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Category Archives: Music

Norbertines “Sound the Bell of Holy Freedom” for World Meeting of Families 2015

10 Wednesday Jun 2015

Posted by Brian in Music, Poetry

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Andrew D. Ciferni, Franklin Institute, hymns, Mary, Neilson Carlin, Our Lady of Sorrows, Pope Francis, Saint John Paul II, Sound the Bell of Holy Freedom, St. Gianna Molla, The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, WMF2015, World Meeting of Families 2015

abbey bells not altered
Norbertine bells at Daylesford Abbey, Paoli, Pennsylvania.

Sound the Bell of Holy Freedom is the hymn created for the World Meeting of Families (WWM2015) in Philadelphia this September.

Hymn lyrics were penned by Norbertine canon regular Andrew D. Ciferni, O.Praem., and music composition by Normand Gouin, the former music director at Daylesford Abbey. The Norbertines praise God in psalms, hymns and chants in their daily Mass, morning and noon prayers and vespers. Sacred sounds of word and tone have resonated in the Norbertine culture for centuries.

Liberty_Bell_2008
Liberty Bell in Philadelphia PA (1751)

Biblical verse on the Liberty Bell, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants thereof” (Leviticus 25:10).

Sound the Bell of Holy Freedom

I. The first verse of the hymn is an invitation to prayer.

Sound the bell of holy freedom; call all nations of the earth.
Sons and daughters of one Father, sent to spread God’s saving Word.
Come, and gather, as one fam’ly at the table of the Lord.

JPIIhand
Saint John Paul II hands of prayer. (From upcoming Franklin Institute exhibit Vatican Splendors.)

II. The second verse is about the family history of Jesus from David.

David branch from root of Jesse, Mary that vine’s flow’ring rose.
She brought forth for us the Savior as the angel did propose;
Overshadowed by the Spirit, by her “yes” new life arose.

HolyFamily
Holy Family with two Angels, Bologna Italy, 16th century.

This painting and the bronze cast of Saint John Paul II hands are from the upcoming Franklin Institute exhibit Vatican Splendors on display September 2015 to February 2016, direct from the Vatican.

III. The third verse is about St. Joseph and Mary.

Blessed Joseph, spouse of Mary, teacher of your God and Lord,
You did shelter and provide for wondrous child by kings adored.
Open to God’s Word in dreaming saved your child from Herod’s sword.

wmf2015 painting
Holy Family icon for WMF2015 by Neilson Carlin of Kennett Square, PA

IV. The fourth verse is about Jesus’ youth in Nazareth and the wedding at Cana.

Jesus, youth in low’ly Naz’reth, faithful son, and loving child,
Guest and host at Cana’s wedding, finest wine you did provide.
You, our rock and you our shelter, keep us ever by your side.

wedding at cana icon
The Wedding at Cana.

V. The fifth verse is about Mary’s sorrow at the cross and all mothers sorrow shared.

At the cross a grieving mother, on the cross, her only son,
With all mothers and their children, Blessed Mary, you are one.
In our joys, and in our sorrows may we do as you have done.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Our Lady of Sorrows.

VI. Closing verse

Sound the bell of holy freedom; call all fam’lies of the world
.
To be fed by love incarnate; to proclaim God’s holy Word;
Through the love of Christ our brother, in the Spirit make us one.

Eucharist stained glass window behind altarIn the line, “To be fed by love incarnate”, the hymn references the Eucharist.
Photo: Old St. Joseph’s Church, Philadelphia PA.

Hymn credits:
Text: Andrew D. Ciferni, O.Praem.,  St. Norbert College; Daylesford Abbey
Tune: PHILADELPHIA, 8 7 8 7 8 7:Normand Gouin; College of Holy Cross

Pope Francis twitter detailPope Francis will makes his first Papal visit to the USA for the WMF2015.

The Sound the Bell of Holy Freedom hymn will be heard throughout the Pope’s visit in Philadelphia. As St. Augustine said, “They who sing, pray twice.”

Pope Francis Visit 2015 to the USA:

September 23/23, 2015 – Pope Francis Visits Washington. Canonization Mass at Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception / White House meeting / Senate speech

September 25, 2015 – Pope Francis Visits New York. United Nations/ St. Patrick’s Cathedral /Ground Zero

September 26, 2015 – Pope Francis Visits Philadelphia. Children’s Hospital / Youth Prison/Festival of Families at Benjamin Franklin Parkway /Prayer Vigil for World Meeting of Families

September 26, 2015 – World Meeting of Families

Influencers
World Meeting of Families

 knotenloeserinw456
Influencer: Mary, Undoer of Knots
. This is the baroque painting by Johann Schmidtner from 1700, housed at St. Peter am Perlach, in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany.

Mary, Undoer of Knots is Pope Francis’s favorite Marian devotion.

St. Irenaeus said,

Eve, by her disobedience, tied the knot of disgrace for the human race; whereas Mary, by her obedience, undid it.

gianna center
Influencer: St. Gianna Molla
(Oct 14, 1922, – April 28, 1962). Eating lunch with her children in Magenta, Italy.

