DIADEMATA (Elvey)

Composer: George J. Elvey

George Job Elvey (b. Canterbury, England, 1816; d. Windlesham, Surrey, England, 1893) As a young boy, Elvey was a chorister in Canterbury Cathedral. Living and studying with his brother Stephen, he was educated at Oxford and at the Royal Academy of Music. At age nineteen Elvey became organist and master of the boys' choir at St. George Chapel, Windsor, where he remained until his retirement in 1882. He was frequently called upon to provide music for royal ceremonies such as Princess Louise's wedding in 1871 (after which he was knighted). Elvey also composed hymn tunes, anthems, oratorios, and service music. Bert Polman Go to person page >

Composed for Bridges's text by George J. Elvey (PHH 48), DIADEMATA was first published in the 1868 Appendix to Hymns Ancient and Modern. Since that publication, the tune has retained its association with this text. The name DIADEMATA is derived from the Greek word for "crowns."
The tune is lively and buoyant (though the harmony lacks life, especially the inner voices). Sing a strong unison on stanza 3 if using the Hal H. Hopson (PHH 219) descant. A number of good choral and brass arrangements, useful for festive occasions, are available.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988