The story of King Edmund takes place in the mid 800s and remains shrouded in some mystery. Though certain details are sketchy depending on the historical source, the events depicted in the poetic text seem consistent with most sources. I believe that the story of this king is not about the violent loss of a life, but about the triumph of a man who held fast to his faith. His enemy took all-- his kingdom, his family's dynasty and ultimately his earthly body. What so enraged his enemy and led to the cruelty of the execution, was the knowledge that they could not take his faith. They could not reach beyond the bounds of the frailty of human life and alter his sacred eternity. In the end and thereafter King Edmund, the last East Anglian king, also rumored to be the last of the Wuffingas ("Little Wolves") Dynasty, was triumphant. It is said that when Edmund's men found his remains, it was so riddled with arrows it resembled more a hedgehog than a human. When they went looking for his head, they heard the beckoning call of a wolf. They soon came upon the old grey creature, standing guard over the head of their king. The text, taken from the writings of Ælfric of Eynsham and adapted by Frances E. F. Ward is as follows:
The Danes came by great fleet of ship, under Hingwar, to plunder the Angles’ coast. Edmund the King will never bow in life unless first Hingwar bow to Christ, he said. He stood in hall raising no sword. Bound to the tree he called on Christ. Mad with rage, they bristled him with arrows and still with steadfast faith he called on Jesus Christ. Hingwar’s order, and the blow beheaded him; his soul departed joyfully to Christ. The grey-eyed wolf stood guardian to holiness, until head and body one. Holy Edmund revealing Christ.
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The Triumph of King Edmund Music by: Joy DeCoursey-Porter
Poetic text by Rev. Frances E. F. Ward based on the writings of Ælfric of Eynsham c955-c1010
q=60
Soprano
Alto
Tenor
Bass
4
S
A
T
B
α % α α α 32 α % α α α 32 α Υ α α α 32 > αα α 2 α 3
α % α α α 33
˙−
α % α α α 33
˙−
α Υ α α α 33
˙−
> αα 3 αα 3
˙−
ο ι œ
slightly detached, less vibrato
The
ο ι œ
The
œ
Danes
œ
œ
œ œ œ
œ
˙−
œ
came
by
great
fleet
of
ship,
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
˙−
Danes came
by
great
‰
fleet
π ˙−
33
π œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Hm.
∑
∑
33
Hm.
ship,
of
π œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
π
Hm.
‰
∑
∑
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Hm.
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
un - der
un - der
un - der
œ
œ
un - der
œ Hing -
œ Hing
œ
‰
˙−
-
Hing -
œ Hing -
to
war,
˙−
ι œ
œ
œ œ œ
plun - der the
Ang
Ó
‰ ∑
war,
˙−
∑
war,
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies. ©2015 DeCoursey-Porter
œ
-
les'
ι œ
œ
to
war,
˙−
œ
œ œ
plun - der the
33 33
3
The Triumph of King Edmund
7
S
A
T
B
α % α αα %
A
T
B
αααα
αα Υαα
A
T
B
œ
œ
Ang
-
œ
œ
les'
α % α α α 33 α % α α α 33 α Υ α α α 33 > αα α 3 α 3 ∀ % ∀ 31
Τ œ œ
œ
∑
> αα α α
13
S
‰
coast.
10
S
Τ ϖ
coast.
‰ ‰
∑
‰
Ε Ε Ε Ε
ι œ œ
œ œ œ
ι œ œ
œ œ œ
The
Danes
Danes
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œ
œ
œ
œ
The
œ
ship,
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the Danes
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great
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œ
œ
came
by
great
ship,
Τ
˙˙
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fleet
ε ∀ ∀ œ,
ϖϖ
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œ
ο ∀ 32 ˙ − (˙−
œ
great
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by
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of
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ship,
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Hm.
fleet
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3 3
31 œ
33
œ
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ι œ ˙˙
31
came
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31
˙
31
ship.
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œ,
fleet
of
ship.
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œ,
œ ship.
œ
31
˙−
33
˙−
3 3
˙−
33
˙− ˙ −)
33
Hm. This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.
