Category Archives: Music

Music, Writing

The Long Serpent reaches metaphorical port

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Above, the folk song “Ormen Lange” (The Long Serpent). I think I’ve posted versions of this song a couple times previously, but in each case they were more authentic than this one. I believe the song itself derives from a Faroese chain dance song, and the original song structure is a little foreign to Americans. This version was recorded some years back by a Norwegian folk group called the Wanderers, who dumbed it down a little, making it something I personally enjoy a little more.

And why do I post yet another version of a song I’ve already bored you with (at least) twice? Because it’s about King Olaf Trygvesson and his long ship, and he was Erling Skjalgsson’s brother-in-law, and this post is my public announcement that this past Saturday, I completed my (apparent) life’s work. At least in first draft. I finished the job of getting the essential story of The Baldur Game all down on paper. Or screen. In written form, in any case. There’s lots of revising and reviewing and rewriting to do yet, but the story is tentatively finished. I know how it comes out. I’ve typed END at the end.

The author is generally the last to know whether a story is any good, of course. But I’m pleased. This is, I think, the book I always wanted to write.

If I have not created deathless art, I have at least realized my delusion, like a mad scientist in a B movie.

Music

Advent Singing: Veni, Veni, Emmanuel (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel)

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Our first hymn of the advent season is the Latin version of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. These words have been traced to the eighth century when the medieval church chanted ‘O’ Antiphons during Vespers on the final days of advent. At least, that’s when they were established in church liturgy. There is a bit of evidence suggesting they were prayed or chanted before that. The tune we use is from a Requiem Mass in a fifteenth-century French Franciscan Processional.

The English words we’re familiar with come from Englishman John M. Neale in 1851. I have copied the words sung below the next video, showing a processional in the Basel Cathedral of Switzerland.

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14 ESV).

Veni, veni Emmanuel;
Captivum solve Israel,
Qui gemit in exilio,
Privatus Dei Filio.

Refrain
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,
Nascetur pro te, Israel!

Veni o Jesse virgula!
Ex hostis tuos ungula,
De specu tuos tartari
Educ, et antro barathri.
Refrain

Veni, veni, O Oriens;
Solare nos adveniens,
Noctis depelle nebulas,
Dirasque noctis tenebras.
Refrain

Veni, Clavis Davidica!
Regna reclude caelica;
Fac iter tutum superum,
Et claude vias inferum.
Refrain

Music

Sunday Singing: How Good It Is to Thank the Lord

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For the final hymn this month, we have another adaptation of a psalm from the 1912 Psalter. “How Good It Is to Thank the Lord” is taken from Psalm 92:1-9, 12-15. The tune is called St. Petersburg by Ukrainian composer and harpsichordist Dimitri Stepanovitch Bortniansky (1751-1825).

“For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy” (Ps. 92:4 ESV).

1 How good it is to thank the Lord,
and praise to you, Most High, accord,
to show your love with morning light,
and tell your faithfulness each night;
yea, good it is your praise to sing,
and all our sweetest music bring.

2 O Lord, with joy my heart expands
before the wonders of your hands;
great works, Jehovah, you have wrought,
exceeding deep your ev’ry thought;
a foolish man knows not their worth,
nor he whose mind is of the earth.

3 When as the grass the wicked grow,
when sinners flourish here below,
then is there endless ruin nigh,
but you, O Lord, are throned on high;
your foes shall fall before your might,
the wicked shall be put to flight.

4 The righteous man shall flourish well,
and in the house of God shall dwell;
he shall be like a goodly tree,
and all his life shall fruitful be;
for righteous is the Lord and just,
he is my rock, in him I trust.

Music

Sunday Singing: O Lord, by Grace Delivered

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Noel tune by Arthur Sullivan

Today’s hymn of God’s sustaining faithfulness is an adaptation of Psalm 30 from The Psalter (1912). The Trinity Hymnal arranges the text to a tune by the great Irish-Italian composer Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900). It may be more commonly sung to another tune by Arthur Sullivan, but I stuck with the hymnal beside me and found the tune performed in the video here.

“I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me” (Ps. 30:1 ESV).

1 O Lord, by grace delivered,
I now with songs extol;
my foes you have not suffered
to glory o’er my fall.
O Lord, my God, I sought you,
and you did heal and save;
you, Lord, from death did ransom
and keep me from the grave.

2 His holy name remember;
you saints, Jehovah praise;
his anger lasts a moment,
his favor all our days;
for sorrow, like a pilgrim,
may tarry for a night,
but joy the heart will gladden
when dawns the morning light.

3 In prosp’rous days I boasted;
unmoved I shall remain;
for, Lord, by your good favor
my cause you did maintain;
I soon was sorely troubled,
for you did hide your face;
I cried to you, Jehovah,
I sought Jehovah’s grace.

4 What profit if I perish,
if life you do not spare?
Shall dust repeat your praises,
shall it your truth declare?
O Lord, on me have mercy,
and my petition hear;
that you may be my helper,
in mercy, Lord, appear.

