Sunday Playlist - 11/1/2020

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzrVlXh4mc1OwZ6YkcXnXhn_5EYlw0qXv

A friend of mine who lived in the former Soviet Union claims that at the time, there was a saying, "A pessimist is an optimist who is well-informed."

I like to believe that I'm well-informed, and that there is nonetheless reason to be optimistic that in a few days, we will see that democracy has not died, that the people are not in favor of hate, that they are not against science and evidence, that the US, despite its many sins and shortcomings, still has promise. At least, I pray that's the outcome.

So the playlist this week includes some rousing songs of optimistic protest. Let us hope that the times they are a changin', and that the people united around inclusion and care will not be defeated by the few united around exclusion and indifference.

From Anonymous 4, we have another Southern Harmony piece that seems appropriate for All Saint's Day.

Finally the lyrics to the chant by Hildegard also seem appropriate to both the election and All Saints. (The translation is by Nathaniel Campbell, Hildegard Society):

O Pastor animarum et O prima vox
per quam omnes creati sumus,
nunc tibi, tibi placeat ut digneris nos
liberare de miseriis
et languoribus nostris.

O Shepherd of our souls, O primal voice,
whose call created all of us:
Now hear our plea to thee, to thee, and deign
to free us from our miseries
and feebleness.