What Wondrous Love Is This
This arrangement of the tune WONDROUS LOVE begins in a starkly simple fashion, then the arranger takes it in a completely new direction for the second verse! A contemporary treatment experiments with the ringers as a rhythmic machine - stomping, clapping, and ringing repetitive patterns that build in intensity - as the tenor soloist sings a rarely heard verse of the hymn. David's goal for this innovative section is for the ringers to have fun. The final section drops all of the rhythmic devices and focuses attention on the first verse, "What wondrous love is this..." The contrast is intended to draw in the audience so that they hear these familiar words in a deeper way. Tenor solo may be sung by a unison men's choir or played by a flutist (alternate part included).