5 My grief is turned to gladness,
to you my thanks I raise,
who have removed my sorrow
and girded me with praise;
and now, no longer silent,
my heart your praise will sing;
O Lord, my God, forever
my thanks to you I bring.

Music

Sunday Singing: I Waited for the Lord Most High

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Today’s hymn of God’s everlasting grace could benefit from faster singing. The recording here is standard for hymn singing over the last several decades, but we don’t have to stick to its tempo. Speed it up by a quarter or more, and it will feel much more joyful.

The text is adaptation of Psalm 40 by the writers of The Psalter, 1912. The tune was written by Sir Joseph Barnby of London (1838-1896).

“He put new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.” (Ps 40:3 ESV)

1 I waited for the Lord Most High,
and he inclined to hear my cry;
he took me from destruction’s pit
and from the miry clay;
upon a rock he set my feet,
and steadfast made my way.

2 A new and joyful song of praise
he taught my thankful heart to raise;
and many, seeing me restored,
shall fear the Lord and trust;
and blest are they that trust the Lord,
the humble and the just.

3 O Lord my God, how manifold
your wondrous works which I behold,
and all your loving, gracious thought
you have bestowed on man;
to count thy mercies I have sought,
but boundless is their span.

4 Before your people I confess
the wonders of your righteousness;
you know, O Lord, that I have made
your great salvation known,
your truth and faithfulness displayed,
your loving-kindness shown.

5 Withhold not now your grace from me,
O Lord, your mercy let me see,
to me your loving-kindness show,
your truth be still my stay;
let them preserve me where I go,
and keep me ev’ry day.

6 Let all who seek to see your face
be glad and joyful in your grace;
let those who your salvation love
forevermore proclaim;
O praise the Lord who dwells above,
and magnify his name.

Music

Sunday Singing: Sometimes a Light Surprises

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Sung by the congregation of Metropolitan Tabernacle, London

For November, our hymn theme will be the comforting grace and faithfulness of our Lord. Today’s hymn is from Englishman William Cowper (who got a mention in yesterday’s post), published 1779. This is probably one of the top forgotten hymns everyone should know.

“But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.” (Malachi 4:2 ESV)

1 Sometimes a light surprises
the Christian while he sings;
it is the Lord who rises
with healing in His wings;
when comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
a season of clear shining,
to cheer it after rain.

2 In holy contemplation,
we sweetly then pursue
the theme of God’s salvation,
and find it ever new.
Set free from present sorrow,
we cheerfully can say,
“E’en let the unknown morrow
bring with it what it may.”

3 “It can bring with it nothing,
but He will bear us through;
who gives the lilies clothing
will clothe His people, too;
beneath the spreading heavens
no creature but is fed;
and He who feeds the ravens
will give His children bread.”

4 Though vine nor fig tree neither
their wonted fruit should bear,
though all the field should wither,
nor flocks nor herds be there,
yet God the same abiding,
His praise shall tune my voice;
for while in Him confiding,
I cannot but rejoice.

Music

Sunday Singing: Jerusalem the Golden

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The last hymn of the month was written by Bernard of Cluny (12th century), who is thought to be French born to English parents. He is most known for this poetic work De contemptu mundi (“On Condemning the World”), written ~1140 and dedicated to the abbot of Cluny, Peter the Venerable. Englishman John Mason Neale (1818-1866) gave us this translation.

“Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. (Rev. 21:9-11 ESV)

1 Jerusalem the golden, with milk and honey blest,
beneath your contemplation sink heart and voice oppressed.
I know not, O I know not, what joys await us there;
what radiancy of glory, what bliss beyond compare.

2 They stand, those halls of Zion, all jubilant with song,
and bright with many an angel, and all the martyr throng.
The Prince is ever in them, the daylight is serene;
the pastures of the blessed are decked in glorious sheen.

3 There is the throne of David; and there, from care released,
the song of them that triumph, the shout of them that feast;
and they who with their Leader have conquered in the fight,
forever and forever are clad in robes of white.

4 O sweet and blessed country, the home of God’s elect!
O sweet and blessed country, that eager hearts expect!
Jesus, in mercy bring us to that dear land of rest;
who art, with God the Father and Spirit, ever blest.

Music

Sunday Singing: When This Passing World Is Done

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In 1837, the influential Scottish preacher Robert Murray McCheyne wrote today’s hymn of looking to the next life in faith.

“Therefore I tell you, her sins, iwhich are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47 ESV).

1 When this passing world is done,
when has sunk yon glaring sun,
when we stand with Christ on high
looking o’er life’s history,
then, Lord, shall I fully know,
not till then, how much I owe.

2 When I hear the wicked call
on the rocks and hills to fall,
when I see them start and shrink
on the fiery deluge brink,
then, Lord, shall I fully know,
not till then, how much I owe.

