Composer

:

William H. Harris

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Motet

Compose Date

:

1925

Average_duration

:

5:17

'Faire Is the Heaven' is a choral anthem composed by William H. Harris, an English organist and composer, in 1925. The piece was premiered in the same year at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, during the annual service of the Order of the Garter. The anthem is written for a four-part choir, with the melody carried by the soprano and tenor voices. The piece is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character and mood. The first movement begins with a gentle and flowing melody, accompanied by a soft organ accompaniment. The choir sings the text "Faire is the heaven where happy soules have place, in full enjoyment of felicitie," which speaks of the beauty and joy of heaven. The melody builds in intensity and volume as the choir repeats the phrase "faire is the heaven," creating a sense of awe and wonder. The second movement is more somber and introspective, with the choir singing "Yet nothing can to nothing fall, nor any place be empty quite." The melody is more complex and dissonant, reflecting the uncertainty and mystery of death and the afterlife. The final movement returns to the joyful and uplifting mood of the first, with the choir singing "There is a heaven full of stars, and one of them is mine." The melody is triumphant and celebratory, with the choir reaching a climactic crescendo on the final phrase "and one of them is mine." Overall, 'Faire Is the Heaven' is a beautiful and moving piece of choral music, showcasing Harris's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the emotions and themes of the text through his music.

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