William Mundy's "Ah, helpless wretch"

Throughout September, the Daily Classical Music Post celebrates the music of 15th-, 16th-, and 17th-century England.


https://youtu.be/1NVVgLE1m08

William Mundy (c. 1529–1591) was head chorister at Westminster Abbey, Vicar Choral to the Chapel Royal, and a Gentleman of the Chapel. He composed a large number of sacred works, and his career covered the time from Henry VIII to the early Elizabethan era. There are works in Latin and in English, including mass settings, Anglican service settings, anthems, motets, and Psalm settings.

One of Mundy's most important contributions was the verse anthem. This is an anthem in which a solo voice or voices alternates with the full choir. The solo sings the "verse," which is where the name comes from. Verse anthems were very helpful for choir directors, as the choir only had to learn a small part of the anthem.

Mundy's verse anthems are notable for the use of organ accompaniment. A particularly fine example is "Ah, helpless wretch." Nicolas Robertson says, "The verse anthems Ah, helpless wretch and The secret sins show the composer adapting late in life and with considerable verve to a new form which would be of enormous significance for the future history of English church music. The essential novelty here is the presence of an independent accompaniment—adapted for organ and church use from the secular lute or viol consort—to a single voice echoed by the full choir. . . . [the text of ] Ah, helpless wretch [was written by] the author of The poore Widowes mite, one Christopher Hunnis, Master of the Choristers of the Chapel Royal after Farrant, who wrote the play from which the song comes in 1583."

My classical music post for today is William Mundy's "Ah, helpless wretch."

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