Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music

Subject: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 11:26 AM

This is a music thread. Work with me here, and read on.

Ash Wednesday follows Shrove Tueday (Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras) this week. In our denomination, and many others, an ashen cross is worn on the forehead to signify our faith, on this day.

For many, Lent is a season of penitential denial-- people "give things up." In our church, Hardiman urges us to ADD things we'd like to make larger parts of our faith journey. To do this we have to, sometimes, give up certain things to make more room for the good things. (One can give up complaining, for example, in order to make more room for celebrating.)

Now Sundays in Lent (and by extension, our Saturday night service) are not actually part of Lent-- they are celebratory, not penitential... festivals within the larger season of Lent. Prayerful and reflective, certainly, as we consider the holiday that approaches, but not grim!

So-- my QUESTION is, what music might you suggest to me for this year's Lenten season? Hymns and other music-- for I will be playing my way through this Lent, you see, at home, with friends, and in church... What would fit with the Lent I have just described?

Or, what are you planning for your Lenten music?

And hey-- GOD BLESS MUDCAT DIVERSITY.

~Susan

} + : ~ ) >

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 12:09 PM

Oh there's this GREAT one, called "Lift High The Cross".

This Ash Wednesday is particulary meaningful to me. Last Ash Wednesday was the first time we went to the Newman Center...the first time we had been to church in 5 years. Now a year later we are confirmed, making positive things happen in our community, and our 2nd beach trip is being planned! Whoopee!

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 12:21 PM

Odd Praise but I can't recall a single bit of church music for Ash Wednesday. But Easter hymns were always my favorite - "Ye Sons and Daughters".
For Good Friday "At The Cross Her Station Keeping". A mother's worst nightmare.

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: nutty
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 01:13 PM

It's easy to forget that carols are to be sung all the year round and the OXFORD BOOK OF CAROLS has an extremely good selection for this time of year

A particular favourite of mine is THE FLOWER CAROL .. sixteenth century (NUMBER 99) which had it's words rewritten and became Good King Wenslas ....... the original is so much nicer

Also from 16/17th century is Candlemas Eve by Herrick
Altogether 20 Carols are specifically designated for lent........ particularly number144 called WHITE LENT

Now quit your care
And anxious fear and worry
For schemes are vain
And fretting brings no gain
To prayer, To prayer
Bells call and clash and hurry
In Lent the bells do cry
Come buy , come buy
Come buy with love the love most high

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: kimmers
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 01:18 PM

Hmm... we're a pretty traditional parish, and tend to use the Lenten hymns in the hymnal during the Sundays of Lent. There is a bit of a dichotomy: Sunday is always a feast day, yet our Sunday services are definitely quieter and more reflective during Lent.

I agree with Matt R: "Lift High the Cross" is a gorgeous hymn, and is always appropriate.

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: kimmers
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 01:18 PM

Hmm... we're a pretty traditional parish, and tend to use the Lenten hymns in the hymnal during the Sundays of Lent. There is a bit of a dichotomy: Sunday is always a feast day, yet our Sunday services are definitely quieter and more reflective during Lent.

I agree with Matt R: "Lift High the Cross" is a gorgeous hymn, and is always appropriate.

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: Tinker
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 01:24 PM

Nutty, that's beautiful.... now there's another book on my immediate list.
Praise with kids this time of year doing Lord of the Dance as a circle dance with props and acting out the verses is one I can't get rid of now that I started it. We use soft two inch ribbons for 'whipping and stripping'. If you like I'll try to video email you the basics. PM me and let me know.

Tinker

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: MMario
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 01:39 PM

Here I am , Lord

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 01:45 PM

nutty, that's all new to me, thanks!

Tink-- sorry, this computer won't do video. Dang!

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: mousethief
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 02:44 PM

You Western Christians and your funny Lent.

Sundays ARE a part of Lent for us. Then again, Holy Week is not (nor are Palm Sunday nor the Saturday preceding it, which we call Lazarus Saturday). Thus, we get to feast (eat fish) on Palm Sunday. Also on the Annunciation. (We get to eat caviar (bleh!) on Lazarus Saturday, but few of us avail ourselves of this -um- opportunity.)

Other than that, it's no fish, dairy, or meat from Clean Monday (that's today) to Pascha (a fast of 49 days, although the week BEFORE Lent begins is also a fasting week, when we eat fish and dairy but not meat, for a total of 58 days meat-free).

It's a wonderful time of renewal and soul-searching and cleansing. And it's a really cool experience to do it together, as a group. We're all going through the same thing, and the solidarity it builds in the parish is palpable.

Y'all and your "giving things up" and "taking things on" are so cute!

Our hymns are set by the Lenten Triodion, a book which --well-- sets our hymns for the Lenten period. So there's no question of what we want to sing or don't.

Have a wonderful and glorious Lent, everybody, and a bright and happy Easter!

Alex

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 05:05 PM

Alex,

So interesting!

What about the bells on the cassocks-- yes or no? And ashes, or no? And what's in the Triodion-- would I recognize any? Is there any recorded? Is it all in Greek?

Go ahead keep it to yourself if you must. It wouldn't be terribly Christian though! (Kidding!!! Guys, I'm kidding a pal!)

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: Hawker
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 05:25 PM

I don't know if this is apt, a Cornish Carol entitled'A Stratton Carol of The Months' It is from a book of Cornish songs called Canow Kernow and was communicated to the author by Edith Jewel from Grace English, who remembered it sung by Lizzie Kempthorne.

January's when cold winds do blow February brings us frost and snow March is when young lambs do play April brings us flowers so gay May is when the fields are green June is when new hay is seen July's days are very warm August brings the thunderstorm September's harvest fields are clear October's when we brew fine beer Novembers dreariest days in the year December end the fleeting year.

