This arrangement of O Thou, Who by a Star is based on the melody of the shape-note hymn, Dunlap's Creek by Freeman Lewis (1780-1859). Little is known about Lewis, except that he was a surveyor from Uniontown, Pennsylvania and wrote music as a hobby. The hymn first appeared in "Southern Harmony," an important shape-note hymnal published in 1835 by William Walker. The text was written by the Anglican priest, scholar, translator, and hymn writer, John Mason Neale (1818-1866). It is appropriate for Christmas or Epiphany. After the initial singing of the melody by the basses, each verse is sung in canonic fashion: Verse II is a two-part canon sung one measure apart. Verse III is a three-part canon sung one measure apart. Verse IV is a four-part canon sung in stretto (one beat apart).
Britten's pacifist masterwork, combining war poetry by Wilfred Owen with the Latin Requiem Mass, is included in the Masterworks Library of full scores, ideal for conductors, students and music lovers.
