Tune of the Day: Christ Church Bells
This well known catch was written over three centuries ago by English theologian, philosopher and composer Henry Aldrich (1647–1710). In this catch, the three voices sing the same melody at different times, all starting together. When the end of one voice is reached, the singer or player goes on to the next voice, or back to the first voice if the end of the last voice has been reached.
Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, Christ Church is one of the larger colleges of the University of Oxford. Aldrich served there first as Dean and then as Vice-Chancellor, and when he died he was buried in Christ Church Cathedral without any memorial, at his own request.
The present arrangement for three flutes is taken from Blake's Young Flutist's Magazine, published in Philadelphia in 1833.