Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
**** Amazing story! Glastonbury (pronounced “glah-stuh-n-bree”) is a town in southwest England, known for its natural beauty, ancient sites, myths, and King Arthur legends. This song is based on a traditional belief of a miracle that has been passed down to kings and queens for centuries.
Glastonbury overlooks the marshes of the Somerset Levels. Glastonbury and surrounding is a pilgrimage for New Age enthusiasts, those with strong religious convictions, persons fascinated by legends and “grails,” and those who simply love Somerset and the peaceful sanctuary of the beautiful flora and fauna. Many "pilgrims" believe that Joseph of Arimathea (the figure who offered the tomb for Jesus’ body) went to Britain with a group of followers, bringing the cup (Holy Grail) that had been used at the Last Supper. When they arrived in Glastonbury, tradition holds that Joseph stuck his staff into the ground, and it immediately rooted and burst into bloom. This was a sign to Joseph to establish the first church in England on that hill. The staff is believed to be from a spring from the crown of thorns – thus the “Glastonbury Thorn” tradition began. Flowers from that thorn tree have been presented to queens and kings during Advent.
SATB/soprano or alto soloist
Walton Music - WW1975
duration 5 minutes
Recording: The New American Voices
Text (ZRS):
O’er the brooks and marshy levels of Glastonbury,
Standing in tall wind-swept moor grass and bluish meadow rue,
An Eastern Thorn with flowers white and brilliant as the dawn,
With roseberries on new-fallen snow.
The deep hay meadow’d roots of the Glastonbury Thorn
Remind one of abiding Faith in the harshest of storms.
The thorn leaves of the Ley Line give Refuge and strength,
And Hope on Joseph’s branches for all who believe.
Twice-blooming offspring of the stainless Rose,
Celebrate the Holy Grail of birth, love and life.
Weio, weio, allewe-gloria!
Weio, weio, alleweio!
***"weio, alleweio" - [weo alɛweo] or transliterated, “way-oh, ah-leh-way-oh” – this archaic phrase, likely used in some “urban dictionary of the medieval world,” appears to communicate praise or adoration of a higher being or of the natural world.
***ley line – straight geographic alignments thought to be intentionally drawn between historical structures/landmarks; some traditions promote that ancient societies deliberately built these lines to “engage the earth’s energy,” communicate with other worlds, or even align trade routes.
Join the over 4,300 subscribers to Randall's channel, and see/hear the other 108 videos he has created. Several new works have just been recorded, including his new extended (six-movement) work, IN PARADISUM - released in the spring. (Go to zrstroope.com to listen and see a score.)
**** Amazing story! Glastonbury (pronounced “glah-stuh-n-bree”) is a town in southwest England, known for its natural beauty, ancient sites, myths, and King Arthur legends. This song is based on a traditional belief of a miracle that has been passed down to kings and queens for centuries.
Glastonbury overlooks the marshes of the Somerset Levels. Glastonbury and surrounding is a pilgrimage for New Age enthusiasts, those with strong religious convictions, persons fascinated by legends and “grails,” and those who simply love Somerset and the peaceful sanctuary of the beautiful flora and fauna. Many "pilgrims" believe that Joseph of Arimathea (the figure who offered the tomb for Jesus’ body) went to Britain with a group of followers, bringing the cup (Holy Grail) that had been used at the Last Supper. When they arrived in Glastonbury, tradition holds that Joseph stuck his staff into the ground, and it immediately rooted and burst into bloom. This was a sign to Joseph to establish the first church in England on that hill. The staff is believed to be from a spring from the crown of thorns – thus the “Glastonbury Thorn” tradition began. Flowers from that thorn tree have been presented to queens and kings during Advent.
SATB/soprano or alto soloist
Walton Music - WW1975
duration 5 minutes
Recording: The New American Voices
Text (ZRS):
O’er the brooks and marshy levels of Glastonbury,
Standing in tall wind-swept moor grass and bluish meadow rue,
An Eastern Thorn with flowers white and brilliant as the dawn,
With roseberries on new-fallen snow.
The deep hay meadow’d roots of the Glastonbury Thorn
Remind one of abiding Faith in the harshest of storms.
The thorn leaves of the Ley Line give Refuge and strength,
And Hope on Joseph’s branches for all who believe.
Twice-blooming offspring of the stainless Rose,
Celebrate the Holy Grail of birth, love and life.
Weio, weio, allewe-gloria!
Weio, weio, alleweio!
***"weio, alleweio" - [weo alɛweo] or transliterated, “way-oh, ah-leh-way-oh” – this archaic phrase, likely used in some “urban dictionary of the medieval world,” appears to communicate praise or adoration of a higher being or of the natural world.
***ley line – straight geographic alignments thought to be intentionally drawn between historical structures/landmarks; some traditions promote that ancient societies deliberately built these lines to “engage the earth’s energy,” communicate with other worlds, or even align trade routes.
Join the over 4,300 subscribers to Randall's channel, and see/hear the other 108 videos he has created. Several new works have just been recorded, including his new extended (six-movement) work, IN PARADISUM - released in the spring. (Go to zrstroope.com to listen and see a score.)
![HODIE! [revised 14:00] Composed/Conducted by Z. RANDALL STROOPE](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_F_IUDtEuOE/mqdefault.jpg "HODIE! [revised 14:00] Composed/Conducted by Z. RANDALL STROOPE
***** Explosion of color and exciting sonorities - this work contains fanfare, bold sonorities, reflection, inclusion of a chorale by Philipp Nicolai, and an ending of absolute sonic fireworks. It is literally one of the most enjoyable works that I have ever composed. Even though the brass is a full contingent (8 players), I was quite careful to maintain vocal balance. (The recording was made with 28 voices, 8 brass, timp, perc (1), organ, and a childrens choir of about 12). The treble choir can be done by trebles in the SATB choir, or very effectively by children. This is a centerpiece of any program, and the brass can be utilized on a variety of other literature on the program!
HODIE! (revised) was built on an early version written in the 1990s, with a brand new first movement and the third largely new material and much more colorful!
Movement 1: Ring out, you crystal spheres, Bless at once our human ears... (1629), John Milton; (also trad. Latin)
Movement 2: Hodie Christus natus est (trad. Latin)
Movement 3: Alleluia, Hodie exultant justi, dicentes! (trad. Latin)
Wake, awake for night is flying,
All the watchers on the heights are crying:
Awake, Jerusalem, arise! (Philipp Nicolai (trans. Winkworth)
BRASS VERSION
SATB (with opt. treble choir on movement 3)
(opt. treble choir [unison] in 3rd mvt; can be done by the SA in the mixed chorus)
4 trumpets in C
2 tenor trombones
b-trombone
tuba
timpani
percussion (1): tambourine, crash cym, suspended cym, snare, glock & xylophone
organ
ORCHESTRA VERSION
SATB chorus
2 flutes
2 oboes
2 Bb clarinets
2 bassoons
4 horns
3 Bb trumpets
3 trombones
1 tuba
timpani
percussion
harp
strings
* SATB/brass/timp/perc/org (3 mvts) 1400
* also SATB/orchestra
* RECORDED by THE NEW AMERICAN VOICES [ZRS conducting], DFW Brass & Peggy Graff,
organist; Theresa Pritchard & voices from Vista Ridge Middle School
* Mark Foster (Hal Leonard 00367069)
Join the over 4,300 subscribers to Randalls channel, and see/hear the other 108 videos he has created. Several new works have just been recorded, including his new extended (six-movement) work, IN PARADISUM - released this spring.. (Go to zrstroope.com to listen and see a score.)")