©2015 DeCoursey-Porter
of
fleet
great
œ
of
1 3 œ œ œ œ
ι œ˙ œ
great
3 3
œ
fleet
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by
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ship,
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œ
= ˙
33
great
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ship,
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ϖϖ
œ
=˙ ˙
great
ship,
by
œ
Danes came
ε ∀ ∀ =˙
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ship,
came
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The
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came
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31 ˙
œ
4
subdued, detached , ∀ 3 ο,ι ι % 3 œ œ œ œ Œ
16
S
∀ 3 ο,ι % 3 œ œ
Ed-mund
A
T
B
∀ Υ 33 >∀ 3 3 20
S
A
T
% % Υ
∀
Ed-mund
the King,
ι, œ œ
the King,
S
A
T
B
% % Υ
,ι œ œ
Ed-mund
ι, œ œ
Œ
the King,
‰ ι ,œ œ œ
Ed - mund
the
ε
3
Ed - mund the
˙
>∀
œ
œ
bow
in
life,
Ó
Œ
ι , œ œœ
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Τ˙, − ˙− ε Τ, ˙˙ −−
King
Œ
ε Τ˙, − œ, the
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cresc.
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ι œ ˙˙
the
The
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King,
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œ œ œ œ œ life
˙
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ne'er
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˙ ˙
bow,
un - less first
œ, œ, œ, œ œ, − ε, , , œ œ œ œ œ, −
Hing- war bow
Hing- war bow
©2015 DeCoursey-Porter
to Christ,
to Christ,
ε œ, œ, œ, œ œ, −
Hing- war bow
to Christ,
ε, , , , œ œ œ œ œ−
Hing- war bow
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies. 3
King,
nev - er
∑
bow,
Ε ˙
cresc.
Εœ œ œ œ œ œ œ Ed - mund the
nev - er bow in
ne'er
King,
ε Τ˙, ˙ −−
Ε ˙
King,
∑
colosalle, with determination
will
Œ
the King,
Ed - mund the
King,
‰ œ œ œ œ Ι
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‰ œ œ œ œ œ Œ
King,
œ œ œ œ œ Œ
King,
œ
,ι œ œ
Œ
∑
‰ œ œ œœ
ϖ˙
Ó
the King,
King,
Ed - mund the
King,
ο ‰ œ œ œ
∑
,ι œ œ
‰
Œ
ο ‰ œ œ œ œ œ Œ
Ed- mund
∑ œœ −−
ι, œ œ
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ο ‰ œ œ œ œ œ Œ
∀
the King,
∑
ι , œ œ
Ed - mund
∀
Ed- mund
˙
,ι œ œ
∀
, ιœ œ
,ι œ œ
Œ
the King,
∑
King,
∀
the King,
∑
ϖ
∀
Œ
, ι œ œ
*note portamento, ten, m. 19-22
>∀ 23
Ed-mund
, ιœ œ
∑
Ed - mund the
B
Œ
, ι œ œ
The Triumph of King Edmund
to
Christ.
ι 0 œ 3
subp
he
ι 0 œ 3
subp
he
œ Ι
0 3
‰
30
subp
he
5
The Triumph of King Edmund
∀ % 30
S
A
T
B
S
said.
∀ Υ 30
œ
said.
> ∀ 30 %
∀
œ
33 ,ι œ œ
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∀ % 30
30
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subdued, detached
27
33
Ο, ι œ œ
∀ Ο,ι % œ œ
T
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Υ
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>∀
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A
T
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% % Υ
∀
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sword.
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Ο ι œ
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furioso
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ι œ ˙˙
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King,
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tree
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he called on
cresc.
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œ
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mund
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King.
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3
-
Ε 13 Τ˙
œ
œ -
cresc.
3
mund
mund
the
œ the
King.
King.
Ε 13 œιΤ˙
King.
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stood
in
œ œ)
œ
Christ,
˙ ˙˙ he
œ
œ
œ œ œ œ
in
he
ΕΤ 1 3 ˙
3
œ œ
stood
, œ œ œ œ
Bound
Ε˙ ˙
œ
cresc.
