Singability: Simple/Easy
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STLT#90, From All the Fret and Fever of the Day
As I dig deeper into this section of Mystical and Meditation Songs, I realize how much I love these songs – and need them. Right now, the congregation I serve only uses two hymns, so there is no contemplative hymn in the middle of the service. And oh, how I miss that. We still have… Continue reading
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STLT#89, Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life
I went on a bit yesterday about early Anglican poetry and music, not realizing that one of the most famous pieces – and my favorite – to come out of that era (1550-1650) was next on our hit parade. This poem, “The Call,” was written by George Herbert, an Anglican priest and poet from Wales.… Continue reading
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STLT#88, Calm Soul of All Things
Here is another beautiful prayer – and when I first read the lyrics, I thought “why do I not use this more often?” And then I sang it. Now don’t get me wrong: I love the Tallis Canon. It’s particularly beautiful when done in three parts in a big echo-y chapel so that the bell… Continue reading
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STLT#87, Nearer, My God, to Thee
The story goes that this is the last song the orchestra played as the Titanic was going down, that final prayer that we put things right because we’re surely going to die, and soon we’ll be nearer to God so we better pray now out of panic. But English Unitarian poet Sarah Flower Adams wasn’t… Continue reading
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STLT#86, Blessed Spirit of My Life
Now this one really is a prayer. In fact, Jacqui James points out in Between the Lines that the incredible Shelley Denham wrote this as a prayer. And called the tune Prayer. And wow, what a prayer. It is gentle to self even as it calls for strength. It is a quiet prayer of preparation,… Continue reading
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STLT#85, Although This Life Is But a Wraith
It’s a song for our time, this one. Now it sits in the middle of the mystical and meditation section, but it’s really a fight song, a reminder that we have to keep getting up off the mat, to always be open, to revel in that which brings us joy but not forget that there is… Continue reading
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STLT#83, Winds Be Still
Merry Christmas to me – this is one of my very favorite hymns. First of all, let’s not kid ourselves – 19th century English composer Samuel Wesley knew what he was doing when he wrote the anthem “Praise the Lord, O My Soul,” which includes the melody that we know as “Lead Me Lord.” Its… Continue reading
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STLT#81, The Wordless Mountains Bravely Still
This is one of those mornings when the to-do list seems more important than this practice. In fact, I did several things before sitting down to sing, which is not typical. Usually, I feed the cat, put on the coffee, and open the hymnal to sing while the holy liquid of all existence brews in… Continue reading
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STLT#79, No Number Tallies Nature Up
Any other day, I might be up for a significant rewrite of a classic poem, but today is not that day. Snarky, cynical Kimberley is back, and she’s not having it. I read the lyrics, sang (another fine Southern Harmony tune), then read again, feeling baffled. So I went to the internet to look up the… Continue reading
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STLT#77, Seek Not Afar for Beauty
This hymn made me giggle with a little delight and a little theological tee-hee this morning. First, the giggles of delight – I love the Coolinge hymn tune (I got too caught up in Robert Frost the last time this came up to mention it), and thus, anything set to it already has a leg… Continue reading
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