Christ, upon the mountain peak

Today (February 7th) is the last Sunday before Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 10th. Every year on this Sunday we read the Gospel of the Transfiguration, where we see Jesus, upon the mountaintop, transfigured before the eyes of his disciples, Peter, James, and John.

The words of this dramatic hymn are by Brian Wren (b. 1936), and the music is a 12th century melody, harmonized chiefly by. George R. Woodward (1848-1934), an Anglican priest who wrote mostly religious verse, both original and translated from ancient authors. The best-known of these were written to fit traditional melodies, mainly of the Renaissance. He sometimes harmonised these melodies himself, but often left this to his frequent collaborator, composer Charles Wood.

The tune should be well-known to all of us. It is a German Easter hymn which appeared in the Apel Codex, a manuscript from around 1500. The hymn appeared in translations in 24 hymnals, and has inspired vocal and organ music from the Renaissance to contemporary periods, including composers such as J. S. Bach, Michael Praetorius, Heinrich Schütz, among others.

Although it is an Easter melody, it matches perfectly with the words of this exciting hymn.

The introduction is the three-fold "Alleluya."

Christ, upon the mountain peak
Stands alone in glory blazing.
Let us, if we dare to speak,
With the saints and angels praise him -
Alleluya!
Alleluya! (3 times)

Trembling at his feet we saw
Moses and Elijah speaking.
All the prophets and the Law
Shout through them their joyful greeting, -
Alleluya!
Alleluya! (3 times)

Swift the cloud of glory came,
God proclaiming in its thunder
Jesus as his Son by name!
Nations, cry aloud in wonder! -
Alleluya!
Alleluya! (3 times)

This is God's beloved Son!
Law and prophets fade before him;
First and last, and only One,
Let Creation now adore him:
Alleluya!
Alleluya! (3 times)