Not really about lenten things but a reminder of Gods gifts the whole year through (barring November!!!) Lucy

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: mousethief
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 05:53 PM

Bells are removed from censors for Lent. (We never have bells on cassocks.) Vestments (on priests, deacons, subdeacons, altar, and any stands on which the Gospels or icons are placed) are changed to purple. Votive candles (if any) are changed from clear to blue glass.

We have a LOT more services. At least twice a week at our parish, we have the "liturgy of presanctified gifts" -- since the consecration cannot take place on weekdays in Lent, we use presanctified bread-and-wine -- under the idea that during Lent we need all the help we can get, and the Eucharist is our greatest Help.

And we say "Alleluia" just as much -- maybe even MORE -- during Lent than during the other seaons. THAT was a big change for an ex-episcopalian boy, you can be sure!

The hymnody of the Orthodox Church is rather complex. Each service has its normal hymns, which rotate through an 8-week cycle of "tones" (actually a "tone" is a set of somewhat related melodies). On special days the words for some of them change, and of course for special services you need a whole new set of hymns.

Oh, and during Lent, we sing "Lord Have Mercy" in a minor key (during all other seasons, including Advent, we sing it in a major key).

Ours are all in English (thank heavens!). Most of the "tones" and melodies we use are Russian, however (and some "Arabic" and some Carpatho-Russyn). There has not yet been a set of American tones written (at least not that has been accepted for use in our jurisdiction). I've heard that there is a monk somewhere writing a set of American tones based on blues scales. I'd love to hear it, but haven't yet!

Alex

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: Matt_R
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 05:58 PM

I always include copious listenings to Jesus Christ Superstat and my absolute favorite, Godspell, during Lent.

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 06:02 PM

Alex, thank you. Hardi says thanks also.

Amazing diversity within Christendom, what?

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: mousethief
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 06:07 PM

Jesus Christ Superstat? The Historical Jesus as Emergency Room Surgeon?

S, you're welcome (Hardi too). The diversity is pretty amazing, yes.

We're all grumbling because Pascha (our Easter) is on the same day as the RC's/Prots this year. No half-priced plastic easter eggs (we're usually a week after you guys). Waaah!

Ask me some time about the Sundays of Lent, and what we celebrate/commemorate on each. Fascinating! (And all my notes are at home so don't ask me now!)

Alex

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 06:17 PM

Yo, Alex, God forbid you should share that with us each week as the season progresses. *G*G* I can take it if you can! Does it have anything to do with music? *G*

Gee, and don't make Hardiman a tape or anything, or he'll probably hafta send you a picture of the new icon we just hung.

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: mousethief
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 06:52 PM

A tape? That would require a working tape recorder. Ain't got none of them.

Okay, Sundays. We've already missed several. Pre-Lent starts with Zaccheus Sunday (Jan 28 this year). Gospel reading is --- doh! Zaccheus. Next is the Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican. Then the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. Then the Sunday of the Last Judgment, which is the last day we eat meat until Pascha, and is thus called Meatfare.

Then this past Sunday (the day before Lent) was Forgiveness Sunday. Also known as the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden. Also known as Cheesefare (last day we eat cheese until Pascha). The gospel reading is "unless you forgive others their sins, neither will my heavenly father forgive you your sins" (Matthew 16). Also "when you fast do not disfigure your faces, etc." which is rather appropriate at the beginning of Lent.

The chief service was the afternoon "vespers" after which we made a serving line and every person in the church asked every other person for forgiveness. We bow before them as if they're an icon (which of course they are!) and ask "Forgive me, brother" (or "sister"). Then we exchange the kiss of peace (3 times of course because we're Orthodox) and then say, "God forgives."

It seems kinda rote when you hear about it, but when you do it, it's very moving. Many people get kinda weepy before the whole thing is over.

So we enter Lent knowing we must be forgiving if we want God to forgive us, and knowing that our sins separate us from God, like Adam and Eve's sins separated them from God and resulted in their being cast out of the Garden.

But while the congregation is exchanging forgiveness (the choir goes last, of course!) we sing the resurrection hymn, "Let God Arise" (get it?). In part to remind us that at the far end of Lent is the Resurrection, and in part in case any of the people there should die during Lent, they will have heard the Resurrection hymn one last time.

---

Let God arise! Let His enemies be scattered! (Psalm 68:1)

Today a sacred Pascha has been shown unto us: a new and holy Pascha, a mystical Pascha, a Pascha worthy of veneration, a Pascha that is Christ the Redeemer; a holy Pascha; a great Pascha; a Pascha of the faithful; a Pascha that has opened to us the gates of Paradise; a Pascha that sanctifies all the faithful.

As smoke vanishes so let them vanish! As wax melts before the fire! (68:2a)

Come from the vision, you women, bearers of good tidings, and say unto Sion: receive from us the good tidings of the Resurrection of Christ; adorn yourself, exult, and rejoice, O Jerusalem, for you have seen Christ the King come forth from the tomb like a bridegroom in procession.

So sinners shall perish before the face of God, but let the righteous be glad! (68:2b, 3)

The myrrh-bearing women in the deep dawn stood before the tomb of the Giver of life; they found an angel sitting upon the stone, and he said to them, Why do you seek the living among the dead? Why do you mourn the incorruptible amid corruption? Go, proclaim unto His disciples.

This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24)

A beautiful Pascha, the Pascha of the Lord, a Pascha worthy of veneration has been revealed to us. Pascha, with joy let us embrace one another. O Pascha! Ransom from sorrow, for from the tomb today, as from a bridal chamber Christ shone forth, and filled the women with joy, saying: proclaim unto the apostles.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

It is the day of Resurrection, let us be radiant for the feast, and let us embrace one another. Let us call "brothers" even those that hate us, let us forgive all things by the Resurrection, and thus let us cry out:

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs bestowing life!

