CONSOLATOR (Webbe)

Composer: Samuel Webbe

Samuel Webbe (the elder; b. London, England, 1740; d. London, 1816) Webbe's father died soon after Samuel was born without providing financial security for the family. Thus Webbe received little education and was apprenticed to a cabinet­maker at the age of eleven. However, he was determined to study and taught himself Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, German, and Italian while working on his apprentice­ship. He also worked as a music copyist and received musical training from Carl Barbant, organist at the Bavarian Embassy. Restricted at this time in England, Roman Catholic worship was freely permitted in the foreign embassies. Because Webbe was Roman Catholic, he became organist at the Portuguese Chapel and later at the Sardinian and Spanish… Go to person page >

CONSOLATION was originally set for solo voice to "Alma redemptoris mater" by Samuel Webbe, Sr. (PHH 112), in his Collection of Motetts and Antiphons (1792). Thomas Hastings adapted the tune for use with Moore's text in Spiritual Songs for Social Worship (1831). CONSOLATION is also known as ALMA and CONSOLATOR.

With lyric sweetness and urgent rhythms, this tune has the character to support the solace offered in this text. Sing in parts or in unison (reminiscent of its vocal solo origins). Accompany with enough rhythmic firmness to offset any inherent sentimentality.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988