Sunday Playlist - 11/15/2020

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzrVlXh4mc1NZRMlUDpb1lwUWNy9OXkw_

Basant is a Hindustani raga associated with spring. This short performance is taken from a compilation, The Raga Guide. I’ve found this guide helpful as a westerner with minimal knowledge of the music of India. Notice that, as in all ragas, the ascending and descending scale that forms the base melody subsequently goes through many variations. To me, the piece is buoyant and signals hope.

“How I Got Over” is most often associated with Mahalia Jackson, who sang it at the march on Washington. Here it is performed by Joshua Nelson, who teaches Hebrew and sings in the African American gospel tradition.

Next is Renaissance polyphony from Portuguese composer Duarte Lobo, “Audivi vocem,” I heard a voice, based on the text that Pastor Clinton spoke about last Sunday.

Audivi vocem de caelo venientem: venite omnes virgines sapientissime;
oleum recondite in vasis vestris dum sponsus advenerit.
Media nocte clamor factus est: ecce sponsus venit.

I heard a voice coming from heaven: come all wisest virgins;
fill your vessels with oil, for the bridegroom is coming.
In the middle of the night there was a cry: behold the bridegroom comes.

(Text and translation from Wikimedia)

I’ve included another Sacred Harp piece, this one with thematic connections to the Audivi vocem:

Sacred Harp 26 “Samaria”

My spirit looks to God alone,
My rock and refuge is His throne;
In all my fears, in all my straits,
My soul on His salvation waits.
Trust Him ye saints in all your ways,
Pour out your hearts before His face;
When helpers fail, and foes invade,
God is our all-sufficient aid.

Make not increasing gold your trust,
Nor set your hearts on glitt’ring dust;
Why will you grasp the fleeting smoke,
And not believe what God hath spoke?
For sov’reign pow’r reign not alone,
Grace is the partner of the throne;
Thy grace and justice mighty Lord,
Shall well divide our last reward.

 (Text from Sacred Harp Bremen)

Finally, the beat poet, Lawrence Ferlenghetti, reads “The World Is A Beautiful Place.” Beyond “I love this reading,” I’ll say no more.

Update from Derek: Oops. I just realized that I included the wrong lyrics to the Duarte Lobo piece. The correct lyrics are in the video itself and are based on the Latin version of Revelation 14:13. For a setting of the lyrics that I posted in my notes, here is a bonus by John Taverner: https://youtu.be/5QmczRTXVTk