The Royal School of Church Music’s (RSCM’s) annual Dr Harold Smart Composition Competition has been won by David Manners. His setting of a text by Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith is called Llangarron, and was chosen from a record field of entries.
In previous years, entrants to the competition have usually been asked to compose an anthem, but this year the genre was hymnody, to mark the 150th anniversary of the publication of the first edition of the hymnbook Hymns Ancient and Modern. Renowned hymn-writer, Bishop Timothy Dudley-Smith wrote a new text especially for the competition – ‘How shall we sing salvation’s song’ – which obviously resonated widely amongst composers, bringing in a record number of 236 entries.
The competition was adjudicated by a panel chaired by Tim Ruffer, Head of Publishing at the RSCM, and was sponsored by Hymns Ancient and Modern (HA&M). The other judges were hymn tune composer John Barnard, Anne Harrison (editor of the RSCM’s Sunday by Sunday liturgy planner), Matthew Owens (Organist and Master of the Choristers at Wells Cathedral) and Stephen Rogers (Production Director at HA&M).
David Manners is a singer, singing teacher and Lay Clerk in the choir of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. He has composed some liturgical pieces which are used by the choir at St George’s Chapel. Mr Manners said: “It is a real thrill that the adjudicators chose Llangarron. The tune is named after the place where my Grandmother grew up, and with her passing this year the name seemed appropriate. With such powerful words as inspiration the tune was a joy to write.” Mr Manners receives a prize of £500, and his hymn will be included in a service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Monday 24th October to celebrate the anniversary of Hymns Ancient and Modern.
Tim Ruffer, Chair of the panel, commented: “With over 200 entries, the judges had quite a task sifting through them. Those that were worthy of a second look were the ones that successfully negotiated the natural stresses of Bishop Timothy’s wonderful words, and also took into consideration the restrictions that congregations place on the range and complexity of a hymn tune. Llangarron quickly established itself as a hymn tune with a great melody that reflected the words beautifully. It is the judges’ hope that congregations will find this hymn a joy to sing and uplifting to the soul.”
The full text of the hymn and more information about the competition can be found on the RSCM website, www.rscm.com/haroldsmart. An interview with Bishop Timothy, in which he discusses his text for the new hymn, can be found at www.rscm.com/info_resources/media/TDS_podcast.php.