---

After exchanging forgiveness, the whole congregation sings "The Angel Cried" (the Paschal Theotokion), and we departed in silence.

The Angel cried to the Lady full of Grace:
'Rejoice, rejoice, O pure Virgin!
'Again I say, Rejoice!
'Your Son is risen from His three days in the tomb.
'With Himself He has raised all the dead;
'Rejoice, rejoice, O ye people!'
Shine, shine, shine, O New Jerusalem!
The glory of the Lord has shone on you!
Exult and be glad, O Zion!
Be radiant, O pure Theotokos,
in the resurrection of Your Son!

(Paschal=for the easter season) (theotokion=hymn to Mary)

All this week is called "Clean Week."

Next week: the "Sunday of Orthodoxy" (also called "Orthodoxy Sunday" and "The Triumph of Orthodoxy")!

Alex

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 08:05 PM

Uhhhh... Alex, I got to admit, that's gonna be pretty hard to match on Saturday with an autoharp, a banjo, and a mandolin-plucking padre. I'll have to get back to you on our plans.

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From:
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 09:19 PM

Oh sacred head surrounded..

now they have changed the words in some of the newer (awful) Catholic hymnals so here are the words as I recall..of course you could sing them in German///

Oh sacred head surrounded with crown of piercing thorn oh bleeding head so wounded reviled and put to scorn death's pallid hue comes o'er thee the glow of life decays and angel hosts adore thee and tremble as they gaze

I see thy vim and vigor grow dimmer in the strive and death with cruel rigor bereaving thee of life oh agony and dying oh love for sinners free Jesus all faith supplying oh turn thy face on me

mg

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: Burke
Date: 26 Feb 01 - 09:55 PM

Hard to separate the Lenten from the Good Friday Hymns. I wonder how the hymnal compilers decided to assign them.

"Now quit your care" is in your Episcopal Hymnal with somewhat different version. The original was French so it might be different translation or some kind of updating.

Not in the Episcopal Hymnal, try ALAS! AND DID MY SAVIOR BLEED? The tune that plays at Cyberhymnal,by Hugh Wilson, goes by several names. I think he was Scottis. I think it fit pretty well. You can find the tune with different words in the Episcopal Hymnal as Martyrdom. Don't use that refrain they show at Cyberhymnal with that tune. The refrain goes with Hudson more commonly know as "At the Cross." Like many other tunes of it's genre it turns fairly somber words into something far more perky & upbeat. Not, however, quite as odd as putting them with "O How I love Jesus," which I have also seen.

Another to look at is "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood." Cleansing Fountain, another perky tune to somber words, is probably the best known tune.

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: Alice
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 12:01 AM

Music by Gounod, The Seven Last Words, in the old St. Gregory Catholic Hymnal. There are many by Michael Hayden (1778) for Holy Week in the same hymnal, as well as Palm Sunday hymns by Franz Schubert. There are also several versions of Stabat Mater. All of these are in latin - maybe you could do a new take on them with the banjo ;-)

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: GUEST,Bo
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 01:09 AM

Somewhere in the season there has to be the old German hymn "Ah, Holy Jesus". Gives me chills and tears every time.

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 06:59 AM

We do the traditional Pace Egg Play during the week leading up to Good Friday, culminating in performing it at the Lancaster maritime festival on Good Friday itself.

Always found it rather odd that the traditional blacking up and 'cadging' (and boozing!) associated with this activity occured during the last week of lent but then realised that during the development of the Pace Egg play Catholocism and anything to do with it (including lenten abstainance) was probably frowned upon.

Alternatively I guess that in cultures where abstainance was still practiced during lent the cadging was OK but the monies saved for a good knees up on Easter Sunday???

Incidentaly I reckon the Irish have a good plan - have your saints day during lent so you have a good excuse to have a break from abstaining part way through the season;-)

Cheers

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 08:01 PM

When I was director I chose Lenten hymns that focused on the the return of one's attention to God. No crucifixion music until Palm/Passion Sunday. I'm no longer directing the music but still lead singing occasionally. Here's what has been planned for Ash Wednesday:

Save your People--Jim Farrell Ps. 51--Kendzia As the Deer Longs [O Waly Waly alt.] Hosea--Western Priory Agnus Dei--chant Mass XVIII, Plainsong Amazing Grace

How's that for eclectic?

I also like With the Lord--Joncas and much of the Taize stuff--lots of opportunities for ad lib harmonies and obligatos, varied instrumentation, simple, easy to learn

If you're Catholic, here's a wonderful jazz setting of the responsorial psalm after the third reading (Exodus) Let Us Sing--Fintan O'Connor, I believe. We used sax, flute, piano, drums.

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: GUEST,En
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 08:04 PM

That last reference above of course referred to the responsorial psalm after the third reading on Holy Saturday.

En-don't-know-why-I'm-a-guest-now

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 01 - 11:53 PM

Psalm 119

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: mousethief
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 12:12 PM

Yes! we sing the entire the 119th Psalm (with little sung 3- or 4-line mini-hymns between each verse!) on Holy Friday in the evening (it is the Matins of Holy Saturday -- Holy Week gets kinda topsy-turvy in the Orthodox Church!). It's called the Lamentations of Holy Saturday. The verses stuck in-between the Psalm verses are a lamentation for the death of God, and a hopeful looking-forward for the Resurrection. Very poignant. I'm trying to find it online but not having much luck.

