The royal banners forward go (Exaltation of the Holy Cross)

A major feast observed on Sept. 14 in honor of Christ's self-offering on the cross for our salvation. The collect for Holy Cross Day recalls that Christ "was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world unto himself," and prays that "we, who glory in the mystery of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and follow Him"

This feast is known as "The Exaltation of the Holy Cross" in the eastern church and in missals and sacramentaries of the western church, and it is known as "The Triumph of the Cross" in the Roman Catholic Church. It was one of the 12 great feasts in the Byzantine liturgy.

Historically, the feast has been associated with the dedication on Sept. 14, 335, of a complex of buildings built by the Emperor Constantine (c. 285-337) in Jerusalem on the sites of the crucifixion and Christ's tomb.

The music for this hymn was composed by Horatio Parker.

Horatio William Parker (September 15, 1863 – December 18, 1919) was an American composer, organist and teacher. He was a central figure in musical life in New Haven, Connecticut in the late 19th century, and is best remembered as the undergraduate teacher of Charles Ives while the composer attended Yale University.

I've only done this hymn once, and that was as the Office Hymn on Palm Sunday at evensong at the Church of the Holy Trinity in NYC.

Parker was organist there during his time in NY, and I served as organist and director of music there after returning from my time in England.

The tune, "Parker" is pretty obscure. It is found in "The Hymnal 1940," which was the official hymnal of the American Episcopal Church. I've never seen it any place else, and I doubt if the tune was written for this text.

The score is attached below.

The performance scheme is:

Introduction - full verse
First Verse - full choir & congregation
Second Verse - full choir & congregation
Third Verse - treble voices
Fourth Verse - mens' voices
Fifth Verse - full choir in harmony
Sixth - All voices