https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdN7vC2q9Mc 'Wake Awake, For Night is Flying,' arranged by F. Melius Christiansen (St. Olaf College Choir). "Wake, awake! for night is flying,"The watchmen on the heights are crying;"Awake, Jerusalem, arise!"-- Philip Nicolai (Hymnary.org) A couple of weeks ago, I attended a planning workshop at my parish church that took an unexpected turn. The workshop was … Continue reading ‘Awake, for night is flying’: An armchair theologian’s mission statement for Advent and the new year (1 of _?)
‘Dwelling in the Word’: Looking at the Book of Revelation in a parish study group during apocalyptic times of huge turmoil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx8QKlE6jMk Son House, 'John the Revelator,' in concert, 1965. Book of Revelation 1 (NRSVue). 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the … Continue reading ‘Dwelling in the Word’: Looking at the Book of Revelation in a parish study group during apocalyptic times of huge turmoil
Fighting cancer as a group activity — of science, religion, communities of trust and walking the talk with Jesus
Fr. Pollard and Eleanor Roosevelt inspect radiation counter at ORINS, 1955 (Wikipedia). When I was growing up in East Tennessee, an Episcopal priest in a neighboring city was also the executive director of the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, a consortium of universities that worked with the old Atomic Energy Commission to promote nuclear medicine research … Continue reading Fighting cancer as a group activity — of science, religion, communities of trust and walking the talk with Jesus
A twofer for spiritual direction: ‘By their fruits — and (harmonica) toots — shall ye know them’; intersectionality, too
Ameya Deshmukh, 'Squirrel' (Wikimedia Commons). Lightly edited copy of an email I sent to my spiritual director in advance of our session for March. I’ve been writing these for several years now, primarily in order to help me focus my mind before we talk. It’s not a record or an agenda of our sessions. (Often enough, … Continue reading A twofer for spiritual direction: ‘By their fruits — and (harmonica) toots — shall ye know them’; intersectionality, too
How Beyoncé’s crossover country and a Black harmonica player of the 1930s got me back to making music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7xxnaWxmPo DeFord Bailey at Grand Ole Opry reunion (Living the Blues). My taste in music is nothing if not eclectic. It runs toward Anglo-Celtic fiddle tunes, southern Appalachian ballads, trad Irish, Swedish and Norwegian gammaldans, English folk melodies, roots reggae, blues, African American spirituals, Southern gospel and early American shape-note hymns -- practically anything, in … Continue reading How Beyoncé’s crossover country and a Black harmonica player of the 1930s got me back to making music
‘Watchman, tell me does the morning …’: A rousing African diaspora version of a shape-note song I like to play for Advent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yxfMq9yh20 Posted to YouTube (two years ago) by Zippie Elijah. Content advisory. Some very nerdy notes about playing this song the mountain dulcimer are tacked on at the bottom, which may be of limited interest. But it's a fine old hymn in the 19th-century "Sunday school" tradition that in later years would give rise to … Continue reading ‘Watchman, tell me does the morning …’: A rousing African diaspora version of a shape-note song I like to play for Advent
Lovely, beautifully filmed airing of Paul McCreesh’s Praetorius Christmas Mass on Mezzo, the French TV channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkfkLxmMm3Y Posted to YouTube channel Felices Cantus Baroque, Aug. 5, 2022 Found, while I was looking for something else (which is the way I find some of my favorite videos), a new performance of Paul McCreesh conducting the Gabrieli Consort and Players in the Praetorius Christmas Mass that McCreesh reconstructed out of 16th- and early … Continue reading Lovely, beautifully filmed airing of Paul McCreesh’s Praetorius Christmas Mass on Mezzo, the French TV channel
In dir ist Freude: A German chorale with roots in madrigal tradition that just makes me happy (especially this performance)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMcKrSjmo4s Capella de la Torre (https://www.youtube.com/@capelladelatorre7664) Dec. 8, 2020 Kind of a trifecta here. I've been posting YouTube videos lately of music that just makes me happy when I watch them, and this one hits at least three of my criteria: It's by one of my favorite early music groups, Capella de la Torre. It … Continue reading In dir ist Freude: A German chorale with roots in madrigal tradition that just makes me happy (especially this performance)
Hark! A doleful song for the 196th anniversary of Springfield’s first public hanging Nov. 26, 1826
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4FHvJvrElM ''Hark, from the tombs ...' | Filmed by Alan Lomax and crew, 1982 We have an anniversary coming up this week in Springfield. We probably won't observe the occasion, but Saturday will be the 196th anniversary of the first public hanging here, on Nov. 26, 1826. There's a good story behind it, too. A … Continue reading Hark! A doleful song for the 196th anniversary of Springfield’s first public hanging Nov. 26, 1826
‘I want Jesus to walk with me’