Alex

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: Marion
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 07:21 PM

1. Not exactly an answer to your question, but still music-related and Lent-related: I gave up the fiddle for Lent one year, and the guitar another year. However, I did it in the spirit of Egyptian Coptics (a branch of Orthodoxy). When I lived in Egypt I found that even though Lent is officially 55 days long, only the keeners actually eat vegetarian and go to the special services for all that time. The others start practicing the Lenten disciplines gradually according to their degree of devoutness... a few weeks before Easter, or at Palm Sunday, or starting Maundy Thursday or Good Friday for the slackers. So religious slacker that I am, I start my Lenten discipline on Maundy Thursday. But seriously, fasting from your instruments for a short time might be a better way to cultivate detachment than fasting from meat - especially if, like me, you're a vegetarian anyway.

2. Not an answer to your question either, but Lent-related: here's a prayer I once put together (some is original and some is ripped off from other sources).

LENTEN PRAYER

Before you bow all the stars, saints, and angels of heaven;
receive also the worship of a broken and contrite heart.

Your face is beyond imagination, your glories beyond number, your nature beyond name;
let yourself be found by one who bears your tattered image.

No secret of my heart or detail of my ways is hidden from you;
hide not yourself from me.

Your service is perfect freedom;
set me free from the service of myself.

There is no goodness but from your hand, and none worthy but you alone;
Put to death my self-righteousness and lust for praise.

Your faithfulness and compassion fill all places and all moments;
look with mercy on the coldness and hesitation of my faith.

You are the end of my journey, the goal of my searching, the home of my loneliness;
be also the guide of my steps.

You love me more than I myself know how to love;
yet such love as is in me I lay at your feet.

3. An answer to your question: I think the hymn "Oh Jesus I have promised to serve thee to the end..." is kind of Lenten.

Marion

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Feb 01 - 09:14 PM

Wow, Marion!

I love the breathlessly romantic prayer... I am going to print it up for Hardiman to use at church. He just read it over my shoulder and loves it, despite conducting three services this long, long day.

Here is the one nutty had a verse from, and the one Burke mentioned above, from the 1982 Episcopal Church hymnal. Anyone know another tune for it though? This is not exactly singable and autoharpable.

Now quit your care and anxious fear and worry;
For schemes are vain and fretting brings no gain.
Lent calls to prayer, to trust and dedication;
God brings beauty nigh;
Reply, reply, reply with love to love most high.
Reply, reply, reply with love to love most high.

To bow the head in sack-cloth and in ashes
Or rend the soul, such grief is not Lent's goal;
But to be led to where God's glory flashes,
His beauty to come near.
Make clear, make clear, make clear where truth and light appear;
Make clear, make clear, make clear where truth and light appear.

For is not this the fast that I have chosen?
(The prophet spoke) To shatter every yoke,
Of wickedness the grievous bands to loosen,
Oppression put to flight.
To fight, to fight, to fight, to fight till every wrong's set right.
To fight, to fight, to fight, to fight till every wrong's set right.

For righteousness and peace will show their faces
To those who feed the hungry in their need,
And wrongs redress, who build the old waste places,
And in the darkness shine.
Divine, divine, divine, it is when all combine!
Divine, divine, divine, it is when all combine!

Then shall your light break forth as doth the morning;
Your health shall spring, the friends you make shall bring
God's glory bright, your way through life adorning;
And love shall be the prize.
Arise, arise, arise! And make a paradise!
Arise, arise, arise! And make a paradise!

Words, Percy Dearmer (1867 - 1936), alt.
Music, Quittez, Pasteurs, French carol

} + : ~ *> )

Christ's kiss of peace and a blessed Lent to all.

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 10:05 AM

Man, the Newman Center last night was MORE packed than it has ever been! What a turnout! The songs were pretty cool. We did "Without Seeing, We Believe", a great song.

Father Tom did this great homily, short, but powerful. He kept saying "What does God do? FORGIVE!" And he kept asking us "What does God do?" and we'd all scream "FORGIVE!!!" as loud as possible. What a great feeling. I described it as "a pep rally for Jesus".

Afterwards, my friend Ryan kept wishing everyone a "Happy Ash Wednesday"! Later on in the night, me and Ryan started screaming songs from Jesus Christ Superstar at the top of our lungs, while Ryan did hilarious goofy arm-swaying dances. You should have seen us blazing away at "Simon Zealotes"! Then we wanted the real thing, so we put on the Jesus Christ Superstar DVD and started singing along..lol.

Before Mass, me and Ryan where entertaining people coming in by singing various Simon & Garfunkel, Monkees, and Chicago songs. We were also belting out "One" by U2.

What a gas!

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 10:12 AM

We need a live video feed from the Newman Center, Matt. Make it so!

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: sian, west wales
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 11:47 AM

I don't know if this would fit, and I don't know where you'd find the tune, but we used to do a song in our church teen choir back in the '60s ... Judas and Mary (sung as a duet):

Said Judas to Mary, "Oh, what will you do
With your ointments so rich and so rare?"
"I'll pour them all over the feet of my Lord
And I'll wipe them away with my hair," she said.
"I'll wipe them away with my hair."

"Oh, Mary, Oh Mary, oh, think of the poor
This ointment, it could have been sold.
And think of the blankets, and think of the bread
You could buy with the silver and gold," he said.
"You could buy with the silver and gold."

"Tomorrow, tomorrow, I'll think of the poor,
Tomorrow," she said, "not today
For dearer than all of the poor of the world
Is my love who is going away," she said.
"My love who is going away."

Said Jesus to Mary, "Your love is so dear
Today you may do as you will.
Tomorrow, you say, I am going away
But my body I leave with you still," he said
"My body I leave with you still."

