Spiritual folk for Good Friday service

27 Feb 03 - 01:34 PM (#899819)
Subject: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: GUEST,axman664

I am a music director at a church...for our annual Good Friday service--the service that remembers the suffering and death of Christ--I like to draw on musical sources both "classical" and folk: bluegrass, urban folk, Irish/Celtic, etc. I try and stay clear of the "Contemporary Christian" marketing niche.

With your wealth of knowledge about folk repetoire, I am wondering if you guys have any suggestions?

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27 Feb 03 - 02:02 PM (#899836)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: Beccy

Hey Guest- Try "Down to the River (or Valley)". It's a great old time tune. I know there is a plethora of versions available on the DT. Maybe someone smarter than I could link all the other ones to this thread.
Lacking that, just go up to the search box on the top left of the Mudcat Forum Discussion page and put in "Down to the River". Voila!

I hope you have a wonderful service and I look forward to seeing what others direct you toward as I am a music teacher for a Christian Homeschool Co-operative.

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27 Feb 03 - 02:11 PM (#899844)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: axman664

Thanks Beccy...I'm actually not a guest...just forgot to reset my cookie

--Dan

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27 Feb 03 - 02:13 PM (#899845)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: pattyClink

"Were you there when they crucified my Lord" is a fine spiritual which fits the occasion precisely.

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27 Feb 03 - 02:22 PM (#899853)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: Jeanie

"Now the Green Blade Rises" - sung to a French traditional carol tune 'Noel Nouvelet' (in Baptist Praise and Worship No. 257) publ. OUP (Great Britain) - that's a really lovely one.

I'll probably have some more to suggest later...

- jeanie

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27 Feb 03 - 02:43 PM (#899883)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: Jerry Rasmussen

How Much Do I Owe Him by the Radio Four... verses are about crucifixion and the two thieves on the cross... grewat, bluesy black gospel.

Jerry

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27 Feb 03 - 03:29 PM (#899912)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: Burke

Morning music by Amos Pilsbury 1799, words by Isaac Watts.

An alto part has been added in later editions of the Sacred Harp.

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27 Feb 03 - 03:39 PM (#899918)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: Burke

Almost forgot!

Wondrous Love Words here Music here, but there are probably lots of choral arrangements around as well.

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27 Feb 03 - 09:23 PM (#900147)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: *daylia*

Axman - at the risk of boring you with a song you already know, I've always loved this version of "Lord of the Dance", which I first heard as a child at Mass on Good Fridays. Found the lyrics in the Digitrad, and it's sung to the tune of "Simple Gifts".

Lord Of The Dance

as recorded by The Dubliners on their 20 Greatest Hitsalbum

I danced in the morning when the World was young,
I danced in the Moon and the Stars and the Sun,
I came down from Heaven and I danced on the Earth,
At Bethlehem I had my birth.

Chorus
Dance, dance, where ever you may be,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He,
And I lead you all wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said He!

I danced for these tribes of the farer seas.
They wouldn't dance, they wouldn't follow me.
I danced for the fishermen James and John,
They came with me so the dance went on.

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame,
The holy people said it was a shame,
They tricked, they stripped, they hung me high,
Left me there on the cross to die.

I danced on the Friday when the World turned black,
It's hard to dance with the Devil on your back,
They buried my body, they thought I was gone
But I am the dance and the dance goes on.

They cut me down and I lept up high,
I am the life that will never never die,
I live in you if you live in me,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.


The way I learned it, the second verse started with "I danced for the scribes and the Pharisees" instead of "I danced for these tribes of the farer seas". Other than that, the words are identical to the Catholic version.

Good luck with your service!

daylia

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27 Feb 03 - 11:08 PM (#900214)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: GUEST

Theres a great song by the name of "A Tramp On The Street" that should be in the Digital tradition. I would think it would be perfect for Good Friday.

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28 Feb 03 - 01:46 AM (#900281)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: mg

there are some beautiful Lent songs in the Catholic tradition, which unfortunately seems to be almost totally lost musically (read ugly as sin sometime). Come and mourn with me a while. O Sacred Head Surrounded..what a gorgeous song. At the cross her station keeping..or in Latin Stabat Mater Dolorosa....penderosa...

There was one on an old record I had..by a group similar to Brothers Four I believe..

jOne Day when I was lost

they whooped Him up the hill
they whooped Him up the hill
they whooped Him up the hill for me
One day when I was lost they hung Him on the cross
They hung Him on t he cross for me

And the blood came a trickling down..

He died there, he died there..

On Easter Morn he rose...

