Variations & Finale on the Hymn Tune 'Iste Confessor'

Variations and Finale on the Hymn Tune ‘Iste confessor’ by Robert Fielding

The melody 'Iste confessor', used for this set of variations, has its origin in the Poitiers Antiphoner of 1746. It should not to be mistaken for the ancient plainchant melody 'Iste confessor Domini'.
The hymn tune may be found in The New English Hymnal at numbers 210 and 404. It is sometimes known by the name ROUEN and commonly sung to the words translated by Philip Pusey from the 17th century German text by M. von Löwenstern, ‘Lord of our life, and God of our salvation’. The text asks for peace in time of war and is one that has relevance to the present conflict in Ukraine.

Lord of our life, and God of our salvation,
Star of our night, and hope of every nation,
Hear and receive thy Church’s supplication,
Lord God Almighty.

See round thine ark the hungry billows curling;
See how Thy foes their banners are unfurling;
Lord, while their darts envenomed they are hurling,
Thou canst preserve us.

Lord, thou canst help when earthly armour faileth,
Lord, thou canst save when sin itself assaileth;
Christ, o’er thy rock nor death nor hell prevaileth;
Grant us thy peace, Lord.

Peace, in our hearts, our evil thoughts assuaging;
Peace, in thy Church, where brothers are engaging;
Peace, when the world its busy war is waging:
Calm thy foes’ raging.

Grant us thy help till backward they are driven,
Grant them thy truth, that they may be forgiven;
Grant peace on earth, and, after we have striven,
Peace in Thy heaven.

This performance was recorded by the composer using Hauptwerk software and the Sonus Paradisi digital recording of the Cavaille-Coll organ in the Abbey of St. Etienne, Caen.
A score is available to view on YouTube and to buy on Amazon.