Lyr Req/Add: Ecstasy (Sacred Harp song)

Subject: Ecstasy
From: GUEST,Mike in DC
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 12:07 AM

No, not that one. I'm talking about the song of that name. Of Shaker origins I think. Sally Rogers recorded it and, to get really esoteric, its on the 1998 Potomac River Sacred Harp Singing Convention CD. I know that others have recorded it as well. Can anyone tell me who those others might be? Thanks.

Mike

Subject: Lyr Add: ECSTASY (Leland & Carter)
From: Peace
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 12:58 AM

Source: There's a Light CD, by Lui Collins.

---

Vocals - Lui
Harmony vocals - Sally Rogers, Leo Kretzner, Howard Burse
Bass -Russ Landau
Drums - Victor Steffens
Percussion - Lou D'Agostino
French horns - Dana Lord
Trumpet - Gary Partridge
Electric guitar - John Cunningham

ECSTASY
(Rev. John Leland/T.W. Carter)

Oh, when will I see Jesus and reign with him above
And from the flowing fountain drink everlasting love?
Oh, had I wings I would fly away and be at rest.
And I'd praise God in his bright abode.

When e'er you meet with troubles and trials on your way
Then cast your cares on Jesus and don't forget to pray.

Gird on the gospel armor of faith and hope and love
And when the combat's ended he'll carry you above.

Oh, do not be discouraged, for Jesus is your friend
And if you lack for knowledge he'll not refuse to send

Neither will he upbraid you, though often you request
He'll give you grace to conquer and take you home to rest.

This song comes from the tradition of the Sacred Harp shape-note singing. What better way to praise God than to celebrate life in joyous, majestic, raucous, ecstatic music?

Subject: RE: Ecstasy
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 01:12 AM

Lui Collins did the first recording of this that I know of. I see no Shaker connection at all; it is definately a Sacred Harp composition. I've seen it attributed to John Leyland. I've sung it for years.

maeve

Subject: RE: Ecstasy
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 01:17 AM

We cross posted, Peace!

maeve

Subject: RE: Ecstasy
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 01:39 AM

"Neither will he upbraid you, though often you request
He'll give you grace to conquer and take you home to rest."

By the way, I have always known it like this:

"Neither will he upbraid you, though often you regress
He'll give you grace to conquer and take you home to rest."

I can't quite see how the use of "request" could make sense, although that's how it's written on Lui's site. Hmmm.

Subject: RE: Ecstasy
From: GUEST,Mike in DC
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 12:24 PM

Thanks Peace and Maeve. I'll check out the Lui Collins CD, especially since the estimable Johnny Cunningham was involved.

Sally sings "request" on her version too. It's on her "The Unclaimed Pint" CD, which consists of two LPs - "The Unclaimed Pint" and (most of) "In the Circle of the Sun."

I'm sure you're right about the non-Shaker connection (or Shaker non-connection), Maeve. I was just doing my bit to get some more disinformation out on to the Internet.

Here's my first attempt at a "blue clicky"

Mike

http://www.sallyrogers.com/sallys_solo_cds.htm

Subject: RE: Ecstasy
From: GUEST,Mike in DC
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 12:27 PM

Make that "bit."

Subject: RE: Ecstasy
From: Ebbie
Date: 22 Jun 07 - 01:56 PM

A definite segue here: When 'they' speak of crowns and mansions and "reigning with Jesus", just who do they envision as being the reigned over? Who is going to live with you in that mansion? Who will you be king over?

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Ecstasy (Sacred Harp song)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jun 07 - 08:16 AM

Ebbie- That looks like an interesting topic for a thread of its own.

Regards,

maeve

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Ecstasy (Sacred Harp song)
From: maeve
Date: 23 Jun 07 - 08:18 AM

And of course, it was cookie deprived I who was Guest in that last post.

maeve

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Ecstasy (Sacred Harp song)
From: Burke
Date: 09 Jul 07 - 06:40 PM

Here's the music
Ecstasy p.106
Words: John Leland, 1793

Potomac River recording is from the 1991 ed. (Red aka Denson book)

Cooper (blue) Book uses the A part of the music to sing an entire verse before singing the chorus. From the facsimile I linked to their version is truer to the source. Repeat marks in the old books were very inconsistent.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Ecstasy (Sacred Harp song)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 09 Jul 07 - 07:16 PM

Two audio recordings are at VOICES ACROSS AMERICA:

Voices of Maquoketa River

Voices of Ider.

Subject: Lyr Add: ECSTASY (Leland & Carter)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 09 Jul 07 - 07:48 PM

From The Sacred Harp, 1991 Edition. In the 4th stanza, the 4th line is "He'll not refuse to lend."