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˙−
œ œ
on
called
‰
sword.
called
˙ ˙
Ó
ε œ Ι
no
˙
called
Ó
rais - ing
no
ι œ
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∑
œ
œ œ
the
Ó
œ
3
ι œ
œ
, ι œ
King,
3
˙ ˙˙
Œ
Ed - mund
Christ.
∀
, œ
,ι œ
Ed - mund
,ι œ œ
King,
rais - ing
œ
Œ
King,
the
King,
œ œ
œ œ
, œ
∑
œ
œ
hall 33
Ed - mund
ι œ
Œ
the
hall
œ œ
the
, ι œ œ
the
Ed - mund
∀
Ed - mund
33
∑
Ed - mund
A
ι œ
˙ ˙ he
57 5 7 57 57
6
The Triumph of King Edmund
q. = 48
∀ % 57
∑
∑
∑
∑
∀ % 57
∑
∑
∑
∑
36
S
A
T
B
∀ Υ 57
Œ−
ε con fuoco œ > ∀ 5 œœ œ 7 Ι Mad
40
S
A
T
B
% % Υ
A
T
B
% % Υ
œœ
Mad
with
∀
∀
>∀
‰
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‰
∑
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with
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œ
mund,
‰
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Ed
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= œœ
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him,
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him,
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him,
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with
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œ
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him,
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mund,
rows,
œ
rows,
‰ ι œœ
œ
œ−
-
≈ œ
œœ
bris - tled
-
they
œ−
This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies. ©2015 DeCoursey-Porter
-
Ed
with
œ− ar
œ œ ≈ œ ‰
mad
≈ œ
œ
mund,
rage,
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mad
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with
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cresc.
rage,
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œ−
with
œ−
with
œ− œ−
cresc.
mad
œ−
mad
∑
Ed
∀
π œ−
rage,
slightly faster if desired
∀ ∀
with
π œ−
∑
rage,
∀
>∀
43
S
ƒ con fuoco =œ ∀ œ œ œ œ œ
œ him
they
œ
with
45
S
A
T
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% % Υ
∀
œ œ ≈ ∀œ ‰
Ed
∀ ∀
>∀
-
= ∀ œœ œ œœ œ
S
A
T
B
% % Υ
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= œœ œ œœ œ
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-
rows,
%
-
rows,
51
S
A
T
B
% % Υ
∀ ∀
Ed
-
mund,
œœ − œ ≈ ‰ œ mund,
= , œœ œœ œœ =œ œ œ
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, œœ
with
œœ −−
∀
>∀
subp
still
∑ ∑
3 3 œœ 33 33
the
tree
he
called
on
Christ.
œœ
œ œ
œ œ
called
Ed
mund,
-
œœ −− œ−
=œ œ œ
ar
œ in
œœ
in
œœœ
-
bris-tled him,
œ−
they
œ Ι
œ
œ Ι
called,
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they
œ−
with
bris-tled him
-
œ
stead - fast
œœ
œœ
stead - fast
œ
œ
faith
he
called
on
Je
œœ
œœ
œœ
œœ
˙˙
∑
called
∑
on
˙
Je
ar - rows
œ− œ−
ar
-
rows.
-
-
-
œ
œ œ sus
∑
∑
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= œœ œ œœ œ
rows.
∀œ−
œ
ar - rows
-
-
Je
œ,
ar
œ
œ
he
œœ
œ œ œ ∀œ
œ
faith
with
œ−
rit.