d r a f t https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL7rLD1H3g0 Sharon Irving and Anders Nordstrom of Pocket Radio (www.fb.com/PocketRadioChicago) xxx The singer According to the About Page on her website, Sharon Irving of Chicago is a singer-songwriter, actress, worship leader and self-described "Spreader of Holy Mischief." The song The Hymnary.org website says it is an African-American spiritual in the … Continue reading ‘I want Jesus to walk with me’
‘Daniel O’Connell’s Hymn’ performed by Shaun Davey and family, with excerpt from O’Connell’s original speech in 1843
Parked here until I can reactivate my trad music blog Hogfiddle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jqvDp7JnMQ A rather different kind of Irish music, and one I find I'm increasingly drawn to, is by semiclassical Irish composer Shaun Davey. He's known for songs, backed by pipes (mostly uilleann, but with Scottish bagpipes occasionally thrown in) and symphony orchestra, typically featuring … Continue reading ‘Daniel O’Connell’s Hymn’ performed by Shaun Davey and family, with excerpt from O’Connell’s original speech in 1843
Who am I in Christ? Who are the people of God? A surprising answer from Ireland that brings the abstractions down to earth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkLzIeztC3c Shuan Davey, "The Deer's Cry" [St. Patrick's Breastplate]. [...] Christ with me, Christ before me,Christ behind me, Christ in me,Christ beneath me, Christ above me,Christ on my right, Christ on my left,Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,Christ when I arise, Christ to shield meChrist in the heart of everyone who … Continue reading Who am I in Christ? Who are the people of God? A surprising answer from Ireland that brings the abstractions down to earth
‘For Ukraine’: A powerful choral work by Estonian composer Erkki-Sven Tüür that deserves an international audience
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f49Mzm3xqG0 All in the first month after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a choral work asking God to protect Ukraine by a noted Estonian composer was written, set to music, rehearsed and performed for the public within three weeks' time. The war began Feb. 24, and the premiere, in Estonia's capital city of Tallinn, was March … Continue reading ‘For Ukraine’: A powerful choral work by Estonian composer Erkki-Sven Tüür that deserves an international audience
Lenten reflection in today’s email from America magazine on prayer, music and lived experience
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhGYD1svTM4 In my inbox this morning ... America Media, which publishes America magazine and maintains an online presence, has been sending out Lenten meditations this month. So today we got a "Reflection for the Thursday of the Third Week of Lent" by assistant editor Molly Cahill, who acknowledges: "I am pretty good at thinking and talking … Continue reading Lenten reflection in today’s email from America magazine on prayer, music and lived experience
Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend / ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now’
d r a f t https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j219xJKXydg Detleff Korsen Text: Wilhelm II von Sachsen-Weimar (?) 1648, Strophe 4 Gotha 1651, Melodie: Gochsheim / Redwitz 1628, Görlitz 1648, Evangelisches Gesangbuch Nr. 155, aufgenommen in der Kirche St. Cosmae und Damiani in Hassel. Wikipedia has background "Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend" at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herr_Jesu_Christ,_dich_zu_uns_wend Also a digital … Continue reading Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend / ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now’
In dir ist Freude / ‘In Thee is Gladness’: Notes and links so I can learn it
d r a f t https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1mog6POXNY Evangelische Kirche St. Sebald, Nürnberg, July 24, 2017 (Calvin Hobbes) I came across this 16th-century German hymn online when I was looking for something else. (Serendipity. Story of my life, at least in its better moments.) Checked it out. Decided to try to learn it. Discovered it transposes well … Continue reading In dir ist Freude / ‘In Thee is Gladness’: Notes and links so I can learn it
DRAFT ‘Now rest beneath night’s shadow …’ DRAFT
d r a f t https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKyiGWYOQLU St. Thomas Boys' Choir Leipzig, 2016 (CHOR GESANG - Das Musikmagazin). "He who sings prays twice" -- St. Augustine (Catechism of the Catholic Church) Maybe I shouldn't admit this in public, but I've had prayer at the top of my B list for quite a while now. After a … Continue reading DRAFT ‘Now rest beneath night’s shadow …’ DRAFT
Spiritual journal for January, and hopes for spiritual direction in 2022
Editor's (admin's) note: When I was taking spiritual direction before, I emailed my director ahead of our monthly sessions … summing up what I’d been journaling about since our last meeting and, more to the point, focusing on themes I’d been working on and, more to the point, new directions that might (or might not) … Continue reading Spiritual journal for January, and hopes for spiritual direction in 2022
‘A child is born in Bethlehem’: New life in an old carol for postmodern, independent cats and misguided sheep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRyiOB4as9c DR Pigekor (Danish National Girls' Choir), dir. Philip Faber, 2021 Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. -- Charlie "Bird" Parker (Wikiquote). … Continue reading ‘A child is born in Bethlehem’: New life in an old carol for postmodern, independent cats and misguided sheep
