306. Bread of the world, in mercy broken
Reginald Heber, 1783-1826
The Church Hymnary, London, 1927, has the following practical note at the bottom of the page where this hymn appears:
As this hymn consists of one verse only, it is suggested that it be sung twice over: once by the choir alone, and again by choir and people in unison. It may also be used as a short motet for unaccompanied singing by the choir.
For further comments on this hymn see [No. 304].
MUSIC. RENDEZ À DIEU was composed or adapted by L. Bourgeois for the French Genevan Psalter, where it was set to Psalm 118. In the Scottish Psalter of 1564, the tune was again used to John Craig’s version of the same Psalm. It is described in Songs of Praise Discussed as being “in some ways the finest of all the early psalm tunes ... perfectly proportioned ... a tune which gives the true ‘spinal thrill’; of its kind it is unsurpassed.”
For comments on L. Bourgeois see [Hymn 34].