If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee

This is a very unpolished and imperfect recording...and I don't know these people. :-) But if you haven't heard the song, this is a suitable introduction. I am currently obsessed with copying out several phrases and pasting them everywhere. :-)

1. If thou but suffer God to guide thee
 And hope in Him through all thy ways,
 He'll give thee strength, whate'er betide thee,
 And bear thee through the evil days.
 Who trusts in God's unchanging love
 Builds on the Rock that naught can move.
 
 2. What can these anxious cares avail thee,
 These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
 What can it help if thou bewail thee
 O'er each dark moment as it flies?
 Our cross and trials do but press
 The heavier for our bitterness.
 
 3. Be patient and await His leisure
 In cheerful hope, with heart content
 To take whate'er thy Father's pleasure
 And His discerning love hath sent,
 Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
 To Him who chose us for His own.
 
 4. God knows full well when times of gladness
 Shall be the needful thing for thee.
 When He has tried thy soul with sadness
 And from all guile has found thee free,
 He comes to thee all unaware
 And makes thee own His loving care.
 
 5. Nor think amid the fiery trial
 That God hath cast thee off unheard,
 That he whose hopes meet no denial
 Must surely be of God preferred.
 Time passes and much change doth bring
 And sets a bound to everything.
 
 6. All are alike before the Highest;
 'Tis easy to our God, we know,
 To raise thee up, though low thou liest,
 To make the rich man poor and low.
 True wonders still by Him are wrought
 Who setteth up and brings to naught.
 
 7. Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving,
 Perform thy duties faithfully,
 And trust His Word, though undeserving,
 Thou yet shalt find it true for thee.
 God never yet forsook in need
 The soul that trusted Him indeed.

        
Notes:
        Hymn #518 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Ps. 55:22
        Author: Georg Neumark, 1640
        Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
        Titled: "Wer nur den lieben Gott laesst walten"
        Composer: Georg Neumark, 1640
        Tune: "Wer nur den lieben Gott"

Glass Harp?

Dare to Live - Andrea Bocelli and Laura Pausini

There is "one truth", but the rhyming is nice....

Otherwise love the lyrics, voices, and arrangement.

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

Beautiful Piano Arrangements

Black Eyes - The Paganini Duo

Not the best recoding, but this type of violin is...my type. :-)

Riverside - John Gorka

Riverside

Time is a river
With no riverside
Space a sea
That has no tide

Can't get across, no
It's too wide
If you have loved then
You have cried

We are dust that was
Made in stars
Now we roll off
To work in cars

When we were young

We'd spill our
Dreams in bars
Now we clean up the mess

A little bit of thought
Can make a lot of sense
And every little day

Can make a difference

Yes, I'm speaking in
Present tense
Where my faults
And seams wear through

I can be more than
Than a little dance
You're gonna get splinters
If you ride that fence

Still I like the way
The river bends
When it turns
Back to you

We called it gravy
Never called it sauce
You better learn something
If you love gets lost

Like how hard the hurt
How high the cost
How all smooth
Goes to rust

Time is a river
With no riverside
Space a sea
That has no tide

Can't get across, no
It's too wide
If you have loved then
You have cried.

~By John Gorka

My weakness for "Balle Balle"

Okay...Bride and Prejudice has more than it's share of faults. I know a lot of people who were just weirded out...

For me, the movie makes me happy but the characters are poorly drawn, some of the content is unnecessary, the romances is pretty lame, and the general flow of the movie is kind of a fail.

However, I love the music... Which is a big deal for me since I don't like most musicals at all.

This sort of music makes me happy (the pieces I like best are sometimes reminiscent of Slumdog Millionaire but happier).

The movie had an interesting premise and could have been great, but it wasn't. That doesn't mean the music can't be enjoyed. :-)

This is my official cleaning (and dancing) in the kitchen music.

The video has several moments of silence at the end. I couldn't find a better one unless you actually want to watch the movie scene. The movie scene is a beautiful wedding hubbub celebration. If you can't laugh and smile about it you need to lighten up. :-)

But unfortunately some of the dancing isn't all that chaste so I'm posting this instead...

Perhaps this post wasn't all that terribly edifying, but it might help you understand my psyche and how I cope with stress.

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

The Seven Words on the Cross - A Hymn

Jesus, in Thy Dying Woes

1. Jesus, in Thy dying woes Even while Thy life-blood flows, Craving pardon for Thy foes: Hear us, holy Jesus. 2. Saviour, for our pardon sue When our sins Thy pangs renew, For we know not what we do: Hear us, holy Jesus. 3. Oh, may we who mercy need Be like Thee in heart and deed When with wrong our spirits bleed: Hear us, holy Jesus. 4. Jesus, pitying the sighs Of the thief who near Thee dies, Promising him Paradise: Hear us, holy Jesus. 5. May we in our guilt and shame Still Thy love and mercy claim, Calling humbly on Thy name: Hear us, holy Jesus. 6. May our hearts to Thee incline, Looking from our cross to Thine, Cheer our souls with hope divine: Hear us, holy Jesus. 7. Jesus, loving to the end Her whose heart Thy sorrows rend, And Thy dearest human friend: Hear us, holy Jesus. 8. May we in Thy sorrows share, For Thy sake all peril dare, And enjoy Thy tender care: Hear us, holy Jesus. 9. May we all Thy loved ones be, All one holy family, Loving for the love of Thee: Hear us, holy Jesus. 10. Jesus, whelmed in fears unknown, With our evil left alone, While no light from heaven is shown: Hear us, holy Jesus. 11. When we vainly seem to pray And our hope seems far away, In the darkness be our Stay: Hear us, holy Jesus.