œ−
œ, ∀ œ,
bris-tled him, with
rows,
Sop solo
œ,
= ∀ œœ œ œœ œ
œ
they
on
bris - tled
ι œœ œ
rows,
∑ œ
mund,
-
ι œ œ
Christ,
œ−
Ed
œ
on
he
ƒœ,
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ œ œ ≈ ‰
33
still
he
œœ
œ œ œ ≈ ‰
A Tempo q=60
33 œ
˙−
to
ƒ œ œ
tree
œœ Μ œœ
Bound
ar
subp
˙˙ −−
ε œœ −−
the
œ
called
bris-tled him,
∑
to
∑
bris-tled him,
∀
Bound
œ−
Christ
51
ƒ œ
œ ∀ ∀ œœ œœ
∑
bris-tled him,
bris-tled him,
mund,
œ−
mund,
-
-
bris - tled him,
εœ œ− œ ≈ œ ‰ Ed
Ed
∀
mund,
œ−
ar
48
œ œ ≈ œ ‰
bris - tled him,
ar
ε œ−
The Triumph of King Edmund
˙˙
sus
-
sus
œ
and
œœ
and
7
8 54
%
54
S
A
T
B
% % Υ
∀
Τϖ
!
∑
∀
Τ ϖϖ
32
!
∑
∀
Christ.
32
∀
Christ.
Christ.
Τ ϖϖ
The Triumph of King Edmund
A tempo q = 60
! 32
>∀
S
A
T
B
% % Υ
A
T
B
∀ ∀
>∀ 60
S
∀
% % Υ
œ− head
œ−
head
-
π 23 œ
-
ι œ
ed
his
soul
his
˙−
Τ œ œ−
ed
him;
∀
>∀
or
-
-
de
-
par
‰
be
œ
der
œ
der
œ
and
the
œ
œ
and
the
œ -
ted
˙−
œ
blow,
˙−
blow,
œ
3
œ
œ
joy
-
ful
œ
˙ -
to
ly
˙
soul
˙−
ι œ
ο be ‰ œι
Ó
œ œ œ
˙−
∀ q = 55˙˙ −− ∀
war's
œ
ι œ
or
œ œ œ
-
Τ œ œ− him;
war's
-
Hing
57
œ œ œ
ο
slightly detached, less vibrato
Take your time...
Hing
∑
Ó
∑
π 2 3 œ
∑
∑
œ
to
∑
∑
∑
∑
˙˙ −−
˙˙ −−
˙˙ −−
˙˙ −−
Christ
˙˙ −−
Christ
Ó
‰
ο œ Ι
π œ Ι
The
Ó
‰
Hm,
œ
œ
grey - eyed
œ
œ
œ
‰
wolf
œ
‰
hm,
œ Ι
œ
stood
guard
œ Ι
œ
hm,
œ -
œ
œ ian
œ hm,
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‰
œ Ι
to
‰
œ Ι
hm,
-
-
The Triumph of King Edmund
63
S
A
T
B
% % Υ
A
T
B
∀ ∀
>∀
%
∀∀∀∀
%
∀∀∀∀
Υ
∀∀∀∀
66
S
∀
ο ∀∀∀∀ − ˙˙ −
˙˙ −−
oh.
∀∀∀∀ ο ˙˙ −−
˙˙ −− œ
œ
ho -
li - ness
un -
til
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ œ
hm,
œ
œ
œ œ
˙˙ −−
ο µ µ ˙˙ −
˙−
ο ˙−
œ Christ.
œ
Ο ∀∀∀∀ œ
œ
oh.
oh,
> ∀∀∀∀
µ˙− ˙−
∀∀∀∀
‰
ο œ
head
hm,
µœ
Hm,
ο ‰ œι œ œ hm,
ι œ œ
œ
Ο 33 µ ϖœ
œ
ly
µœ
bo - dy
rit.
Ed
‰ ‰ Τ
˙
ϖœ
œ
Τ ϖϖ Τ
‰ œι œ µ œ
Ο 33 µ œ
‰ œι œ
µœ
‰ œι œ µ œ
Ο 3 µœ 3
‰ œι œ
µœ
ϖ
Hm,
Τ
ϖ
Hm,
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ι œ ι œ
hm,
lightly
œ
-
œ
mund,
œ
µœ
re - veal - ing
µœ
ah.
hm.
œ
one.
Ο 33 µ ˙ − ϖ
hm.
µœ
œ
hm,
oh.
‰ œι œ œ
ι œ œ
and
‰
Ho -
œ
Τ
Ah.
θ œ
˙−
œ
µœ