"The poor of the world are my body," he said,
"To the end of the world they will be
And any kind deed that you do for the poor
In truth you are doing for me," he said
"In truth you are doing for me."

I think I've remembered if fairly correctly. I always loved that one!

sian

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 01:21 PM

Oh, sian, it's lovely!

I'll find a tune for it. Maybe some more verses too. Thank you!

Poor Judas.

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: mousethief
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 01:24 PM

Nice song lyrics!

I'm with you, Sue. I don't know what to do with Judas. You want to slap him and say, "how could you not get it?!" But how can I say I would have fared any better in the same circumstances? There are monks who pray every day for Judas to repent and be healed before the Judgment. I don't know if it's possible, but I sure hope it is and he does.

Alex

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 01:27 PM

Hey Alex, how about a song of thanks for yesterday?

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: mousethief
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 01:33 PM

How's this:

blicky

Alex

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: sian, west wales
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 01:46 PM

But where would the Easter Story be without Judas? Wouldn't exist? Was it ... Bonhoffer? ... who pointed out how important he was ...?

sian

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: mousethief
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 02:18 PM

True, Sian, but one just feels bad for him.

Subject: Tune Add: JUDAS AND MARY
From: sian, west wales
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 03:33 PM

I know I'm going to regret this ... but I've TRIED to do an ABC for the Judas and Mary. Is there some way that I could have tried it out before posting? Darn this technology ... it'll probably turn out sounding all oompah-pah, when it's supposed to be slow, sad and waltzy. Anyway ... see what happens...

X:
T:Judas and Mary
M:3/4
K:F
L:1/4
D2|G2d2d2|d2c2B2|A2B2A2½G4A2|B2A2B2|c2B2c2|d6|d4D2|G2d2d2|d2c2B2|A2B2A2|G4G1A1|B2A2G2|A2G2F2|G4F2|D4A2|B2A2G2|A2G2F2|G6|G4

sian

Line Breaks <br> added. aybe that will fix it.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 03:51 PM

Alex, wow!!!!!

I am flipping now, and I know Hardi will. Wotta LENT!!!!

sian, boo hoo, I can't read ABC!!!!

I have often said I pray for Satan. I should write a lament.

"Who weeps for false light."

Now THERE would be a large portion of grief-- God's, for that fallen one once so lovely and so clear.

Mmmmmmm.....

If grief could enter a hardened heart would repentance surely come?
If grief could soften a mask of pride would the harms done be undone?
If grief could reach where the coals grew cold would it warm them into life?
If grief could do this here for dust, could it clarify false light?

Could I rain such grief as the Father can I would pour it our full-cupped; Could I overflow with the Father's strength I would serve till all had supped. Could I find the chink where to run the flow I would empty self for love; Could I weep for false light, and rage no more, I'd be like my Lord, above.

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 04:05 PM

oops. call a clone....

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Mar 01 - 09:59 PM

This is the corrected second verse-- line breaks, yes, but also a typo.

Could I rain such grief as the Father can I would pour it out full-cupped;
Could I overflow with the Father's strength I would serve till all had supped.
Could I find the chink where to run the flow I would empty self for love;
Could I weep for false light, and rage no more, I'd be like my Lord, above.

Thanks guys.

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: sian, west wales
Date: 03 Mar 01 - 07:10 AM

I'll have to think about this Satan / Judas / etc. thing over Lent, I guess. It'll be my Lenten meditation. Someone has to do the sh*tty jobs - from Satan to Judas to the pariahs of whatever country. The Least of These, etc. Would God be weeping for Fallen, or agonising that they had to take on the worst jobs. I'm sure I've read some philosopher who claimed that Judas was the most blessed of the disciples, not the most cursed.

This is going off the music request at hand, right? OK, to return ... WYSIWYG, I've sent the ABC to Joe Offer - maybe he'll be able to sort it. Otherwise if you want the tune, PM me and I'll try to scan it.

sian

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 03 Mar 01 - 10:13 AM

sian, I'm replying here so I can let everyone know-- this computer cannot do sound at all. But I WOULD love tunes.

Sometimes I can open jpg's, sometimes not. But I can always open Word attachments, and a "print screen" and paste into Word of anything is one meatball way to send stuff, as an e-mail attachment.

(Click HERE to e-mail me.)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: Abby Sale
Date: 03 Mar 01 - 01:58 PM

Callop Monday, pancake Tuesday,
Ash Wednesday, Bludee Thursday,
Friday's lang, but will be dune,
And hey for Saturday afternoon!

For (Fat) Shrove Tuesday:
Pancake Day is a very happy day,
If we don't have a holiday we'll all run away,
Where shall we run, up High Lane,
And here comes the teacher with a great big cane.

Both from English Folk-Rhymes, GF Northall, 1892

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: Marion
Date: 05 Mar 01 - 09:31 AM

Hi Susan. Breathlessly romantic? I'm just amazed to see how devout I was just a few years ago. Are you really going to use the prayer in church?

Marion

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Mar 01 - 11:19 AM

Marion,

Oh yes! I am sure it will become part of the tradition of the parish too. It has room for so many kinds of expression-- and Hardiman is a master at fitting them all together.

Hmmmm.... maybe I will also font it up and cause it to be xeroxed and left on the back table with the other Lenten meditations.... *G*G*

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: roopoo
Date: 05 Mar 01 - 01:59 PM

We were all going to burn our last year's palm crosses on Ash Wednesday evening in Snaith Priory, the mother church of our team parish, and use them for the imposition of ashes. A certain tragic and horrific incident that morning in Great Heck, which is also in our parish changed the complexion of the service a little, in that we didn't do the ashes, and the Bishop of Doncaster came to lead the service. We still had a Eucharist service and we sang "40 Days and 40 Nights" and "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind" among others. There were 5 hymns in all that night, but I can only remember 2 of them. We are fairly traditional in our Lenten hymns and the majority are from Ancient and Modern (New Standard).