12. Though no Father seem to hear, Though no light our spirits cheer, May we know that God is near: Hear us, holy Jesus. 13. Jesus, in Thy thirst and pain, While Thy wounds Thy life-blood drain, Thirsting more our love to gain: Hear us, holy Jesus. 14. Thirst for us in mercy still, Satisfy Thy loving will: All Thy holy work fulfil. Hear us, holy Jesus. 15. May we thirst Thy love to know; Lead us in our sin and woe Where the healing waters flow: Hear us, holy Jesus. 16. Jesus, all our ransom paid, All Thy Father's will obeyed, By Thy sufferings perfect made: Hear us, holy Jesus. 17. Save us in our soul's distress, Be our Help to cheer and bless While we grow in holiness: Hear us, holy Jesus. 18. Brighten all our heavenward way With an ever holier ray Till we pass to perfect day: Hear us, holy Jesus. 19. Jesus, all Thy labour vast, All Thy woe and conflict past, Yielding up Thy soul at last: Hear us, holy Jesus. 20. When the death shades round us lower, Guard us from the Tempter's power, Keep us in that trial hour: Hear us, holy Jesus. 21. May Thy life and death supply Grace to live and grace to die, Grace to reach the home on high: Hear us, holy Jesus. By Thomas B. Pollock, 1870

Every age and hour

No. 26 (52) Chorale

In Meines Herzens Grunde,

In the bottom of my heart,

Dein Nam und Kreuz allein

your name and cross alone

funkelt all Zeit und Stunde,

shines forth every age and hour,

drauf kann ich frohlich sein.

for which I can be joyful.

Erschein mir in dem Bilde

Appear before me in the image,

zu Trost in meiner Not,

as comfort in my distress:

wie du, Herr Christ, so milde

how you, Lord Christ, so abundantly

Dich hast geblut'zu Tod!

did bleed to death!

~From Bach's St. John's Passion

I Will Follow You - from Bach's St. John's Passion

Earlier this month we were able to go to a beautiful performance of Bach's St. John's Passion in Portland. I'd heard most of it before, but never sat through it concentrating and reading the English translation.

If you can get a DVD, I strongly recommend adding it to your Lent traditions. I really want to become more familiar with it. The words are simply amazing. Can you imagine having something like this song in your own language? It makes me want to learn German (even more than usual).

This aria comes right after Jesus arrest and the Evangelist sings -

"Simon Petrus aber folgete Jesu nach und ein ander Junger"

Simon Peter, however, and another disciple followed Jesus.

This is the first soprano solo and focuses on something I've been thinking lately.

The live video isn't the best, but the building is beautiful behind them all. ;-)

No. 9 (13) Aria (Soprano)

Ich folge dir gleichfalls mit freudiegen Schritten
I will follow you likewise with joyful steps

und lasse dich nicht,

and will not let you [go],
mein Leben, mein Licht.

my Life, my Light.

Befordre den Lauf

Hasten the way,

und hore nicht auf,

and do not cease,

selbst an mir zu ziehen, zu schieben, zu bitten.

yourself, to pull at, to push [and] to beseech me.

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

St. Patrick's Breastplate

I love this song and it has been an excellent encouragement and reminder.

This is a slightly different version then our church normally sings...

St. Patrick's Breastplate

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this today to me forever
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of cherubim;
The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,
The Patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

Indulging in some of my favorite music...

Not the best recording ever... but beautiful.

Thanks for stopping by. :-)

Miss Pickwickian

Background - Lecrea

For something very different...

....I know I miss my cues, know I forget my lines
I'm sticking to your script...

....So, just let me shadow you. And just let me trace your lines.
Matter fact just take my pen.
Here, you create my rhymes....

O Lord, My God, Most Earnestly - Psalm 63

I couldn't find a good Youtube video of this, but the Cantus Christi Thomas Tallis version of Psalm 63 is one of my favorites. The tune is beautiful, but the words are truly amazing. Reminders I need everyday.

O Lord, My God, Most Earnestly

Psalm 63

Thomas Tallis, 1567; alt.

Psalter, 1912

rev. Psalter Hymnal, 1987

O Lord, my God, most earnestly I seek Your holy face,

Within Your house again to see the glories of Your grace.

Apart from You I long and thirst and naught can satisfy;

I wander in a desert land where all the streams are dry.

