for SATB voices with divisi, organ, violin, and cello
The beloved Christmas hymn “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” was originally a much longer work written by Aurelius Clemens Prudentius—“Hymnus Omnis Horae” (“Hymn for All Hours”), thirty-eight stanzas in all. “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” begins with the fourth stanza of this longer work, which walks through the entirety of Christ’s ministry on earth. Many of the verses not included in “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” are as beautiful as those in text with which we are familiar.
This work begins with the first three original stanzas of Prudentius’ hymn paired with a new melody which reflects the mystical reality of the Incarnation. By the fourth stanza (the opening stanza of “Of the Father’s Love Begotten”), the piece has built up to a semi-climax breaking into the regular, familiar melody. After a couple more stanzas, the piece concludes with a resounding “evermore and evermore” to end the piece.
You can find all thirty-eight stanzas of “Hymnus Omnis Orae” translated here.