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28 Feb 03 - 01:52 AM (#900282)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: mg

wow...here is Leadbelly singing it..

http://www.ibiblio.org/jimmy/folkden/Easter.html

clicky thing wasn't loading so you'll have to cut and paste.

mg

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28 Feb 03 - 03:11 AM (#900313)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: sed

It's probably too obvious to mention:

Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?

however there are a variety of verses for this classic spiritual from slavery times in the Deep South. And new verses can be added. The folk process is always timely. Anyway I love this song anytime of the year as it is a solemn yet comforting musical meditation on the very basis of Christianity. Christ actually loved us so much that he gave his life in such a profoundly painful way so that we might live eternally. Now, that is truly awesome! I remain in awe of His sacrifice and this song brings me back to that important revelation whenever I sing it.

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28 Feb 03 - 04:20 AM (#900337)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: Keith A of Hertford

Judas and Mary

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28 Feb 03 - 01:53 PM (#900518)
Subject: Lyr Add: Cry from the Cross
From: Mark Clark

In the bluegrass genre, it's hard to beat this Ralph Stanley tune.

Cry From The Cross

One morning in Jerusalem about the break of dawn
A great trial was in session, they tried our blessed lord
They scorned him and they mocked him, they made him carry the cross
On top of Calvary mountain, they crucified my Lord

Oh the cry (Jesus cried) from the cross
Forgive them blessed father, he died upon the cross
Oh the cry (Jesus cried) from the cross
The son of God was dying, to save the world from loss

Saint Peter he denied him at that awful trial at night
He said he never new him, it was an awful sight
He looked upon Saint Peter with eyes of perfect love
Saint Peter's heart was broken, he prayed to God above

Crying father it is finished then he bowed his head and died
The world was left in darkness, the graves were open wide
An earthquake shook Jerusalem the dead walked in the town
The multitudes were frightened, God's wrath came pouring down

      - Mark

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28 Feb 03 - 02:03 PM (#900527)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: axman664

Mark, great one.

Is it tacky to reply one's own thread? Last year we used David Wilcox's "Show the Way". Covered by some CCM folks, but still far enough removed from that genre to be suitable (no offense to you CCM fans).

I've tried looking through Bruce Cockburn, Pierce Pettis, Christopher Williams, and similar artists, but have not come up with anything yet.

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28 Feb 03 - 02:06 PM (#900531)
Subject: Lyr Add: Purple Robe
From: Mark Clark

Another fine song—really a Holy Thursday song—that's been done in many different genres including bluegrass.

Scarlet Purple Robe

There's a story so unkind in His Holy book we find
And it tells how Jesus stood alone one day
False accused and there condemned yet they could find no fault with Him
The man who wore the scarlet purple robe

Purple robe my Savior wore oh the shame for me he bore
As He stood alone, forsaken on that day
As they placed upon His head piercing thorns of blood stained red
His raiment was a scarlet purple robe

In the common judgment hall he was mocked and scorned by all
And a tear of sorrow fell upon His cheek
Soldiers of the wicked man smote Him with their evil hand
The Man who wore the scarlet purple robe

Words of truth that day were plain from the lips of Pilot came
In this man I find no reason He should die
But the multitudes replied let Him now be crucified
The man who wore the scarlet purple robe

      - Mark

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28 Feb 03 - 02:29 PM (#900555)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: Mark Clark

If you haven't listened to Lead Belly sing “He Never Said a Mumblin' Word”, the song Mary describes and links above, you really need to hunt this one down. The .RAM file that the picture links is similar to Lead Belly's style but it just doesn't sound like Huddie's performance to me.

In the Eastern Orthodox tradition we tend not to sing any music that isn't at least a thousand years old or so but one of my very favorite chants goes:

Today He is suspended on a tree
He who suspended the earth over the water

It's sung three times in a row each with slightly different melody and harmony then the whole thing is repeated many times. Unless you've seen and heard this, you can't imagine the deep spiritual effect this chant has on everyone present.

      - Mark

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28 Feb 03 - 03:21 PM (#900590)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: Pseudolus

There's a beautiful song by John Flynn called "The Price" which can be found on his web site. The CD it is on which can also be gotten on John's web site is called "To the Point". It's an awesome CD and "The Price" would be perfect for a Good Friday service......IMHO



Frank

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28 Feb 03 - 06:00 PM (#900689)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: GUEST,Mary V....

I love the song....by Ira Stanphill
Theres   room at the cross for you.
Theres   room at the cross for you.
Though..millions have come ...
theres still room for one..
There's room at the cross for you
The Cross upon which Jesus. died...
is a shelter in which we can hide.
and its graces so free
is sufficient for me.
And deep is its fountain...as wide as the sea.

Mary V.

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28 Feb 03 - 07:01 PM (#900723)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: Burke

I'm checking for more Sacred Harp & Southern Harmony tunes. Many of these are based on folk tunes.

