Anthem 45 - Behold, the grace appears

Welcome to Anthem 45 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 show@anthem52.com.

It was a slightly odd week for composition. I found it difficult to get going but when I did it seemed to go fairly well.

Guess where I found the words? Yes, you're correct - Isaac Watts. This time it's a very positive set of lyrics so I decided on a loud anthem, with emphatic organ accompaniment.

Here are the words I chose:

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;
At our Re­deem­er’s birth!