106 Ecstasy

Tune: Thomas W. Carter, 1844
Words: John Leland, 1793
Meter: 7s,6s (7,6,7,6)

Oh, when shall I see Jesus,
And reign with Him above?
And from the flowing fountain
Drink everlasting love?

Chorus:
Oh had I wings,
I would fly away and be at rest,
And I'd praise God in His bright abode.

Whene'er you meet with troubles
And trials on your way,
Then cast your care on Jesus
And don't forget to pray.

(Chorus)

Gird on the gospel armor
Of faith and hope and love,
And when the combat's ended,
He'll carry you above.

(Chorus)

Oh, do not be discouraged,
For Jesus is your friend;
And if you lack for knowledge,
He'll not refuse to lend.

(Chorus)

Neither will He upbraid you,
Though often you request;
He'll give you grace to conquer,
And take you home to rest.

(Chorus)

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Ecstasy (Sacred Harp song)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 09 Jul 07 - 08:00 PM

In the Southern Harmony, the tunes are:

The Morning Trumpet

Bound for Canaan.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Ecstasy (Sacred Harp song)
From: GUEST,LAD500
Date: 23 Jul 07 - 11:34 AM

You must hear the version by the alternative bluegrass band Crooked Still: http://www.amazon.com/Shaken-Low-Sound-Crooked-Still/dp/B000GCG60K/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9320028-2446461?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1185204802&sr=8-1

Subject: Lyr Add: ECSTASY (Leland & Carter)
From: Jim McLean
Date: 23 Jul 07 - 12:40 PM

These are the verses in The B.F White Sacred Harp by W.M. Cooper and Others. T.W. Carter. Alto W. M. C.

Oh when shall I see Jesus,
And reign with him above?
And from the flowing fountain,
Drink everlasting love?
When shall I be deliver'd
From this vain world of sin?
And with my blessed Jesus,
Drink endless pleasures in.

Chorus:
Oh had I wings,
I would fly away and be at rest,
And I'd praise God in His bright abode.

But now I am a soldier,
My Captain's gone before:
He's given me my orders,
And bids me ne'er give o'er
His promises are faithful -
A righteous crown he'll give,
And all his valient soldiers
Eternally shall live.

Through grace I feel determined
To conquer, though to die,
And then away to Jesus
On wings of love I'll fly:
Farewell to sin and sorrow
I bid them both adieu!
And oh, my friends, prove faithful,
And on your way pursue.

Whene're you meet with troubles:
And trials on your way,
Then cast your care on Jesus,
And don't forget to pray.
Gird on the gospel armour
Of faith, and hope, and love,
And when the combat's ended,
He'll carry you above.

Oh, do not be discouraged,
For Jesus is your friend;
And if you lack for knowledge
He'll not refuse to lend.
Neither will he upraid you,
Though often you request,
He'll give you grace to conquer
And take you home to rest.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Ecstasy (Sacred Harp song)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 26 Jan 11 - 04:09 PM

I listened to the first link Masato supplied above. Who has the melody in that? Is there a tradition that says that one certain part has the melody?

We did a shape note song (Shepherds Rejoice) in choir one year. Halfway through rehearsals, our director commented, "And of course, the tenors have the melody."

Later my husband remarked, "That was news to the tenors." It was news to me, too.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Ecstasy (Sacred Harp song)
From: Artful Codger
Date: 26 Jan 11 - 04:39 PM

In shape-note singing, the melody line (outside of fugal sections) is usually in an inner voice, either the alto or the tenor. There is frequent part-crossing, which can make it even harder for a listener to distinguish which part is singing which note.

"Ecstasy" may not be a very "melodic" piece, but the melody is in the tenor part. One reason it comes across a bit indistinct is because the effect here is more of a chant than a song--the harmony seldom leaves the tonic chord.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Ecstasy (Sacred Harp song)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 26 Jan 11 - 06:27 PM

Thanks for the info.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Ecstasy (Sacred Harp song)
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 27 Jan 11 - 07:43 AM

In Sacred Harp singing the melody line is ALWAYS the tenors. The altos never have the melody. But one of the beauties of Sacred Harp is to have the effect of all four parts rather than the melody being ultra-dominant and the others following it as in close harmony singing.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Ecstasy (Sacred Harp song)
From: GUEST,c.g.
Date: 28 Jan 11 - 05:25 AM

Altos never have the melody. We get what's left after everyone else has got the interesting lines.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Ecstasy (Sacred Harp song)
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 28 Jan 11 - 05:31 AM

Chortle. Oh I don't know....sometimes it's a relief to just have sol-sol-sol-sol to sing. Altos rock!