This Southern Harmony tune has to be based on a folk tune: The Sufferings of Christ. Called "The Lovely Story" in the Sacred Harp.

Redemption, a newer Sacred Harp tune by John Hocutt is usually sung in such an upbeat way I thought of it only because of a keyword seach.

A real favorite: Gospel Trumpet.
The are words by Charles Cole, 1872.

Two verses from Sacred Harp:

Hark! How the gospel trumpet sounds!
Through all the world the echo bounds;
And Jesus by redeeming blood
Is bringing sinners home to God
And guides them safely by His word
To endless day.

Thy blood, dear Jesus, once was spilt
To save our souls from sin and guilt,
And sinners now may come to God
And find salvation through Thy blood,
And sail by faith upon that flood
To endless day.

4 verses as found on Making of America, SH's 2nd verse not found

HARK! how the gospel trumpet sounds!
Through all the earth the -echo bounds!
And Jesus, by redeeming blood,
Is bringing sinners back to God,
And guides them safely by his word
To endless day.

Hail, Jesus! all victorious Lord!
Be thou by all mankind adored!
For us didst thou the fight maintain,
And o'er our foes the vict'ry gain,
That we with thee might ever reign
In endless day.

Fight on, ye conqu'ring souls, fight on!
And when the conquest you have won,
Then palms of vict'ry you shall bear,
And in his kingdom have a share,
And crowns of glory ever wear
In endless day.

There in full chorus shall we join, [or There we shall in full chorus join]
With saints and angels all combine
To sing of his redeeming love,
When rolling years shall cease to move;
And this shall be our theme above,
In endless day.

Harmonia Sacra has a different setting of these words on p.224

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28 Feb 03 - 11:13 PM (#900862)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: Neighmond

"Redeemed"

"tho old rugged Cross"
are two of my favorites

Chaz

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01 Mar 03 - 08:31 PM (#901383)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: Hrothgar

"Just as the Evening Sun."

Would have thouight this was in the DT, but my search hasn't worked. Am I doing something incorrectly?

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01 Mar 03 - 08:36 PM (#901387)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: Hrothgar

Found it elsewhere. Does anybody have an author for this?

JUST AS THE EVENING SUN

Just as the evening sun
Was sinking in the golden west
Hanging between two thieves
They crucified the Son of God.
Mocked by the multitude
They placed on Him a thorny crown;
Love like this was never known,
Jesus dying for his own,
Just as the sun went down.

Love like this was never known
Though you may search the wide world round
Jesus dying for his own
Just as the sun went down.

In Sanhedrin he was tried.
"We've got no use for him" they cried;
By the mob he was crucified,
Just as the sun went down.

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02 Mar 03 - 08:39 PM (#902045)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: Nigel Parsons

How far back do we need to go? 'Lord of the dance' is almost contemporary!

My local church choir (only 1 regular tenor, who'll remain nameless) can do any one of several oratorios. Possibly my favourite is:"Olivet To Calvary" By Maunder.
A simpler oratorio is Bach's "St Luke" passion. Whilst the music seems rather simplistic for Bach, and the attribution may be hotly argued. But for a choir looking for a straightforward introduction to oratorios, this is worth checking out.
I can also recommend John Stainer's "Crucifiction"

Nigel

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02 Mar 03 - 09:13 PM (#902062)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: Bob Bolton

G'day GUEST,axman664,

If you really want to challenge your congregation to look a Good Friday outside of the stained glass window ... I would suggest Sydney Carter's Friday Morning - sadly, not in the DT. This is a song the unthinking will accuse of blasphemy, but it is a sincere look at the real meaning and paradox of the crucifixion - expressed by one of the thieves hanging beside Christ.

If you can't find - I can send you a scan. Stainer & Bell's retentive attitude to Sydney's work prevents valid use ... and profit ... but they have control ... and poor old Sydney can not exercise his free and loving attitude to his songs any more.

Bob Bolton

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03 Mar 03 - 04:45 PM (#902657)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: GUEST,Arkie

"The Great Storm Is Over" by Bob Franke is a good song for groups and might fit in well at a Good Friday Service. The chorus goes:

"Alleluia, the great storm is over, lift your wings and fly"

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03 Mar 03 - 06:55 PM (#902753)
Subject: RE: Spiritual folk for Good Friday service
From: wilco

Thirty Pieces of Silver
Legend of the Dogwood Tree

Try Amazing Grace done to the melody of "the House of the Rising Sun,"
in Am or Dm. Play it slow like a dirge. I use an amplified autoharp.

"Were you There when they Crucified my Lord. I do it in F major.

Scarlet Purple Robe gets a vote too.

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