6-16-24 Music

When you go to seminary, you spend a lot of time discussing “call stories,” your own, your classmates’, and the stories in the Biblical narrative. I have always related more to the story of Jacob wrestling with God. As my friend and colleague Dave Peppler shared that text at my ordination a little over three years ago, the story of “struggling and overcoming” was my call. That said, I could probably afford to do a little more work reflecting on the call of Samuel, which is our focus text this week, and the mantra it presents: “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Our hymns this week are conversations, mostly between God the speaker, and we the listener. The first is the only “one direction” hymn, a prayer, asking God to Open My Eyes, that I May See (Chalice Hymnal, 586). You know how it continues, “glimpses of truth thou hast for me.. Open my eyes/ears/heart illumine me, Spirit divine!” Clara Scott (1841-1897), who wrote this later in her life, begins with the eyes and ears, asking for God to open them for us. I find this to be a little interesting, in that she asks God to do for us what most of us have the ability to do ourselves. I doubt she was going into Eastern philosophies of “third eye,” yet there is some sense that to do anything well, even opening our eyes and ears, we do with God’s help and at God’s behest. Indeed, it is not until we have twice sung of opening eyes and ears, that the singer opens their mouth (poetically, hopefully you have been singing mouth open thus far). Immediately after singing “open my mouth,” Scott has us opening our heart, and again waiting silently and ready.

After the Time with Children we will sing the first of two hymns written as conversations, both by Catholic hymnwriters. Sister Delores Dufner, of the Order of Saint Benedict, or Benedictine order, published Listen, All Who Long for Life in 2016. It alternates perspective, beginning with God (left up to the singer to wonder if this may be God-as-Christ, Spirit, Parent, or the Trinity-as-God), and shifting to human, or maybe humanity. Dufner ignores any traditional rhyme scheme. It is still poetry. An anaphora, or repeated word, “Listen” is repeated eight times across the three God-view stanzas. This mirrors the word, “word,” repeated 8 times in the human-view stanzas. As we sing my hope is that a small group of diverse voices will represent the voice of God, while the congregation sings the voice of humanity. As “God” sings, take note of where the ears are directed in stanza five. You can read the text below.

The tune, ORIENTIS PARTIBUS is not one that we have in Chalice, but it has been sung occasionally at Grace over the years, including as an alternate tune for There’s a Spirit in the Air. The tune name does not actually translate as “Eastern Party Bus” as it looks at first glance, but it might actually be even stranger. It is from the beginning of the play politely called “The Friendly Beasts.” Orientis partibus adventavit asinus, or “From the east the ass has come.” Modern versions simply make reference to Jesus being born amongst the beasts, but originally the refrain was “Hail, Sir Ass, Hail!” with Christ portrayed as a donkey, a beast known for carrying great burden. So, as we are listening to God, remember that God spoke on earth not through a warhorse, but through humble donkey.

The Hymn of Invitation will be what is probably the most famous “conversation hymn,” Here I Am, Lord, otherwise known as, I the Lord of Sea and Sky (CH 452), written by Dan Schutte while he was a Jesuit seminarian. Since its publication in 1981 it has been included in over 60 different hymnals, and often makes top 10 lists of favorite hymns. I caution the singer to not fall into the old Popeye habit- “I yam what I yam,” when singing. God knows what we sing, but human ears are not always so discerning. It is fitting that we will end a service on listening by concluding, “I will hold your people in my heart.” Hold all God’s people closely.

I will miss you all this week while I heed the advice God gave my colleagues and friends to give to me, and take a vacation day every once in a while. I know you will be in good hands with Deb Loftis, and Mikey Fuller who will be back at the console. I will see you next week.

Happy singing. See yall next week.

Chris

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A few recordings to listen to:

Here is Open My Eyes, as sung by the Riverside NY Church choir. I'm reminded that I don't miss singing with a mask on, at all. Yet there is something about singing “open my eyes and ears,” when the mouth is obstructed:

https://youtu.be/o7e8dq6xx4k

I've only been able to find one recording of Listen All Who Long for Life, and it comes from another Grace Church! In this case, Grace Episcopal in Mount Clemens, MI. It begins at about 14:00, and then they sing a few more verses after the gospel reading:

https://youtu.be/PaHNG12F2s4?feature=shared&t=832

Here is a lovely arrangement of Here I Am, Lord, by Ovid Young, sung by the Luther College Choir. Seeing all those kids holding hands as they sing this, I must say, got me feeling some feelings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W4gABkEGHA

And sometimes I feel the need to search for “(hymn name) bagpipes” and see what happens:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQFBw1BRPXs

Enjoy a hymn with a friend this week. It is like coffee, except it doesn’t have that lovely smell.

Chris

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[1] Perhaps this is a listening to a different kind of call, but there is something about shared listening. Photo by George Milton from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/delighted-young-multiethnic-female-friends-smiling-and-listening-to-music-in-earphones-6954088/

6-23-24 Music

6-9-24 Music