The Record of John
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Record of John is a verse anthem written by Orlando Gibbons in the early seventeenth century. The anthem is a peculiar Anglican style composition using elements from the King James Bible, according to the Gospel of John.
The anthem is usually performed with organ and consort of voices. The piece is divided into three sections, each beginning with a verse with solo counter-tenor (sometimes, but most often not, sung in a falsetto style), following with the chorus, which echoes the words of the verse.
The music is in 4/4 time, but there is switch to 3/2 for the end two bars of each section. This is useful, allowing performers a cue to the beginning of each section, though the purpose of this is probably unrelated to a cue.
The original text from which the verse is derived, follows.
[edit] Source
John 1:19 - 23, from The King James Authorized Bible
19. And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
20. And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
21. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
22. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
23. He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.
[edit] Verse
- 1 This is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed and denied not, and said plainly, I am not the Christ.
- 2 And they asked him, What art thou then? (Art thou Elias? repeated x1) And he said, I am not. (Art thou the prophet? repeated x1) And he answered, No.
- 3 Then said they unto him, What art thou? that we may give an answer unto them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? And he said, I am the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, (Make straight the way of the Lord repeated x1).
