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RSCM publishes top King James Bible anthems

The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) is publishing four short-listed anthems from the King James Bible Composition Competition.
It was organised by the King James Bible Trust to mark the 400th anniversary of the bible’s publication in 1611. The RSCM sponsored one of two categories; namely, submission of an anthem or worship-song suitable for use in churches and schools. There were over one hundred submissions to this category alone.

All composition entrants were required to set texts using the King James Bible (or Authorised Version as it is also known). The winning anthem The mystery of Christ was composed by Christopher Totney, music teacher and church organist based in Wiltshire. His anthem sets texts from Isaiah, Revelation and Colossians. It has been published in a single volume with three other short-listed anthems composed by Owain Park (aged 17 currently studying at Wells Cathedral School), Andrew John-Bethke (from Capetown, South Africa) and Thomas Hewitt Jones (from London, who has already won a number of prestigious composition competitions).

All the shortlisted compositions were performed in public before an adjudicating panel of leading church musicians in the spring of 2011 (photographs available – see below). In an Introduction to this publication, the composer and conductor Bob Chilcott writes, “We are so fortunate to have a strong and living tradition of music and singing in our church life. This competition, and particularly this category… is an important initiative to help this tradition continue and flourish”.

More information, along with recordings and viewable versions of the music, are available on the RSCM website at www.rscm.com. They may be purchased online from RSCM Music Direct www.rscm.com/shop.

KING JAMES BIBLE ANTHEMS
Price: £4.95  (£3.71 to RSCM affiliates)
RSCM Catalogue number: B0355
Available from RSCM Music Direct
Tel: 0845 021 7726
Email: musicdirect@rscm.com
Online: www.rscm.com/shop