The loving kindness of my God is more than life to me,

So I will praise You all my days and pray continually.

In You my soul is satisfied, my darkness turns to light,

and joyful meditations fill the watches of the night.

Beneath the shadow of Your wings I sing my joy and praise.

Your right hand is my strong support through troubled nights and days.

All those who seek my life will fall; my life is in Your hand.

God's king and people will rejoice; in victory they will stand.

Josh Groban's Illumanations

So...I've been having an interesting time listening to Josh Groban's new CD, Illuminations.

I know there's been some discussion on it since it is pretty different from his other CDs. The instrumentals are different and the songs are different.

I love the instrumentals, but to be honest, I'm not sure what he exactly meant with all the lyrics.

For instance, Please Follow Me puzzled me for the first dozen times or so...I think it's an amazing song and I know what I think it means, but still not confident on what he wanted it to mean.

Higher Window is my second favorite-

Over all, I like the CD better than his previous ones, but I wish there were more notes with the album. I think I know what they mean and I often like lyrics you have to think about (I'm a Bob Dyan fan if you hadn't noticed).

But still...it would be interesting to know what he meant when writing them.

What do think Please Follow Me is about? How about War at Home? Or this one, Higher Window?

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

Much Ado's "Sigh No More"

Words: Obviously... Shakespeare :-)

Music: Patrick Doyle

A detailed review coming one of these days... ;-)

Thanks for reading,

Miss Pickwickian

Desperado - Michael Ball

Here is a 1994 video of Michael Ball.

His style has changed somewhat, but this is still a beautifully done song. My sister got Encore, a three CD Micheal Ball set, for Christmas...so, we've been listening to it a lot. :-) This is one of my favorites on the album.

I love his voice, but not always the arrangements and instrumentals. His Empty Chairs at Empty Tables is probably one of the most moving songs in the world (at least for me).

Perhaps, like me, you will prefer age and weight to this hair...but this is the only video I can find of Desperado.

Desperado

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard one
I know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' you
Can hurt you somehow

Don't you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
She'll beat you if she's able
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet

Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can't get

Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no younger
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home
And freedom, oh freedom well, that's just some people talkin'
Your prison is walking through this world all alone

Don't your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
You're losin' all your highs and lows
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away?

Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate
It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you, before it's too late

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

Jewish Violin Music

I love this type of music.

The album Songs of our Fathers by Andy Statman and David Grisman is an intense favorite. So lyrical...and sometimes so energetic. There is a medley we dance Whip-the-Willow to that is just the best. :-)

Songs of Zion by Maurice Sklar is another CD that's been around our house for a long time. And now, of course, the Defiance soundtrack. :-)

We should produce music like this!

This song is played by the French violinist, Patrick Chemla.

I've grown up with pieces of this music but I don't think I'll ever think of them the same after reading Elie Wiesel's Night. The scene where his friend plays the violin while they are all waiting in the cold is one of the most moving of the book.

Elie falls asleep to the sound and wakes up and the violinist and most of the people around him are dead...from cold and hunger. The violinist is still holding his instrument in the same position.

Tennessee Waltz - Colm Wilkinson

I finally used my ITunes gift card and bought Colm Wilkinson's Broadway and Beyond the Concert Songs.

Unfortunately I'm still a noob (in a big way) with my MP3 player and can't figure out how to get new music on it...but I have been able to listen to the album on my computer.

It is an extremely interesting variety and one of the songs included is this one....

I'm afraid he doesn't realize all we require him to do is to hold still and sing... Too many awesome musicals performances I guess. :-)

Even if his animation and stage presence annoys you stay until the end of the video. It's the best. ;-)

If you think this is a weird song for Colm Wilkinson track down his Whiskey in the Jar. LOL. :-)

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

P.S. Unless you get the wrong impression... I am not in general a musical fan...but I do love Colm Wilkinson's voice and I am a Les Miserables fan. In a big way. :-)

This Little Babe - Robert Southwell.

"Adoration of the Shepherds"

Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1779

This little Babe so few days old,

Is come to rifle Satan's fold;

All hell doth at his presence quake,

Though he himself for cold do shake;

For in this weak unarmed wise

The gates of hell he will surprise.

With tears he fights and wins the field,

His naked breast stands for a shield;

His battering shot are babish cries,

His arrows made of weeping eyes,

His martial ensigns cold and need,

And feeble flesh his warrior's steed.

His camp is pitched in a stall,

His bulwark but a broken wall;

The crib his trench, haystalks his stakes,

Of shepherds he his muster makes;

And thus as sure his foe to wound,

The Angels' trumps alarum sound.

My soul with Christ join thou in fight,

Stick to the tents that he hath pight;

Within his crib is surest ward,

This little Babe will be thy guard;

If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy,

Then flit not from this heavenly boy.

-Robert Southwell

"If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy"... Love that.

I really like a lot of Christmas songs, but this is my favorite. :-)

Hope you are all are having an amazing Christmas. I am. :-)

Thanks for reading,

Miss Pickwickian