The Royal Banners Forward Go

For Unaccompanied SATB

This piece is a setting of the ancient hymn ‘Vexilla Regis Prodeunt’ by Vernantius Fortunatus (530 – 609 AD), with the English translation coming courtesy of J. M. Neale (1818-66) and others.

It is dedicated to ‘All those who have walked Student Cross and Pilgrim Cross each Easter sing 1948’, a pilgrimage that Mike walked many times during the 1990s.

The initial idea for the melody can be found in the doxology, and forms a descant to the hymn ‘My Song Is Love Unknown’ – a particular favourite of Mike’s.

The opening verse attempts to link the ancient and modern, with the Latin words forming a cushion for the English translation to be sung by a solo Soprano.

After this, the English translation is used as the voices weave a rich harmonic tapestry to help focus the mind on the sacred mystery of Jesus’s sacrifice for us on that first Good Friday.