# 191 Alleluia, alleluia, Hearts and voices heavenward raise

Words: Christopher Wordsworth

Music: Lux eoi, by Arthur Seymour Sullivan

Christopher Wordsworth--nephew of the great lake-poet, William Wordsworth--was born in 1807. He was educated at Winchester, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A., with high honours, in 1830; M.A. in 1833; D.D. in 1839. He was elected Fellow of his College in 1830, and public orator of the University in 1836; received Priest's Orders in 1835; head master of Harrow School in 1836; Canon of Westminster Abbey in 1844; Hulsean Lecturer at Cambridge in 1847-48; Vicar of Stanford-in-the-Vale, Berks, in 1850; Archdeacon of Westminster, in 1865; Bishop of Lincoln, in 1868. His writings are numerous, and some of them very valuable. During the time that Bishop Wordsworth was Canon of Westminster, and Vicar of Stanford-in-the-Vale cum Goosey, he published his collection of hymns as:—The Holy Year; or Hymns for Sundays and Holy-days, And other Occasions. London, Rivingtons, 1862.

The birthday of composer Arthur Sullivan (May 13, 1842 - November 22, 1900) is probably observed today by a good many of his admirers, though most of them have far less interest in his church music and hymn tunes than in his comic operas written with W.S. Gilbert.

As we know, Sullivan did write a good number of hymn tunes, probably around 50, and arranged or harmonized several more. Since we are still in the season of Eastertide, this seems to be the most appropriate tune for today. I think it's his second greatest tune, though it's far less known than his first, [Onward, Christian Soldiers]. Yes, it's a little trickier to sing, particularly the last line. The text, by Christopher Wordsworth, is "seeded" with spring-ish references to new life and growth to complement the resurrection theme.

From Hymnary.org and http://conjubilant.blogspot.com/2008/05/sir-arthur-sullivan.html

Here’s a rousing version for you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKqBY5Hsfik