Welcome to Anthem 43 in my attempt to write a new choir anthem every week for a year. I’m Kevin Mulryne and I hope you will enjoy listening to my progress throughout 2024. Please do visit the website Anthem52.com, follow along on x.com - @realanthem52 or Instagram - @realanthem52 and send me a message to [email protected].

Despite fitting in little bits of composition time around everything else that is currently occupying us, this anthem seemed to flow fairly well. I've resisted the temptation to start writing Christmas Carols until now. Writing carols is how I discovered that I could compose for choirs quickly, much to my surprise so I have been looking forward to having another go at this seasonal activity.

The words came from the practically inexhaustible source of Isaac Watts, yet again and I went for verse 1 and 2 and the final one from his carol.

Here are the words I chose:

Words for Anthem 43:

Behold, the grace ap­pears, The pro­mise is ful­filled; Mary, the won­drous vir­gin, bears, And Je­sus is the Child.

The Lord, the high­est God, Calls Him His on­ly Son; He bids Him rule the lands abroad, And gives Him Da­vid’s throne.

Glory to God on high! And heav’n­ly peace on earth; Goodwill to men, to an­gels joy, At our Re­deem­er’s birth!