A Maid Peerless

As a mid-Christmastide treat, here is Herbert Howells' setting of an early sixteenth-century carol in praise of Mary, A Maid Peerless.  This piece had a long gestation: originally composed in 1931, it was revised in 1951 and 1971.  Tom Edney has pointed out the resemblance its radiance bears to Howells’ later choral music, especially Hymnus Paradisi.  The recording below, for upper voices and orchestra, is sung by the choristers of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.

The text comes from a set of bass parts for twenty part-songs, printed in 1530 and now held at the British Library in London (shelfmark k.1.e.1, ff. 11–13).  A digitised version can be viewed here.

A Maid peerless hath borne God's son.

Nature gave place when ghostly grace

Subdued reason.

A Maid peerless hath borne God's Son.

Alleluia.

As for beauty,

Or high gentry,

She is the flower

By God elect,

For this effect,

Man to succour.

Of Virgins Queen,

Lodestar of Light

Who to honour

We ought endeavour

Day and Night:

A Maid peerless hath borne God's son.

Alleluia.

The words are more clearly audible in this version for women's voices and piano (with David Hill conducting the Ikon choir.)