Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

Long associated with the American Thanksgiving holiday, “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come” pairs a text by Anglican clergyman Henry Alford (1810-1871) with a tune by English organist and composer George Job Elvey (1816-1893).

Alford, the long-time dean of Canterbury cathedral as well as a renowned Biblical scholar and prolific hymn-writer, wrote the text, which he titled “After Harvest,” for a harvest festival while rector of a rural English parish. It combines the imagery of an autumn harvest with allusions to Jesus’ Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29) and the Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30).

Elvey, known for his tune DIADEMATA (“Crown Him With Many Crowns”), named the tune which is the basis for this arrangement ST. GEORGE’S WINDSOR, after the chapel where he served as organist for 47 years. It was first associated with Alford’s text in the 1861 edition of the English hymnal, Hymns Ancient and Modern.

Piano score, bass clef and Bb treble clef solo parts — $5.99