Of The Father's Heart Begotten (Sir David Willcocks) Ely Cathedral Choir 

Wow…if that descant in the final verse doesn’t give you shivers, you should probably check your pulse. What a fabulous arrangement and rendition by a wonderful choir. Lovely to see the girls in there with the boy choristers. Christmas Blessings to all.

play this at my funeral

Every tongue his name confessing, countless voices answering; ever more and ever more. May it be so! Amen

This is by far the best performance of this hymn on RU-vid. Thank you.

Watched it countless doezens of times, still gives me goosbumps. Was forturnate to have visitied Ely Cathedral several times. Not likely I'll be back there again - but I've got it in my heart forever.

Magnificent! One of the most beautiful hymns ever written! Glory to the Holy Trinity, evermore and evermore!

This is how I learned it. Divinum Mysterium, foot-forward tempo, no drift, unlike so many other arrangements. Indescribably beautiful. It is my favorite of all the hymns. I cannot hear it and remain unmoved.

Such beautiful and true theology is found here. I love the second verse which goes; By His Word was all created. He commanded and ‘‘twas done. Earth and sky and boundless ocean. Universe of Three in One. All that sees the moon’s soft radiance. All that breaths beneath the sun”. There is order in this world of chaos and pain. One need only look at the moon and the stars to see we are but dust, stardust in the boundless sea of the universe. But we carry the light of the divine. So beautiful to hear the voices of these gifted youth sing of His Eternal Glory.

This brings peace and hope to my desolate and despairing heart.

Don't despair with God there is hope

One of the purest hymns of worship to God. Ethereal. I sang it in high school. My spirit soared into his presence, as it does now. Thanks, Ely Chorale.❤️❤️❤️🎶🎶🎶

My savior almighty god

What a beautiful church.

My favourite arrangement of this hymn. What a sound! Just beautiful - thank you. So wonderful to see the boys and girls and men and women singing together side by side. As it should be!

Great performance. I especially enjoyed the versus sung by the bass / baritones. We hear great sopranos a lot, but not so often do we hear lower voices that are so good.

Took my breath away.

Bless these choristers and the director and organist for this perfect rendition of this wonderful ancient carol!

Sir David Willcocks was the best choral arranger ever.

Sent from heaven

Thank you, thank you, dear Ely and your worshippersm clergy and choir.

Thanks Ely Cathedral choir

ooommmggg..powerful of descant..

Absolutely beautifully sung. How different is the choir now than it was in the early 1970s when I sang in it. Marvellous.

this is my most favourite hymn i love this

I don't thing even Sir David could improve on the beauty of the unaccompanied plainchant.

Of the Father's heart begotten, Ere the world from chaos rose, He is Alpha, from that Fountain All that is and hath been flows; He is Omega, of all things, Yet to come the mystic Close, Evermore and evermore. By His Word was all created He commanded and 'twas done; Earth and sky and boundless ocean, Universe of three in one, All that sees the moon's soft radiance, All that breathes beneath the sun, Evermore and evermore. He assumed this mortal body, Frail and feeble, doomed to die, That the race from dust created, Might not perish utterly, Which the dreadful Law had sentenced In the depths of hell to lie, Evermore and evermore. O how blest that wondrous birthday, When the Maid the curse retrieved, Brought to birth mankind's salvation By the Holy Ghost conceived, And the Babe, the world's Redeemer In her loving arms received, Evermore and evermore. This is He, whom seer and sibyl Sang in ages long gone by,; This is He of old revealed In the page of prophecy; Lo! He comes the promised Saviour; Let the world his praises cry! Evermore and evermore. Sing, ye heights of heaven, his praises; Angels and Archangels, sing! Wheresoe’er ye be, ye faithful, Let your joyous anthems ring, Every tongue his name confessing, Countless voices answering, Evermore and evermore.

When thay descant came in on the last line, I just teared up and gave me goosebumps. Amazing!

There are a few hymns and worship songs that move me to tears, and this is one of them. Beautifully arranged and sung.

I cannot even begin to say what this does for me. Transcendent.

This one of the best Christmas hymns ever

Sung to the tune..Divinum Mysteriun Lovely Carol

Transcendent. Thankyou. This descant is my absolute favourite, and the hymn is a joy to sing and hear.

My favorite Hymn at Christmastide.

This is by far my favorite recording of this hymn. Just amazing

5:04 that Oboe came in at a perfect timing. Kuddos to the organist! One of my favourite Xmas hymns sang with a perfect tempo.

Ely has a wonderful choir.

My heart will be soothed with this piece of heavenly singing.

Lyrics will enhance this hymn. There are quite a number of versions. This was beautifully rendered! Thanks. 💖💐💖

My most watched. Hundred + by now esp Christmas time. Find & print matching lyrics. The spectacular reverb in this GRAND HALL makes it a bit hard to hear them. This song/lyrics reminds me why this is The Greatest Story Ever Told and why I believe it. No human could devise A Story like this. ps. Director desired NO glory. Face never seen. At 4:30 that bright soprano in the Heart-Soaring descant [last stanza]...I wonder who she is. The lady in glasses in the back would be my bet.

Wow

woooowww..... Great voices

Joy and peace 🕊️ beauty

What a beautiful piece - well done to you all!

All the comments are so nice. “Transported on angel’s wings” And then I was planning to ask why the two end kids aren’t matching with the rest of them

Inspiring singing and playing. Thank you for posting!

Beautifully done, as always. May you have Merry and Blessed Christmas.

Fantastic

Transported to somewhere near the throne of the King Himself....

gorgeous music.

Superb.

That is the first time I've ever heard it sung as a waltz.

wooowwww descant

How does somebody give this a thumbs down?

🌹💖🕊

that must be a real challenge for the organist with that tremendous acoustic... I am sure the headphones help, but still...

Doing this for choir

Where can I practice the descant?

What can i do to join the choir

Hi

:'( :'( oh, so sad people cannot hear the difference between boys and girls, that they have to mix them! :'( so sad one cannot hear the pure treble boy line, or the pure soprano line anymore! And yes, I hear it even without the video. So sad that people trained in excellence, and this IS excellent, cannot train their ears to hear this most beautiful nuance! :'(

I can't but help find this carol so boring. The Willcocks arrangement is by far the best version I've heard of it and the last verse has some cracking moments, but I just can't find myself liking this carol at all

Hi