Our weekly Lent activities this year are services of Holy Communion on Wednesday evenings, led by different members of the clergy team, each speaking on key figures from the Passion and visiting a different church in our parish each week with each new figure and speaker. Our church in Hensall is the first, and our Rector is starting the ball rolling with a talk on Judas! With all the turmoil and sorrow we have had in the last few days he has not as yet been able to prepare anything and he says it may be totally "off the cuff"! He is a past master at this, although he professes to find it hard to get his head round Judas at the moment.

The best thing I ever did for Lent was about 4 years ago when I took on a sponsorship of a little girl in Uganda. She is delightful, and has now started to write a little in English (she's nearly 10).

Andrea

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Mar 01 - 02:37 PM

Andrea... what happened?

Also, Sian sent me a scan of the melody for Judas and Mary-- it's wonderful! (It's a BIT like Maid on the Shore, which might do in a pinch if you are dying to do this and have no tune.) MMario, you will love this one. I'll have it for you when you visit.

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: sian, west wales
Date: 05 Mar 01 - 04:50 PM

Andrea, I am very sorry to hear that you were close to the rail disaster. Tragic.

sian

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 05 Mar 01 - 06:00 PM

Oh-- duh! Thanks Sian. CRS. I had not stored the item as tagged to the place name, in this feeblbrain.

Guess there's Lent, and LENT.

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: sian, west wales
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 11:34 AM

Just when you least expect it ...

I bought a copy of the new interdemoninational Welsh hymn book on Saturday and was leafing my way through when what do I find but ... Judas and Mary! First line slightly different than the way I do it but that's the folk process! More importantly, I now know who's responsible for at least the tune (and probably the words): Sidney Carter. I should have guessed, really! Anyway, please add that credit to the above.

Interestingly, the Welsh words are completely different (a Harvest Thanksgiving hymn) but written by a minister who spent some time in Toronto ... so I bet that's where he picked it up!

Funny old world!

Sian

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Mar 01 - 12:12 PM

LOL! Next it will turn up here! Posting the Welsh, huh?

Saturday nights the last few weeks have been outstanding.

For the lesson on the Transfiguration, it was all contemporary praise. Commune With Me, Behold What Manner of Love, Isn't He?, and Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. All Maranatha! pieces. I forget now what order they were in.

Lent 1 was Micah 6:8, Beautiful, and White as Snow from Maranatha!, and Chatter With the Angels from Wee Sing, a spiritual to which I added verses.

Lent 2 was our old favorite as a band, that never grows old, and that I always seem to have enough voice for no matter what-- Never Grow Old, to open. After the penitential order, Phos Hilaron, and collect, it was I Went Down to the River to Pray (from Brother Where Art Thou, thank you Dharmabum!). We are having no offertories for Lent-- the offertory for Lent is to watch Hardiman's hands and humility prepare the table with his gracious economy of movement. I played a slow, quiet version of Precious Lord Take My Hand during communion, and then we closed with it, done a bit faster.

For Precious Lord, I had found several short text versions, and wanted enough verses for everyone to learn it who had never heard the melody. Our Saturday night crowd will tackle any piece I throw at them, actually, unlike so many Sunday morning congregations. So each week they may or may not have ever heard or sung what is planned, and they seem to really like the unexpectedness of it. They are always eager to see what songsheets I have laid out on the baby grand, and I sit right next to the piano in its curve, visiting with people as they arrive, and seeing how they react to the songsheets-- I love to see faces light up when they see an old personal favorite that we've never done, or their curiosity about silly stuff from children's hymns, or spirituals they have never heard.

It was especially wonderful this week to hear them take up "I Went Down to the River to Pray" as it went along-- I don't think any of them had ever sung in that way before. I don't think I had either.

Here is the version of Precious Lord, Take My Hand that we did.

PRECIOUS LORD, TAKE MY HAND

I'm your child Lord and I pray
Help me in Your will to stay.
When I stumble, please set my sight on You.
There's a race I must run,
There's a victory to be won,
Every hour, give me power to go through.


When I'm weak and full of fear,
Precious Lord, O linger near,
When I feel like I'm left all alone.
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand Lord, lest I fall,
Precious Lord, take my hand and lead me home.


When my friends don't understand
And they fail to lend a hand,
When my load gets too heavy to bear--
As I go on life's way
I just slip away and pray
And dear Lord, I can always find You there


When my way is growing drear
And the night is drawing near,
When my lifetime is all past and gone...
At that river I will stand
Guide my feet Lord, take my hand
Precious Lord, take my hand and lead me home.

Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, help me stand,
I am tired, Lord! I'm weary and worn.
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on into the light,
Precious Lord, take my hand and lead me home.

Chords were, line by line:
G,C,G
G7, C, C7
C7, G, C, D, D7
D7, G, C, G
G, C
C7, G, D7, G,C,G

~Susan

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: roopoo
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 03:40 AM

For those who might want details, there is a thread on the Great Heck rail crash. It'll be a week or more old now. In case it hadn't been revised on there, the final death toll has been set at 10. One a young churchwarden, a software engineer, from Holy Trinity in York. Yes, we are only a mile or so from the site, and our church is Heck's parish church.

It was weird last week at our Lent course to see the church with no flowers again, and so empty after nearly 300 crammed in the Sunday before. I can't remember all the hymns we had this Sunday: a power cut halfway through the service didn't help. "Fight the Good Fight" was the last one. Acapella! As you might suspect from this, our village is less than a mile from a big power station!

