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DURROW

DURROW

Published in 14 hymnals


Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI, Recording

Tune Information

Title: DURROW
Meter: 7.6.7.6.7.6.7.6
Incipit: 51232 17542 12345
Key: c minor

Notes

DURROW was originally a traditional Irish folk melody associated with "Captain Thomson," a sea song from Ireland's Limerick region (Durrow is the name of a town in Ireland between Port Laoise and Kilkenny). The tune first appeared as a hymn tune in the Church Hymnary of 1927.

The harmonization by William France (b. New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada, 1912; d. Ottawa, Ontario, 1985) was taken from the Anglican and United Hymn Book (1971), for which he served on the hymnal committee. Educated at the University of Toronto, France was skilled in organ and piano as well as choral conducting and composition. He was organist and choirmaster at several United Church of Canada congregations and had a long and distinguished tenure at the Dominion-Chalmers United Church in Ottawa. France composed for piano and organ and wrote anthems and part songs.

Like many Irish tunes, DURROW is hexatonic (six tones, no A-flat in the melody). The tune has a wide range and a rounded bar form shape (AABA) with repeated melodic phrases that make it readily accessible. Sing the outer stanzas in unison and the middle ones in harmony.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Timeline

Arrangements

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations

  • Free Harmonizations of Hymn Tunes: By Fifty American Composers
    Composer/Editor D. DeWitt Wasson
    Published By: Hinshaw Music, Inc. (1984) pp. 35
  • The Concordia Hymn Prelude Series Volume 23: General: Die helle - Eben
    Composer/Editors Herbert Gotsch; Richard Wienhorst
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1983) pp. 39

Organ Solo

  • The Essential Dale Wood: 40 Classic Hymn Tune Settings for Organ
    Composer/Editor Dale Wood
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2013) pp. 78
  • The Organist's Library Volume 50
    Composer/Editor David Paxton
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2011) pp. 48
  • The Organ Portfolio Volume 74 Number 1 September October 2010: The Service Music Anthology for the Church Organist
    Composer/Editors Gilbert M. Martin; David Paxton
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2010) pp. 48
  • The Sacred Organ Journal Volume 26 Number 6 July 1992: A Bi-Monthly Anthology for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors James Mansfield; Brian Glyncannon
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1992) pp. 72
  • The Concordia Hymn Prelude Series Volume 23: General: Die helle - Eben
    Composer/Editors Herbert Gotsch; Richard Wienhorst
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1983) pp. 38

Instances

Instances (1 - 9 of 9)
Text

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #119

Hymns and Psalms #52b

Text

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #119

TextPage Scan

In Melody and Songs #65

Lutheran Worship #463

Text InfoTune InfoAudio

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #529

Audio

Small Church Music #5764

ScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #880

生命聖詩 - Hymns of Life, 1986 #28

Include 5 pre-1979 instances
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