VINEYARD HAVEN

Composer: Richard Dirksen

Richard Dirksen Go to person page >

Tune Information

Title: VINEYARD HAVEN
Composer: Richard Dirksen (1974)
Meter: 6.6.8.6.6.6
Incipit: 13454 33423 456
Key: c minor
Copyright: © 1974 by Harold Flammer, a division of Shawnee Press, Inc. Copyright Renewed

Texts

Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart

Rejoice, O pure in heart,
rejoice, give thanks, and sing;
your festal banner wave on high,
the cross of Christ your King.

Go to text page...

Lift Up Your Heads, O Gates

When God the Spirit Came

Notes

Richard Dirksen (PHH 148) composed VINEYARD HAVEN in 1974 for the text "Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart" as a processional choral anthem for the installation of Presiding Bishop John Maury Allin at the Washington (D.C.) Cathedral, also known as the National Cathedral. The anthem includes various harmonizations for different stanzas and is scored for choir and organ with optional brass and timpani accompaniment. VINEYARD HAVEN was first published as a hymn tune in Ecumenical Praise (1977). Dirksen wrote that the quality of rejoicing was intended to foreshadow the raising of "such 'Hosannas' forever in [God's] presence and with the company of heaven in the life eternal." The tune is named after the town on the island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, where the Very Reverend Francis B. Sayre, Jr., who was then Dean of Washington Cathedral, had his permanent home.

Erik Routley (PHH 31) once stated that it is "safe to call [VINEYARD HAVEN] one of the greatest twentieth-century hymn tunes." After related phrases rise sequentially in pitch, the tune reaches its peak in the "hosanna" refrain and at that point exhibits the melodic and harmonic surprises which, though initially difficult for a congregation, endear this tune to many Christians today. VINEYARD HAVEN requires full, bright organ registration. Sing this majestic tune in unison. To capture the question-and-answer character of the psalm text, the choir or part of the congregation may sing the question in the first line of stanzas 2 and 4, and everyone can sing the responses.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988

Timeline

Arrangements

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations

  • Introductions and Alternate Accompaniments for Organ Volume 10: Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Hymns 819 - 893
    Composer/Editors Norma Aamodt-Nelson; Marissa Bauck; James Biery
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2009) pp. 874
  • Introductions and Alternate Accompaniments for Piano Volume 10: Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Hymns 819 - 893
    Composer/Editors Norma Aamodt-Nelson; Marissa Bauck; Marshall S. Barnhouse, III
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2009) pp. 874
  • The St. Francis Collection of Free Accompaniments to Hymn Tunes: 80 Settings by Various Composers
    Composer/Editors Dirk van Dissel; Christopher Dearnley
    Published By: G. I. A. Publications, Inc. (2005) pp. 111
  • Hymnal Supplement 98: Vocal Descant Edition
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1999) pp. 804

Organ Solo

  • Praise the One: Ten Organ Impressions for Worship, Volume 3
    Composer/Editor Benjamin M. Culli
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2012) pp. 42
  • Augsburg Organ Library November
    Composer/Editors Norma Aamodt-Nelson; Robert J. Powell
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2000) pp. 118
  • Hymnal Supplement 98 Organ Prelude Edition: Volume 1 Advent / Christmas / Epiphany
    Composer/Editors David A. Johnson; Kevin J. Hildebrand
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (2000) pp. 10
  • Hymn Interpretations for Organ
    Composer/Editor David P. Dahl
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (1999) pp. 26

Instances

Instances (1 - 25 of 25)
Text

Christian Worship #478

Christian Worship #24E

Text

Evangelical Lutheran Worship #874

Text InfoAudio

Glory to God #355

Text

Hymnal Supplement 1991 #752

Hymnal Supplement 98 #804

Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) #164a

Hymns of the Saints #301

Psalms for All Seasons #24B

Psalms for All Seasons #61C

Psalms for All Seasons #80B

Text InfoTune InfoAudio

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #163

Text

Rejoice in the Lord #575

Text

RitualSong #613

The Covenant Hymnal #497

Text

The Hymnal 1982 #392

Text

The Hymnal 1982 #557

The New Century Hymnal #71

Text

The Presbyterian Hymnal #146

The Presbyterian Hymnal #206

TextAudio

The United Methodist Hymnal #161

Together in Song #528

With One Voice #631

Text

Worship (3rd ed.) #481

Text

Worship (3rd ed.) #552

Include 2 pre-1979 instances
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