Holy Mary now we Crown Thee (You)

This is a hymn for May crownings. It does not mention spring, flowers etc, so it can be used during May in the southern hemisphere, where May is in the autumn, as well as the northern hemisphere.

The words were written by American Roman Catholic priest, member of the Society of St. Sulpice order, seminary director, translator and author, Melvin Lloyd Farrell (1930-1986). It was originally published under the title "On this Day we Sing Your Praises".

A number of videos attribute the lyrics to Johann Ludwig Steiner, 1688-1761. However this is not correct: Steiner was a Swiss composer and musician, not an English-language hymn-writer.

Several different arrangements of the words have been found. One has two eight-line stanzas. Another longer version has six four-line stanzas, and yet another has these verses with a refrain. Some publications have modernized the words (changing "thee" to "you").

Some versions (appear to) only have verses 2 onward - but this may be because the first verse is only used when a "crowning" actually occurs (eg as is done here)

Tunes it has been set to include:

SWAVESEY, a traditional English tune, harmonised by Msgr. J. Crookall, d. 1887, alt.
GOTT WILL'S MACHEN aka STEINER by Swiss composer and organist Johann Ludwig Steiner (1688 - 1761)
A tune based on STEINER, but including a chorus which may be based on a phrase from SWAVESEY
An unnamed tune by Filipino organist and composer Alejandro (AJ) D Consolacion II (b 1980), which was published as one of four hymn tunes to accompany a Mass-setting, Misa Immaculada Concepcion, which was published in 2007.

Hymn-books which it has been published in include:

The People's Hymnal, World Library of Sacred Music, Cincinnati, USA, 1955
People's Mass Book, New Daily Missal Edition, World Library of Sacred Music, Cincinnati, USA 1966
We Celebrate with Song, J. S. Paluch Co., Chicago, USA, 1976
Traditional Roman Hymnal, Angelus Press (ref)
The SSPX Traditional Roman Hymnal published by the Society of Saint Pius X in Manitoba, Canada in 2000.

Downloads

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Piano / organ sheet music for Misa Immaculada Concepcion

Examples

Choir with piano and violin led band:

Singer with backing track, professional recording:

Singer with piano:

Choir with xylophone - different tune with no chorus:

Instrumental - piano:

Choir with light organ, set to the tune SWAVESEY

Unnamed, triumphal tune by Alejandro (AJ) D Consolacion II

Singer with piano - alternative setting, with chorus:

Choir with organ and brass - Consolacion tune

Choir with bells - professional recording:

Instrumental - piano, tune STEINER

Instrumental - piano, tune SWAVESEY

Lyrics

One set of lyrics

1 Holy Mary now we crown thee
Honoured Queen of all our race;
Noble Virgin, may our tribute
Win thy love and gain us grace.
Stain of sin hath never marred thee,
Mankind's only spotless bloom;
God whose might exceeds the heavens
Thou hast sheltered in thy womb.

2 Glorious Queen, look down in kindness,
While before thy sight [throne] we stand,
Bring God's blessing to thy children,
Watch our homes and guard our land.
Gate of heaven, thou wert Mother
To the King of heav'n and earth,
Now be Mother to thy subjects,
In our souls give Jesus birth.

First alternative

Chorus:
Holy Mary now we crown you
Honored Queen of all our race
Noble Virgin, may our tribute
Win your love and gain us grace.

1 On this day we sing your praises
Purest Maid of all the earth
While the beauty of springtime
Tells your joy at Jesus’ birth.

2 Stain of sin has never marred you
Mankind’s only spotless bloom
God whose might exceeds heavens
You have sheltered in your womb.

3 Glorious Queen, look down in kindness
While before your throne we stand;
Bring God’s blessing to your children;
Watch our homes and guard our land.

4 Gate of heaven, you were Mother
To the King of heaven and earth;
Now be Mother to your subjects,
In our souls give Jesus birth.

5 Queen of heaven, while creation
Speaks the grandeur of God's love,
Mold our hearts to seek his glory
Till we reach our home above.

Second alternative

Has the same verses as the first alternative - except that the chorus becomes the first verse, while the chorus is

Ora pro nobis, Amen;
Ora pro nobis, Amen.

Third alternative (used for the Consolacion setting)

1 Glorious Queen, look down in kindness
While before your throne we stand;
Bring God’s blessing to your children;
Watch our homes and guard our land.

Chorus:

Holy Mary now we crown you
Honored Queen of all our race
Noble Virgin, may our tribute
Win your love and gain us grace.

2 Gate of heaven, you were Mother
To the King of heaven and earth;
Now be Mother to your subjects,
In our souls give Jesus birth.

3 Queen of heaven, while creation
Speaks the grandeur of God's love,
Mold our hearts to seek his glory
Till we reach our home above.

ABC Notation

About ABC notation

X:1
      T:Holy Mary now we Crown Thee 
C:Tune:  STEINER - Johann Ludwig Steiner (1688 - 1761) 
Z:abc-transcription www.GodSongs.net 
M:4/4 
L:1/4 
K:Dmaj 
 "D" D F "A" E A, | "D" D F "A" E A, | "D" A3/2 G/2 "F#m" F E/2F/2 | "Em" G F "A7" E2 | 
 w:Ho-ly Ma-ry now we crown thee, honour-ed Queen of_ all our race. 
 "F#m" A A "A" A G/2F/2 | "Em" G G "G" G F/2E/2 | "D" F/2G/2 A/2B/2 "A" A G/2F/2 | "A7" E3/2 D/2 "D"D2 | 
 w:No-ble Vir-gin,_ may our trib-ute_ win_ your_ love and_ gain us grace. 
 "G"B/2A/2 G/2F/2  "A7" E "F#m"F |  "G" A/2G/2 F/2E/2  "Em" E D | G/2F/2 E/2D/2 C/2A,/2 B,/2 C/2 | "Bm" D/2C/2 D/2 E/2 F2| 
 w: CHORUS CHORDS NOT RIGTH!   Or___a pro no___ bis_ A___________ men. 
 B/2A/2 G/2F/2  E F | A/2G/2 F/2E/2  E D | G/2F/2 E/2D/2 C/2A,/2 B,/2 C/2 | D/2C/2 D/2 C/2 D2| 
w: Or___a pro no___ bis_ A___________ men.
     