Andrea

Subject: Lyr Add: JUDAS AND MARY (Sydney Carter)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 04:28 AM

Here's a slightly different version of "Judas and Mary," with one additional verse. -Joe Offer-

---

JUDAS AND MARY
(Sydney Carter)

Said Judas to Mary: "Now what will you do
With your ointment so rich and so rare?"
I'll pour it all over the feet of the Lord,
And I'll wipe it away with my hair,' she said,
'I'll wipe it away with my hair.'

'Oh Mary, oh Mary, oh think of the poor:
This ointment it could have been sold.
And think of the blankets and think of the bread
You could buy with the silver and gold,' he said,
'You could buy with the silver and gold.'

'Tomorrow, tomorrow, I'll think of the poor,
Tomorrow,' she said, 'not today.'
'For dearer than all of the poor of the world
Is my love who is going away,' she said,
'My love who is going away.'

Said Jesus to Mary: 'Your love is so deep,
Today, you may do as you will.
Tomorrow, you say, I am going away
But my body I leave with you still,' he said,
'my body I leave with you still.'

'The poor of the world are my body,' he said,
'To the end of the world they shall be.
The bread and the blankets you give to the poor
You'll know you have given to me,' he said,
'You'll know you have given to me.'

'My body will hang on the cross of the world
Tomorrow,' he said, 'not today,
And Martha and Mary will find me again
And wash all my sorrows away,' he said
'And wash all my sorrow away.'

Copyright Galliard Publications

---

I found the lyrics here (click), and also in the Worship Hymnal from GIA Publications. There's a WAV recording of part of it here (click) and a nice MIDI here (click)

Note that this song will not be included in the Digital Tradition. Sydney Carter's publisher asked the Digital Tradition to remove all Sydney Carter songs from the database.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: sian, west wales
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 11:34 AM

Hmmm. No comment, I guess. But thanks for the links, Joe.

Sian

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: MMario
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 11:43 AM

yup - I like that Isaiah the Prophet as well

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 02:25 PM

Thanks, Joe.

Andrea... I don't have any words. Just a heart swelling for all involved, as though I could wrap everyone up in it. Must be His I'm feeling; I know mine's not big enough.

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: GUEST,Sarah2 (at work)
Date: 13 Mar 01 - 11:51 PM

Susan,

I always thought this would make a great song. Tried to do it once myself, but I never can get through it without blubbering: The Toys
Coventry Patmore (1823–1896)

My little son, who look'd from thoughtful eyes
And moved and spoke in quiet grown-up wise,
Having my law the seventh time disobey'd,
I struck him, and dismiss'd
With hard words and unkiss',
—His Mother, who was patient, being dead.
Then, fearing lest his grief should hinder sleep,
I visited his bed,
But found him slumbering deep,
With darken'd eyelids, and their lashes yet
From his late sobbing wet.
And I, with moan,
Kissing away his tears, left others of my own;
For, on a table drawn beside his head,
He had put, within his reach,
A box of counters and a red-vein'd stone,
A piece of glass abraded by the beach,
And six or seven shells,
A bottle with bluebells,
And two French copper coins, ranged there with careful art,
To comfort his sad heart.
So when that night I pray'd
To God, I wept, and said:
"Ah, when at last we lie with trancèd breath,
"Not vexing Thee in death,
"And Thou rememberest of what toys
"We made our joys,
"How weakly understood
"Thy great commanded good,
"Then, fatherly not less
"Than I whom Thou hast moulded from the clay,
"Thou'lt leave Thy wrath, and say,
"'I will be sorry for their childishness.'"

(When you see me blubbering in the pews, it's 'cause I use it as a Lenten prayer.)

Sarah

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 10:08 AM

Aww..... ya got me!

~S~

Subject: Lyr Add for Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 01:23 PM

Here are the three pieces we did last night, the first in marking the recent passing of Malcolm Disley. They may be in the threads somewhere, but I could not find them there except by link to Cyber Hynmnal. In any event I am including them.

---

BLESSED ASSURANCE

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.


SH

---

NEARER, MY GOD, TO THEE
Words: Verses 1-5, Sarah Fuller Flower Adams, in Hymns and Anthems, by William Johnson Fox, 1841; verse 6,
Edward Henry Bickersteth, Jr. Music: "Bethany (Mason)," Lowell Mason, 1856

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to
Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

There let the way appear, steps unto heav'n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!.
Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I'll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

There in my Father's home, safe and at rest,
There in my Savior's love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be, nearer my God to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

CYBER HYMNAL NOTES:
"One night, sometime after lying awake in the dark, eyes wide open, through the stillness in the house the melody came to me, and the next morning I wrote down the notes." -- Lowell Mason

Alternate tunes:
"Horbury," John Bacchus Dykes, 1861; "Propior Deo" (Nearer to God) (Arthur Seymour Sullivan), 1872 (uses a modified refrain).

"Nearer, My God, to Thee" is sung at the end of the 1936 movie San Francisco, which was nominated for several Academy Awards. It is also played by the ship's band in Titanic, winner of the Academy Award for best picture of 1997. There are also many inspiring true life stories associated with this hymn. Some Titanic survivors said it was played by the ship's orchestra as the ocean liner went down (though other survivors said it was a different song).Another story concerns the death of American president William McKinley, who was assassinated in 1901. Dr. Mann, the attending physician, reported that among McKinley's last words were "'Nearer, my God, to Thee, e'en though it be a cross,' has been my constant prayer." On the afternoon of September 3, 1901, after five minutes of silence across the nation, bands in Union and Madison Squares in New York City played the hymn in memory of the fallen president. It was also played at a memorial service for him in Westminster Abbey, London.

