, was ordained in 1856, and became an evangelist in London. The editor of Francis Trappes's Hymns for the Liturgical Year (1865), Maher died in Paris while en route to Lourdes to seek a cure for his cancer.

ANIMA CHRISTI builds slowly to its high point in line 3. Try singing the first line of each stanza in unison and all other lines in harmony. Each succeeding stanza should build in intensity. Accompany the hymn with some sense of marcato so that the music supports the text. Try the organ trumpet stop or, better yet, a trio of real trumpets playing from different balconies or church corners.

For more rousing tunes, use WOODLANDS (478), MORESTEAD (295), or the more familiar TOULON (521) with this text.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Timeline

Arrangements

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations

  • An Organist's Book of Hymns: The Liturgical Year: 3 Part Hymns and Chorale Preludes
    Composer/Editor Noel Jones
    Published By: Frog Music (2014) pp. 4
  • 200 Last Verses: Completely Revised to Complement the Keys in Major Hymn Books
    Composer/Editor Noel Rawsthorne
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (2009) pp. 10
  • The Art of Hymn Playing Volume 2: 250 Preludes Introductions Free Accompaniments & Alternate Harmonizations
    Composer/Editor Charles Callahan
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (2009) pp. 15
  • In Communion: 40 Hymntune Meditations for Organ, Piano, or Keyboard
    Composer/Editor Charles Callahan
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (2008) pp. 31
  • Two Hundred One Hymn Tune Prelude Miniatures
    Composer/Editor Mark Winchester
    Published By: Frog Music (2005) pp. 5
  • 100 Alternative Hymn Tune Arrangements
    Composer/Editor Andrew Moore
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (2001) pp. 49
  • After the Last Verse: 200 Hymn Improvisations
    Composer/Editor Malcolm Archer
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (1995) pp. 10
  • Hymns for Occasions: One Hundred Special Arrangements
    Composer/Editor Colin Mawby
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (1994) pp. 5

Organ Solo

  • In Communion: 40 Hymntune Meditations for Organ, Piano, or Keyboard
    Composer/Editor Charles Callahan
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (2008) pp. 31
  • The Sacred Organ Journal Volume 36 Number 3 January February 2002: A Bi-Monthly Anthology for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors Mark Barnard; Eugene Englert
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2002) pp. 8
  • The Sacred Organ Journal Volume 36 Number 3 January February 2002: The Organist's Companion for the Church Year
    Composer/Editors Mark Barnard; Eugene Englert
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2002) pp. 8
  • The Organist's Companion from Lent to Easter: Over 50 Seasonal Pieces for Organ
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (2000) pp. 130
  • At the Organ: Hymns Settings and Original Works
    Composer/Editor Eugene Englert
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1999) pp. 6
  • At the Organ: Hymn Settings and Original Works
    Composer/Editor Eugene Englert
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1999) pp. 6
  • Organ Miniatures: 200 Short Improvisations on Familiar Hymn Tunes
    Composer/Editor June Nixon
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (1999) pp. 12
  • Songs of Syon Volume II: Improvisations for the Organ
    Composer/Editor J. Alfred Schehl
    Published By: J. Fischer & Brothers (1958) pp. 13

Piano Solo

  • At the Piano: Hymn Settings and Original Works
    Composer/Editor Eugene Englert
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1999) pp. 22

Organ or Piano

  • In Communion: 40 Hymntune Meditations for Organ, Piano, or Keyboard
    Composer/Editor Charles Callahan
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (2008) pp. 31

Instances

Instances (1 - 17 of 17)
Text

Ancient and Modern #462

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #670

TextPage Scan

Breaking Bread (Vol. 39) #196

TextAudioPage Scan

Common Praise #322

TextPage Scan

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #610

TextPage Scan

CPWI Hymnal #619

Hymns and Psalms #608b

TextPage Scan

Journeysongs (2nd ed.) #472

Text

Journeysongs (2nd ed.) #857

TextPage Scan

Journeysongs (3rd ed.) #454

TextPage Scan

Journeysongs (3rd ed.) #839

Text InfoTune InfoScoreAudio

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #325

Singing the Faith #629

Audio

Small Church Music #1588

Audio

Small Church Music #4135

TextPage Scan

The New English Hymnal #305

Text

Together in Song #502

Include 1 pre-1979 instance
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