O Valiant Hearts

'"O Valiant Hearts" is a hymn remembering the fallen of the First World War. Words were taken from a poem by Sir John Stanhope Arkwright (1872–1954), published in 'The Supreme Sacrifice, and other Poems in Time of War (1919).^[1] It was set to music by the Rev. Dr. Charles Harris, Vicar of Colwall, Herefordshire 1909-1929.^[2] The poem was later included as a hymn in both editions of the hymn book Songs of Praise. For the first edition, published in 1925, the music was set to a traditional tune, 'Valour', arranged by Vaughan Williams.^[3] In the second, larger edition of Songs of Praise, published in 1931, Gustav Holst composed the tune 'Valiant Hearts' especially for the hymn.^[1] In Songs of Praise Discussed, Valiant Hearts is described as 'a good bold tune, in triple time, with a suggestion of bell-chimes in the repeated first phrase, an effect which is enhanced by the nature of the accompaniment to the alternative unison version'. The alternative unison version referred to is written for verses 3 and 7.^[4]' However, it is to the Harris tune that the hymn is now always sung. In fact there is no evidence to suggest that the later tunes mentioned above ever gained any popularity. A very early recording (to Harris's beloved tune) by the boy soprano Harold Langston was played at the Aldershot Tattoo in 1930 to vast crowds. http://www.boysoloist.com/artist.asp?VID=1130

Lyrics

O valiant hearts who to your glory came
Through dust of conflict and through battle flame;
Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved,
Your memory hallowed in the land you loved.

Proudly you gathered, rank on rank, to war
As who had heard God’s message from afar;
All you had hoped for, all you had, you gave,
To save mankind—yourselves you scorned to save.

Splendid you passed, the great surrender made;
Into the light that nevermore shall fade;
Deep your contentment in that blest abode,
Who wait the last clear trumpet call of God.

Long years ago, as earth lay dark and still,
Rose a loud cry upon a lonely hill,
While in the frailty of our human clay,
Christ, our Redeemer, passed the self same way.

Still stands His Cross from that dread hour to this,
Like some bright star above the dark abyss;
Still, through the veil, the Victor’s pitying eyes
Look down to bless our lesser Calvaries.

These were His servants, in His steps they trod,
Following through death the martyred Son of God:
Victor, He rose; victorious too shall rise
They who have drunk His cup of sacrifice.

O risen Lord, O Shepherd of our dead,
Whose cross has bought them and Whose staff has led,
In glorious hope their proud and sorrowing land
Commits her children to Thy gracious hand.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Songs of Praise Discussed, published 1933,1950, page 167
2. ^ O Valiant Hearts [1]
3. ^ Songs of Praise Discussed, published 1931,1950, page 167
4. ^ Songs of Praise Enlarged Edition, with tunes, 1950, page 349