Nothing makes a hymn soar, in my estimation, like a well-written, and beautifully sung descant. If you’re not familiar with what a descant is, it is a counter melody, typically sung by the sopranos (trebles in English Cathedrals), and sometimes joined by the tenors, on the last verse of a hymn (or refrain) to give the hymn a lift. I use them frequently in my own worship planning – virtually every Easter Sunday, the sopranos soar on the descant on the last verse of “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today Alleluia!” What better time to “soar” than on that great lyric “Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!” Perhaps the most famous descant is verse 6 of “O Come, All Ye Faithful” “Sing, choirs of angels…” from the David Wilcocks arrangement (Carols for Choirs/Oxford) heard so often on the Lessons & Carols from Kings College Christmas Eve.
Here is an example of a descant: YOUTUBE: Sing, Choirs of Angels Descant
A descant can take many forms, and draw attention to the lyric in many different ways. Here are some examples
• The tenor line of many hymns can be sung by a few sopranos as the descant right out of the hymnal. Look for a hymns where the tenor is predominately above the soprano line. Here’s an example that works really well: HOLY GOD, WE PRAISE THY NAME #3 (The tenor is above the soprano except the 3rd from last measure).
• Sing on “ahh” rather than lyrics. While the lyrics often work well, depending on the hymn, a simple “ahh” may work. Example: CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY, sing the “ahh” on the lyrics, but sing the “alleluia!” at the end of each line.
• Use the descant just for a refrain, or last line of a hymn. Sing GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH #413, and start the descant at the beginning of the last measure of the 3rd system on the lyric “I will ever give to Thee..”, singing to the end. Write a descant just for the “alleluias” for FOR ALL THE SAINTS #547.
• Although is descant is usually the last verse, it could be another verse if the lyric really made sense, such as “Sing Choirs of Angels” in O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL #90.
•Descant work well when singing hymns a cappella. The past Palm Sunday, we closed the service (the recessional) with WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS (tune Hamburg) #171 a cappella with a descant I had written. It was powerful.
•Descants also can work well with Praise & Worship songs. I’ve written and used descants with WE WILL GLORIFY #66, and IN CHRIST ALONE #90 ( after verse 4, we repeat the last 2 lines, adding the soprano descant).
• There are several books published with descants, but I would encourage your to write your own for your congregation. You know better than anyone the range of the voices, and what will work with your accompaniment. For more resources:
CD Recording of Hymns with Descants
Descant Choir Book by Lois Fyfe
I will begin posting a descant each week. This week’s descant is for HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION #392 I’ve written this for use this coming Sunday in my church. You are welcome to make copies for use in your church as well.
