Sure on this Shining Night (Morten Lauridsen)

Morten Lauridsen has composed some of the most beautiful choral work I have heard. Here is his choral setting of the poem by James Agee. Agee is perhaps best known for his book, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, written in collaboration with photographer Walker Evans. "Sure on this Shining Night" is a beautiful example of sensitive, evocative poetry set to wondrous and equally evocative music.

The choral piece is performed here by Luther College's Nordic Choir, conducted by Allen Hightower.

Sure on this Shining Night

Sure on this shining night
Of star-made shadows round
Kindness must watch for me
This side the ground.

The late year lies down the north,
All is healed, all is health
High summer holds the earth,
Hearts all whole.

Sure on this shining night
I weep for wonder
Wandr’ing far alone
Of shadows on the stars.

James Agee (1909-1955) 

From “Description of Elysium,” stanzas 6-8, in Permit Me Voyage, (1934)

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Come, Come Whoever You Are (Rumi)

"Come, Come Whoever You Are," is a wonderfully inviting song taking its text from a poem by Rumi (music by Lynn Ungar). A perennial favorite among Unitarian congregations, it is sung here by the Chancel Choir at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland. As you can hear, it works beautifully as a round.

Come, come, whoever you are,
wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.
Ours is no caravan of despair.
Come, yet again come.

The original poem by Rumi is even more radical:

Come, Come whoever you are,
Wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving,
It doesn’t matter.
Ours is not a caravan of despair.
Come, even if you have broken your vow
a tousand times.
Come, yet again, come, come.



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Assyrian Hymn of St. Thomas' Arrival in India

I have a friend from India who is a Thomas Christian, having grown up in the Christian community founded by St. Thomas who was the disciple who traveled to India. Thomas Christians have a connection with the Assyrian Church, the original Christian Church in Parthia (now occupied by eastern Iraq and Iran) which also claims St. Thomas as its founder.

I am intrigued by those early expressions of faith and am interested to know what kinds of music was and is used in those ancient liturgies. Here is a beautiful hymn  from the Assyrian Church celebrating St. Thomas' arrival in India.

   

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Brother Sun and Sister Moon (John Michael Talbot)

Last week (October 4) was the Feast Day for St. Francis of Assisi. Many churches had their annual "Blessing of the Pets" in honor of this saint, poet, rebuilder, and quiet revolutionary. "Canticle of the Sun" is one of his most famous poems. "All Creatures of our God and King" is one of his poems that has been set to music and sung in churches of all denominations. (Francis was one of the first Italian poets to write in the vernacular Italian rather than in Latin, which was the "language of learning" of his day).

In 1981, in honor of the 800th anniversary of Francis' birth, singer/songwriter John Michael Talbot issued a double album of songs based on the writings and favorite scripture passages of St. Francis. "Brother Sun and Sister Moon" is one of those songs that highlights the saints love for God and reverence for nature.

   

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