vocal

In Peace and Joy

Catherine Winkworth was a hymn writer/translator/poet who lived in Bristol in the 1800s. I’ve been going to her words/translations for a lot of inspiration for hymn tunes of various kinds.

This is… between doodle and more… an upgraded doodle!  Well—a composed tune last week, a fairly quick recording, then edited and sketched in a couple more lines.  The singing and piano I recorded live in church yesterday, which unfortunately means I can’t do anything about the balance there or anything else, but it’s a lovely piano sound 🙂

lyrics

In peace and joy I now depart,
According to God’s will,
For full of comfort is my heart,
So calm and sweet and still;
So doth God His promise keep,
And death for me is but a sleep.

’T is Christ hath wrought this work for me,
Thy dear and only son,
Whom Thou hast suffer’d me to see,
And made Him surely known
As my Help when trouble’s rife,
And even in death itself my Life.

For Thou In mercy unto all
Hast set this Saviour forth;
And to His kingdom Thou dost call
The nations of the earth
Through His blessed wholesome Word,
That now in every place is heard.

He is the heathens’ saving Light,
And He will gently lead
Those who now know Thee not aright,
And in His pastures feed;
While His people’s joy He is,
Their Sun, their glory, and their bliss.

6 Catherine Winkworth songs

Winkworth songs mix
Then on, my soul, with fearless faith
Let nought to terror move thee

I kind of wrote six songs today and yesterday… enjoying in places the 70s-90s chorus mood…

— melodies & chords!  To Christmas songs/hymn lyrics by Catherine Winkworth found at this website (one more from the other day is here).

Above is a brief taste of each:

  • Ever would I fain be reading
  • Is they heart athirst to know
  • Redeemer of the Nations, Come
  • O wouldst thou in thy glory come
  • Blessed Jesus, this..
  • O Christ Thou True and Only Light

A Spotless Rose

Some might say that it’s January and time to stop writing Christmas songs.  But, they would be wrong.

Another one done in the space before choir, live with piano (and recorded just on phone again I’m afraid) — words by, well, translated by, Catherine Winkworth, who lived really near where I live, fun fact.

A spotless Rose is blowing
Sprung from a tender root,
Of ancient seers’ foreshowing,
Of Jesse promised fruit;
Its fairest bud unfolds to light
Amid the cold, cold winter
And in the dark midnight.

The Rose which I am singing,
Whereof Isaiah said,
Is from its sweet root springing
In Mary, purest Maid;
For through our God’s great love and might
The blessed babe she bare us
In a cold, cold winter’s night.

Angels we have heard….

Angels we have heard your voices

GOTTA WRITE SOME CAROLS/Christmas songs!! #2

It’s upbeat and pentatonic-y!

1. Angels, we have heard your voices,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains;
Mount, and crag and hill replying,
Echo still your joyous strains:

Chorus:
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

2. Shepherds, why this jubilation?
Why this ecstasy of song?
Tell us what may be the tidings
That inspired the heavenly throng? Chorus

3. Come and see in Bethlem’s city
Him whose birth the angels sing;
And, on bended knee, adore him,
Christ the Lord, the new-born King! Chorus

4. See, within a manger lying,
Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth;
Aid us, Mary, aid us, Joseph,
To acclaim our Saviour’s birth Chorus

Words: Traditional French carol, “Les Anges dans nos Campagnes.” Adaptation of the translation by Bishop Chadwick by R. R. Terry again, many thanks to Hymns and Carols of Christmas for organising all these words!!

Recorded on phone, with real-life authentic reverb 😀  

O Night!

O Night, restful and deep

GOTTA WRITE SOME CAROLS/Christmas songs!! #1

Melody only at present.

O Night, restful and deep
The Babe folded in sleep,
In a poor manger dreameth!
Moonlight softly doth shine,
Around melody streameth:
“He is the Babe Divine!”

O Dawn, rosy and shy,
Greet Him where He doth lie,
At the birds’ call awaking!
As clouds fleeing from sight,
So all shadows are breaking:
’ He is the dark World’s Light!’

O Morn, lovely and blest,
Round Him, guarding His rest,
Angels are gently singing:
’ Hail Him! Heavenly Dove!’
Their notes joyfully ringing:
’ He is the King of Love!’

O Day, glorious the hour,
Jesus mighty in power,
Waketh in lowly manger!
He bids sorrowing cease;
Seek Him ever in danger!
He is the sad World’s Peace.

Words: O bienheureuse nuit, a French Noel; English Translation by K. W. Simpson.  sourced from this wonderful website

Recorded on a phone, and all the seemingly excessive is literal and genuine from recording in a reverberant church…