LOWELL (Nichol)

Composer: H. Ernest Nichol

Composed in 1905 by H. Ernest Nichol (b. Hull, Yorkshire, England, 1862; d. Skirlaugh, Yorkshire, England, 1926), LOWELL was first introduced in the Christian Reformed Church when it was included in the New Christian Hymnal in 1929.

Nichol had begun a study program in civil engineering when he decided to study music instead. In 1888 he received a bachelor's degree in music from Oxford University. Nichol wrote some 130 hymn tunes and texts, many under the pseudonym “Colin Sterne” (derived from his middle and last name); many were first sung at church school programs.

A strong tune LOWELL consists of several dramatic melodic phrases that are repeated and varied. Sing stanza 1 in unison with full, bright accompaniment; sing stanza 2 and 3 in harmony, preferably unaccompanied; then sing stanza 1 again in unison with full accompaniment, thus concluding the hymn in a more jubilant fashion (in tune with what Dix intended). Many other hymnals use HYFRYDOL (568) as a setting for this text.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

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Moravian Book of Worship (1995), p.385