Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918) seems to be known to the general public today solely as the composer of 'Jerusalem' and the tune for 'Dear Lord and Father of mankind'. He deserves far better than this – and not just by adding 'I was glad', the coronation anthem to the list! He was a contributor to the first edition of Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, professor of composition and musical history at the Royal College of Music, and later head of the college. He was concurrently Heather Professor of Music at Oxford University from 1900-1908.
This chorale prelude from his first set of seven uses the tune sung to 'Disposer supreme and judge of the earth' and the inspirational text at the head of the work is 'Like clouds they are borne to do thy great will'. The hymn is properly for Apostles and Evangelists, but this text could equally well apply for All Saints Day. The melody is in octaves in the pedal while the hands scurry about all over the manuals. Typically for the 'louder' of his chorale preludes there is a cadenza before a final fortissimo chordal rendition of the last phrase of the hymn tune.

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