SH

---

WHISPERING HOPE^^
By Septimus Winner, 1868. Hymnals often list the author as "Alice Hawthorne," one of Winner's several pseudonyms.


1. Soft as the voice of an angel,
Breathing a lesson unheard,
Hope with a gentle persuasion
Whispers her comforting word:
"Wait till the darkness is over,
Wait till the tempest is done,
Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,
After the shower is gone."

Refrain:
Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

2.
If, in the dusk of the twilight,
Dim be the region afar,
Will not the deepening darkness
Brighten the glimmering star?
Then when the night is upon us,
Why should the heart sink away?
When the dark midnight is over,
Watch for the breaking of day.

3. Hope, as an anchor so steadfast,
Rends the dark veil for the soul,
Whither the Master has entered,
Robbing the grave of its goal.
Come then, O come, glad fruition,
Come to my sad weary heart;
Come, O Thou blest hope of glory,
Never, O never depart.
^^
SH

---

Wish you could have been there. I autoharped and song-led all three. Hardi and our friend Ed played banjo on Blessed Assurance. Hardi fiddled and Ed played tenor banjo, both of them on melody, on the second two items, and it was so pretty. We enjoyed the warmup so much it was like being in church twice, for us. I got funny just before the service when the first arrivals asked, "What are we singing tonight?" And what came to mind was "Blistering Assurance." Fortunately though these same good people prayed for us before the service began, so when we sang it did not come out that way! *G*

For many, this was the first time they had heard Whispering Hope. It was new for me, too. If I did not have so many people generously giving me recordings, I'd probably never have learned these old lovelies. If you'd like to borrow the recordings I've accumulated, see this thread: GOSPEL TAPE LIBRARY OFFER

~Susan

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 07:12 PM

Chords for the above.


BLESSED ASSURANCE

(D)Blessed assurance, (G)Jesus is (D)mine!
O what a (E7)fore- (A)taste of (E7)glory di- (A)vine!
(A7)Heir of sal- (D)vation, (G)purchase of (D)God,
Born of His (G)Spirit, (A7)washed in His (D)blood.

Refrain
(D)This is my story, (G)this is my (D)song,
Praising my (G)Savior, (E7)all the day (A7)long;
This is my (D)story, (G)this is my (D)song,
Praising my (G)Savior, (A7)all the day (D)long.


NEARER, MY GOD, TO THEE

(F)Nearer, my (Bb)God, to Thee, (F)nearer to (C)Thee! (C7)
(F)E'en though it (Bb)be a cross (F)that (C7)raiseth (F)me,
Still (Bb)all my (F)song shall (C7)be, (F)near- (Bb)er, my (F)God, to (C)Thee.
(F)Nearer, my (Bb)God, to Thee, (F)near- (C)er to (F)Thee!


WHISPERING HOPE

(C)Soft as the (F)voice of an (C)angel,
(G7)Breathing a lesson un- (C)heard,
Hope with a gentle per- (F)suasion
(C)Whispers her (G7)comforting (C)word:
"Wait till the (G7)darkness is (C)over,
(G)Wait till the (D7)tempest is (G)done, (G7)
(C)Hope for the (F)sunshine to- (C)morrow,
After the (G7)shower is (C)gone."

Refrain:
(G7)Whispering (C)hope, oh how (G7)welcome thy (C)voice, (C7)
(F)Making my (C)heart in its (G7)sorrow re- (C)joice.

SH

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: sian, west wales
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 06:02 AM

I laughed when I read "Blessed Assurance"! Did you drawwwwwww ouuuutttt the second "This ---- is --- my --- story"?

In Wales, the annual week-long August National Eisteddfod (competitive festival) culminates in a Gymanfa Ganu (Singing / Hymn session) with about 2000 voices, and it's broadcast live, so it's a Big Deal to us. A few years ago they did Blessed Assurance and the Conductor drove home the fact that the congregation WOULD remember to watch him on that phrase and they WOULD remember to halve the tempo because they knew and he knew that if they didn't then Sods Law was that the TV camera would be on THEM when THEY screwed up. OK - maybe he didn't use quite those terms, but he put the fear of the Lord into them anyway. Got a big laugh, too.

Bigger laugh from me as the camera happened to hit on a friend of mine who claims she can't sing worth a hill o' beans ... but she put on a great mime act!

Oh, and Whispering Hope! << big sigh >>

sian

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 10:35 AM

No-- we reserve that treatment for a phrase in In the Garden.

But I see how in context we ought to, for B.A. If we are going to be praising all the day long, there's lots of time for each note.

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 11:48 AM


It's all continued HERE IN PART TWO.

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 07:26 PM

Sang today:

He Washed My Eyes with Tears (posted in a thread)

When You Pray (posted in a thread)

I Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now (to be posted)

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: Matt_R
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 07:44 PM

Sooz...Part II...remember? Lol!

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: KS4460
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 09:02 PM

I think Ah Holy Jesus is one of the most beautiful and passionate hymns ever written. Also, another good one is Go To Dark Gethsemane.

Subject: FIX ME FOR I HAVE SINNED!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Mar 01 - 11:43 PM

I am so MOCKED! Please JoeClones move these posts!

LOL!!!

I forgot to set a trace on Part Two!

THANKS MATT! OW!!! I DON'T THINK I'VE LAUGHED THIS HARD SINCE THE FUCKING FIRE!

And damn that Capslock!!!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 09:06 AM

Welcome to Mudcat, KS. If you're new in these parts, have you checked out THIS yet?

Part Two of this thread continues HERE

~Susan

Subject: RE: Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 21 Mar 01 - 09:09 AM

Sorry, bad link.

PART TWO

~S~