Bring to the Lord a glad new song

Psalm Praise in 1973 was planned as a book of 150 items. At the 11th hour Michael Perry, then Vicar of Bitterne, Southampton, submitted his version of Psalm 149 – Psalm 150, and it squeezed in as 151 in Appendix 1. The words appeared without music, since the intended tune could then be named but not printed. It was first sung in the author’s hearing by gathered choirs in Manchester Cathedral in 1973, and its wide use ever since goes far to justify its inclusion. The author subsequently made changes to no fewer than 8 of his 16 lines; the original had ‘sons of his grace’ in line 2, ‘all tyrants’ at 1.7, and ‘Praise him’ to begin the first two lines of stz 2.

The tune JERUSALEM, set by Sir Hubert Parry in 1916 to William Blake’s poem And did those feet in ancient time, has many associations, paradoxically spanning both traditional patriotism and angry protest. Its introduction, bridging passage and conclusion became as well-known as its main melody. It was the recently-appointed Poet Laureate Robert Bridges who suggested to Parry that Blake’s words needed a tune; the composer gave his manuscript to Sir Walford Davies, saying ‘Here’s a tune for you, old chap. Do what you like with it’. Archibald Jacob, who enlarges on this in Songs of Praise Discussed (1933), adds that the tune ‘combines, in an unusual degree, musical excellence with popular appeal’. This innovative arrangement by Christopher Norton was made for Hymns for the People (1993). But however the tune is used, it seems preferable that any new words should rhyme their even-numbered lines rather than consecutive ones (abab as here, or abcb as Blake, not aabb), and restrict themselves to 2 stzs. Among several other texts written for this tune is Carl Daw’s O day of peace that dimly shines, based on Isaiah 11. But the Perry/Parry partnership seems set to last for some time.

b Beckenham, Kent 1942, d Tonbridge, Kent 1996. Dulwich Coll, Oak Hill and Ridley Hall Theological Colls, London and Southampton Univs (BD, MTh). Ordained (CofE) 1965; after curacies at St Helen’s, Lancs and Bitterne, Southampton, he became incumbent of Bitterne (1972), Eversley, Hants (1981), where Charles Kingsley was a predecessor, and finally Tonbridge from 1989. A contributor to Youth Praise 2 in 1969, he was then an editorial team member for Psalm Praise (1973) and Hymns for Today’s Church (1982, 1987), Canon of Rochester, member of General Synod, Chairman of Church Pastoral Aid Society and (from 1982) succeeding Jim Seddon as Hon Sec of Jubilate Hymns. Under Jubilate auspices he edited a stream of hymn, song, carol and Psalm and prayer books, in collaboration with David Iliff, David Peacock, Noël Tredinnick, Norman Warren and others. He edited The Dramatized Bible (1989), compiled the reference-handbook Preparing for Worship (1995), and wrote and spoke widely on many aspects of worship, in the UK and on visits to W Africa and N America. Over all, he possessed the gift of being able to handle vast amounts of work with a light touch and ready (but never unkind) humour. His 183 texts were collected in Singing to God: Hymns and Songs 1965–1995, a slightly Americanised volume, in the year before his early death from a brain tumour. His first published song (words and music) was ‘The Calypso Carol’ in 1963; see no.374, note. Including paraphrases, 40 of his texts are in HTC (1987 edn), 8 in Baptist Praise and Worship (1991), 18 in Sing Glory (1999), 8 in the N American Worship and Rejoice (2001), 15 in Carols for Today (2005) and 27 in Carol Praise (2006), not counting several versions attributed to ‘Word and Music’ which are predominantly his. For some 20 years he and Christopher Idle would exchange friendly mutual criticism of each other’s texts. MAP believed that ‘Our preparation for worship can only go so far. It is doomed if the Spirit of the Lord is not in it. On the other hand, God is sovereign; he can “take over” any kind of worship, provided that those who lead and those who participate are open to his grace’. He also consistently urged that ‘to be obscure is an indulgence we cannot allow ourselves’.
Michael is published by Praise! numbers 49, 75, 82, 88, 137, 128, 148, 153, 172, 187, 211, 213, 277, 323, 332, 373, 374, 382, 481, 624, 694, 872, 929, 947 and by Praise! online at numbers 1082, 1132.