‘Christ child … singing softly’ like the south wind blows in the treetops — startling image in an African American folk carol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyIfCmGYRi4 Peggy Seeger singing "Child of God," American Folk Songs for Christmas, 1989. For the last few weeks, I've been playing Christmas carols by the fireplace at night. We have the lights up (well, actually, they've been for two years now), and I've got a hunch playing the carols might be a good spiritual exercise. … Continue reading ‘Christ child … singing softly’ like the south wind blows in the treetops — startling image in an African American folk carol
How shall we know a prophet has been among us? Listening for the good news in Nazareth, Babylon — to a reggae beat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXf1j8Hz2bU Ezekiel 2 (NRSV). He said to me: O mortal,[a] stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you. 2 And when he spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. 3 He said to me, Mortal, I am sending you to the people of … Continue reading How shall we know a prophet has been among us? Listening for the good news in Nazareth, Babylon — to a reggae beat
How a trip to the eye doctor’s and the Serenity Prayer renewed my interest in Turlough O’Carolan, the blind Irish harper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xInuesYrUPA Steve Cooney's arrangement of 'Si Bheag Si Mohr' (Carolan's melody begins at 1:32). It started with a visit to the eye doctor's back in October, when the case positivity rate for Covid-19 was low enough to allow for routine medical appointments. My eye test came back with signs of the very beginnings of something … Continue reading How a trip to the eye doctor’s and the Serenity Prayer renewed my interest in Turlough O’Carolan, the blind Irish harper
‘Christ was born in Bethlehem’ — an Appalachian ballad that sums up Holy Week and the Easter season
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzmzb1ZyL6c Norm Williams, Amanda Parker and Bob Mallalieu, Maidencreek Festival, Maier's Grove, Blandon, Pa., Aug. 29, 2010 (song begins at 1:29). Our services for Holy Week are all online this year, and it's quite a different experience for someone who always sang in the choir and couldn't quite shake the feeling they were performances. I … Continue reading ‘Christ was born in Bethlehem’ — an Appalachian ballad that sums up Holy Week and the Easter season
Scratch outline — ‘Swedes in Roger Williams’ Garden’ (pinned here for easy reference, other posts below)
Rough notes and outlines for a research project ... Working title?: "Swedes in Roger Williams' Garden: Acculturation Inclusion and Community in Swedish Immigrant Churches, 1848-1861″ -- or -- "Luther’s Dear Angels in Swede Town: Acculturation in Immigrant Churches, 1848-1860-1861″ ... potentially expanding the presentation I gave at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in … Continue reading Scratch outline — ‘Swedes in Roger Williams’ Garden’ (pinned here for easy reference, other posts below)
Serendipity
"There are people walking so softly ahead of us we don't even perceive them." - Mike Anderson, singer-songwriter and storyteller of Jacksonville, Ill. OK, let's get something established right off the bat: This post isn't going to be about little miracles, divine Providence or God's intervention in my daily life. To the extent I even … Continue reading Serendipity
‘The UK Blessing’ — in a time of fear and political rancor, a virtual choir calls, gathers, enlightens and makes us holy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUtll3mNj5U&fbclid=IwAR1A_TK23D99XEordzKjoE_uhYP7qNlMJO6T54d8QBxXLMREi5sREyrBNQA The UK Blessing -- 992,403 views (as of Monday night, May 4) -- Premiered May 3, 2020 This weekend marked the two-month anniversary of the day I went into voluntary self-quarantine when I got out of the hospital. As luck would have (good luck, for a change), a virtual choir video came out to … Continue reading ‘The UK Blessing’ — in a time of fear and political rancor, a virtual choir calls, gathers, enlightens and makes us holy
‘Glory (Let There Be Peace)’ — SATB arrangement and song session of anthem for Christmas Eve service
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h2relyt_d8 MATT MAHER - Glory (Let There Be Peace): Song Session Posted here and my music blog Hogfiddle so I can memorize the bass part. We're singing the choral arrangement at our Christmas Eve service, and the other basses will be out of town for the holiday. So I can't fall back on my old … Continue reading ‘Glory (Let There Be Peace)’ — SATB arrangement and song session of anthem for Christmas Eve service
For flatlanders, too: ‘What We Lost When We Lost Our Hymnals’
I saw this article -- "What We Lost When We Lost Our Hymnals" -- on the Appalachian Magazine website, where an anonymous editor or webmaster recalled, with a real sense of nostalgia, "... the sight of my mother holding up a raggety old red hymnal and singing to the top of her lungs the songs … Continue reading For flatlanders, too: ‘What We Lost When We Lost Our Hymnals’
Zen COPD: A harmonica on the nightstand and a promise to turn over a new leaf
Here's something that got my attention! (I'll copy-and-paste excerpts below.) But, first, what's it doing on a spiritual direction blog? It's an article about a guy who "has used the harmonica to help breathing patterns in adults with problems such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder." Interesting, eh? Especially if you’ve got COPD. But whatever else … Continue reading Zen COPD: A harmonica on the nightstand and a promise to turn over a new leaf
Ordinary Time 