3 When I stand before the throne,
dressed in beauty not my own,
when I see thee as thou art,
love thee with unsinning heart,
then, Lord, shall I fully know,
not till then, how much I owe.

4 When the praise of heav’n I hear,
loud as thunders to the ear,
loud as many waters’ noise,
sweet as harp’s melodious voice,
then, Lord, shall I fully know,
not till then, how much I owe.

5 Chosen not for good in me,
wakened up from wrath to flee,
hidden in the Savior’s side,
by the Spirit sanctified,
teach me, Lord, on earth to show,
by my love, how much I owe.

Music, Non-fiction

County Highway 1.2: The Swifties Edition

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“They’re Taylor Swift fans,” the woman cleaning the floor beside me helpfully explains. “They’re very nice, but they leave glitter everywhere.”

Is County Highway, the new newspaper for America written and edited by living human beings, selling out in its second issue or weeding out its readership by publishing a five-page article on Taylor Swift’s Eros concert in Seattle? I can’t say I was prepared to read it, but I did, and taking two pages before getting to Swift herself was helpful. (I shouldn’t say that, because I don’t dislike I’ve heard of her music. I can still a few lines, but as a 50+ year old man, I feel I have better things to listen to, like maybe K-pop.) Writer David Samuels contrasts the messaging in Swift’s concert with the reality of living in Seattle, where cops have no power to handle public harassers and residents learn to ignore all humans around them in an effort to Do No Harm to the ones who’ve intended harm to themselves. The mostly female concert audience affirmed they were cute and deserved better—yeah, that’s the message the city needs to hear. If only music would get them there.

What’s in the rest of this issue? There’s a lengthy piece on Mule Days, “The Greatest Mule Show on Earth,” in Bishop, California, which used to be “one of the biggest agricultural festivals in America.” There’s an essay on logging in July, another on the equinox, and one about a 1986 cookbook called White Trash Cooking–“A Confederate general and a gay man who liked cole slaw have more in common with each other than with a Yankee.”

There’s an article about interviewing one of the men who claim to know Many Important Details about extraterrestrials and UFOs and is both eager and reluctant to share. If you watched some of the congressional hearings on UFOs several weeks ago, you probably saw this guy. Yes, he knew critical details; no, he couldn’t share them openly.

There’s an interesting piece on how GPS changes the way we understand our environment, our local world. Alex Perez has a humorous story about professional wrestling in Puerto Rico. There’s a chilling account of corrupt dealings with Columbian presidents and the Clinton Foundation.

Perhaps the heart of County Highway can be seen in this quote from the essay, “The Bull Calf,” by Sage Radecki.

Trying like hell to fix something we saw as a problem, when in reality, it wasn’t ours to fix. Nature, in all its beauty and sorrows, is something we cannot overcome. It’s simply something we need to make space for. I’m learning this daily here, on the ranch, in our work in the field and my time tending to the garden.

That’s a good word.

Music

Sunday Singing: Saints Bound for Heaven

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Today’s hymn is a traditional one on returning home. The arrangement above is by Alice Parker and Robert Shaw. The text below is from the 1916 National Jubilee Melodies, which includes two more verses than the recording above.

“Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.” (Joshua 1:3 ESV)

1 Our bondage it shall end,
By and by, by and by;
Our bondage here shall end, by and by;
From Egypt’s yoke set free,
Hail the glorious jubilee,
And to Canaan we’ll return,
By and by, by and by,
And to Canaan we’ll return by and by.

2 Our Deliverer will come,
By and by, by and by;
Our Deliverer will come, by and by;
And our sorrows have an end,
With our threescore years and ten,
And vast glory crown the day,
By and by, by and by,
And vast glory crown the day, by and by.

3 Tho’ our enemies are strong,
We’ll go on, we’ll go on;
Tho’ our enemies are strong, we’ll go on;
Tho’ our hearts dissolve with fear,
Lo, Sinai’s God is near,
While the fiery pillar moves,
We’ll go on, we’ll go on,
While the fiery pillar moves, we’ll go on.

4 Thro’ Mara’s bitter streams
We’ll go on, we’ll go on;
Thro’ Marah’s bitter streams, we’ll go on;
Tho’ Baca’s vale be dry,
And the land yield no supply,
To a land of corn and wine,
We’ll go on, we’ll go on,
To a land of corn and wine, we’ll go on.

5 And when to Jordan’s floods,
We are come, we are come,
And when to Jordan’s floods, we are come;
Jehovah rules the tide,
And the waters He’ll divide,
And the ransomed host shall shout,
We are come, we are come,
And the ransomed host shall shout, we are come.

6 Then with all the happy throng,
We’ll rejoice, we’ll rejoice;
Then with all the happy throng, we’ll rejoice;
Shouting glory to our King,
Till the vaults of heav’n ring,
And thro’ all eternity,
We’ll rejoice, we’ll rejoice,
And thro’ all eternity, we’ll rejoice.