Mood: Haunting/Mystical
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STLT#102, We the Heirs of Many Ages
Welcome to another edition of Hymns I Have Never Sung and Plan To Use Now. We have now entered the next section of our hymnal; for those keeping track, we’ve finished the First Source songs and are now entering the Second Source, Words and Deeds of Prophetic People. (I hear you saying “people? Isn’t it… Continue reading
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STLT#97, Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
This is a beautiful, complex, heart-wrenching lament, which brings up a thousand beautiful, complex, heart-wrenching memories. In fact, I can’t imagine not crying or at least getting a little choked up, even if a memory doesn’t come, simply because the tune and the origin story – again, a song born out of slavery – is… Continue reading
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STLT#62, When the Daffodils Arrive
This hymn has genuinely surprised me. First, let’s talk tune: it’s set to an Hasidic melody that holds in its phrases a secret and unspoken longing – certainly an intriguing choice for a hymn called “When the Daffodils Arrive.” I will also say that at first, I plunked it out fairly slowly – but then I… Continue reading
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STLT#60, In Time of Silver Rain
Some might say this is unsingable. It’s a complex, twentieth-century modern, sometimes atonal piece of music, and to the average congregant trying to sing for the first time, makes no sense and might make people run out the doors, never to come back. That’s because this isn’t a song for congregational singing. You see, what… Continue reading
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STLT#58, Ring Out, Wild Bells
I love being surprised by a hymn. I opened the page and groaned a little at yet another hymn I don’t know – wild bells? Clouds? Frosty light? Oy vei. Here we go again, I thought. Another fairly fluffy lyric that doesn’t go anywhere. And oh, look, another tune I have never sung. I decided… Continue reading
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STLT#53, I Walk the Unfrequented Road
I am a sucker for the old Southern Harmony tunes – especially the ones in minor keys, which feel like Appalachia to me. For the record, I am not from Appalachia nor have I never lived in Appalachia. But for some reason, that music – whether it’s these hymn tunes, or the bluegrass that sprung… Continue reading
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STLT#43, The Morning, Noiseless
Not so much a morning song as a meditation song… The morning, noiseless, flings its gold, and still is evening’s pace; and silently the earth is rolled amid the vast of space. Night moves in silence round the pole, the stars sing on unheard; their music pierces to the soul, yet borrows not a word.… Continue reading
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STLT#37, God Who Fills the Universe
I don’t feel much like singing today. And in fact, I considered skipping today – hoping you all would understand that for those of us who regularly answer the call of love and justice, the American presidential election results have at least temporarily silenced the music. But here I am, and this spiritual practice today… Continue reading
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STLT#24, Far Rolling Voices
Far rolling voices of the sea chant loud upon the shore. They tell the ancient mystery of God forever more. Newborn, the sun in glory rides across the heav’nly fields. The starry host in silence bides and to the morning yields. White seabirds wheel against the sky, companioned with the dawn. God, lift our winging… Continue reading
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STLT#17, Every Night and Every Morn
Every night and every morn some to misery are born; every morn and every night some are born to sweet delight. Joy and woe are woven fine, clothing for the soul divine: under every grief and pine runs a joy with silken twine. It is right it should be so: we were made for joy… Continue reading
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links
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