The first time I heard Five Mystical Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams, was an Epiphany for me ... a wonderful awakening to a celebration and renewal of my faith in Christ through words and music that will always stir me to aliveness and alertness in my Christian walk.
This tapestry of faith, music, and art, began in the early 1600's by George Herbert, an Anglican priest of Welsh birth. The tapestry continues to be stitched in gold with you dear Reader. I hope you'll take the time to listen to this music and reflect on the text.
Five Mystical Songs is a composition by Ralph Vaughan Williams, written between 1906 and 1911. The work sets four poems by George Herbert, from his 1633 collection The Temple: Sacred Poems. Below are the poem texts to the final three movements from Vaughan Williams work.
Follow the poems below while listening to these movements here: FIVE MYSTICAL SONGS 3-5
Both the poem and music for "Love Bade Me Welcome" exquisitely present a picture of the tender Love and welcome of God. It's a beautiful piece to listen to anytime, but particularly when we find ourselves lying in the dust and are pretty sure we're a long way from being welcomed into God's house for the Feast.
3. Love Bade Me Welcome - from Love (III)
Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back.
Guiltie of dust and sinne.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack'd anything.
A guest, I answer'd, worthy to be here:
Love said, You shall be he.
I the unkinde, ungratefull? Ah, my deare,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?
Truth Lord, but I have marr'd them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, sayes Love, who bore the blame?
My deare, then I will serve.
You must sit down, sayes Love, and taste my meat:
So I did sit and eat.
"The Call" is pregnant with references from and illusions to Christ's words in the gospels. Three stanzas, each beginning with the lovely invitation where the Lord is now invited by us ... Come!
4. The Call - from The Call
Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
Such a Way, as gives us breath:
Such a Truth, as ends all strife:
Such a Life, as killeth death.
Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength:
Such a Light, as shows a feast:
Suc.h a Feast, as mends in length:
Such a Strength, as makes his guest.
Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:
Such a Joy, as none can move:
Such a Love, as none can part:
Such a Heart, as joyes in love.
The final movement, "Antiphon" cements the relationship. Every corner of the world is called upon to join in this song of praise. With such incredible Love welcoming us, feeding us, who can not help but shout and sing?
5. Antiphon - from Antiphon (I)
Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing:
My God and King.
The heavens are not too high,
His praise may thither flie;
The earth is not too low,
His praises there may grow.
Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing:
My God and King.
The Church with psalms must shout,
No doore can keep them out;
But above all, the heart
Must bear the longest part.
Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing:
My God and King.
This tapestry of faith, music, and art, began in the early 1600's by George Herbert, an Anglican priest of Welsh birth. The tapestry continues to be stitched in gold with you dear Reader. I hope you'll take the time to listen to this music and reflect on the text.
Five Mystical Songs is a composition by Ralph Vaughan Williams, written between 1906 and 1911. The work sets four poems by George Herbert, from his 1633 collection The Temple: Sacred Poems. Below are the poem texts to the final three movements from Vaughan Williams work.
Follow the poems below while listening to these movements here: FIVE MYSTICAL SONGS 3-5
Both the poem and music for "Love Bade Me Welcome" exquisitely present a picture of the tender Love and welcome of God. It's a beautiful piece to listen to anytime, but particularly when we find ourselves lying in the dust and are pretty sure we're a long way from being welcomed into God's house for the Feast.
3. Love Bade Me Welcome - from Love (III)
Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back.
Guiltie of dust and sinne.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack'd anything.
A guest, I answer'd, worthy to be here:
Love said, You shall be he.
I the unkinde, ungratefull? Ah, my deare,
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?
Truth Lord, but I have marr'd them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not, sayes Love, who bore the blame?
My deare, then I will serve.
You must sit down, sayes Love, and taste my meat:
So I did sit and eat.
"The Call" is pregnant with references from and illusions to Christ's words in the gospels. Three stanzas, each beginning with the lovely invitation where the Lord is now invited by us ... Come!
4. The Call - from The Call
Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
Such a Way, as gives us breath:
Such a Truth, as ends all strife:
Such a Life, as killeth death.
Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength:
Such a Light, as shows a feast:
Suc.h a Feast, as mends in length:
Such a Strength, as makes his guest.
Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:
Such a Joy, as none can move:
Such a Love, as none can part:
Such a Heart, as joyes in love.
The final movement, "Antiphon" cements the relationship. Every corner of the world is called upon to join in this song of praise. With such incredible Love welcoming us, feeding us, who can not help but shout and sing?
5. Antiphon - from Antiphon (I)
Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing:
My God and King.
The heavens are not too high,
His praise may thither flie;
The earth is not too low,
His praises there may grow.
Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing:
My God and King.
The Church with psalms must shout,
No doore can keep them out;
But above all, the heart
Must bear the longest part.
Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing:
My God and King.
CHRIST PANTOKRATOR
in the apse of the Cathedral of Cefalù, Sicily, Italy
Mosaic in Byzantine style
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