St. Gianna Molla is Patron Saint of WMF2015. St. Gianna once said:

Let us love the Cross and let us remember that we are not alone in carrying it. God is helping us. And in God who is comforting us, as St. Paul says, we can do anything.

pope-john-paul-ii-1
Influencer: Saint John Paul II, also a Patron Saint for WMF2015.

Per Saint John Paul II :

As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.”
and
“Love between man and woman cannot be built without sacrifices and self-denial.

john-paul-at-the-door
Saint John Paul II at The National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

St. John Paul II was the last pope to visit Philadelphia in 1979.

Holy Spirit in blue
“… in the Spirit make us one.” Quote from closing line of the WMF2015 hymn, Sound the Bell of Holy Freedom.

Bach’s Easter Oratorio, BWV 249 by Gardiner

05 Sunday Apr 2015

Posted by Brian in Music

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Bach, Oratorio, sacred music

Johann Sebastian Bach: Easter Oratorio, BWV 249

1 Sinfonia
2 Adagio
3 Aria. Kommt, eilet und laufet
4 Recitativo. O kalter Männer Sinn
5 Aria. Seele, deine Spezereien
6 Recitativo. Hier ist die Gruft
7 Aria. Sanfte soll mein Todeskummer
8 Recitativo. Indessen seufzen wir
9 Aria. Saget, saget mir geschwinde
10 Recitativo. Wir sind erfreut
11 Chorus. Preis und Dank

Hannah Morrison, soprano
Meg Bragle, mezzo-soprano
Nicholas Mulroy, tenor
Peter Harvey, bass

Monteverdi Choir English Baroque Soloists

John Eliot Gardiner, conductor London, Proms 2013

Lyrics – BWV 249 – The Easter Oratorio – first performed on 1 April 1725.


Cantata for the First day of Easter
1. Sinfonia 1.Sinfonia
2. Arie (Duett) T B
Kommt, eilet und laufet, ihr flüchtigen Füße,
Erreichet die Höhle, die Jesum bedeckt!
Lachen und Scherzen
Begleitet die Herzen,
Denn unser Heil ist auferweckt.
2.Aria (Duett) T B
Come, hurry and run, you speedy feet,
reach the cavern which conceals Jesus!
Laughter and merriment
accompanies our hearts,
since our Savior is risen again.
3. Rezitativ (Maria Magdalena [A], Maria Jacobi [S], Petrus [T], Johannes [B])Maria Magdalena
O kalter Männer Sinn!
Wo ist die Liebe hin,
Die ihr dem Heiland schuldig seid?Maria Jacobi
Ein schwaches Weib muß euch beschämen!Petrus
Ach, ein betrübtes GrämenJohannes
Und banges HerzeleidPeter, Johannes
Hat mit gesalzen Tränen
Und wehmutsvollem Sehnen
Ihm eine Salbung zugedacht.Maria Jacobi, Maria Magdalena
Die ihr, wie wir, umsonst gemacht.
3. Recitative (Mary Magdalene [A], Mary Jacobi [S], Peter [T], John [B])Mary Magdalene
O cold hearts of men!
Where has your love gone,
that you owe to the Savior?Mary Jacobi
A weak woman must put you to shame!Peter
Alas, a troubled grievingJohn
and anxious heartachePeter, John
along with salty tears
and woeful longing
were intended as a salve for Him.Mary Jacobi, Mary Magdalene
Which you, like us, prepared in vain.
4. Arie S
Seele, deine Spezereien
Sollen nicht mehr Myrrhen sein.
Denn allein
Mit Lorbeerkranze prangen,
Stillt dein ängstliches Verlangen.
4. Aria S
O soul, your spices
need no longer be myrrh.
For only
crowning with the laurel wreath
will quiet your anxious longing.
5. Rezitativ (Petrus [T], Johannes [B], Maria Magdalena [A])Petrus
Hier ist die GruftJohannes
Und hier der Stein,
Der solche zugedeckt.
Wo aber wird mein Heiland sein?Maria Magdalena
Er ist vom Tode auferweckt!
Wir trafen einen Engel an,
Der hat uns solches kundgetan.Petrus
Hier seh ich mit Vergnügen
Das Schweißtuch abgewickelt liegen.
5. Recitative (Peter [T], John [B], Mary Magdalene [A])Peter
Here is the graveJohn
and here the stone
which sealed it.
Where, however, can my Savior be?Mary Magdalene
He is risen from the dead!
We encountered an angel
who gave us these tidings.Peter
Here I behold, with pleasure,
His shroud lying tossed aside.
6. Arie T
Sanfte soll mein Todeskummer,
Nur ein Schlummer,
Jesu, durch dein Schweißtuch sein.
Ja, das wird mich dort erfrischen
Und die Zähren meiner Pein
Von den Wangen tröstlich wischen.
6. Aria T
Gentle shall my death-throes be,
only a slumber,
Jesus, because of your shroud.
Indeed, it will refresh me there,
and the tears of my suffering
it will tenderly wipe from my cheeks.
7. Rezitativ und Arioso (Duett) S A
Indessen seufzen wir
Mit brennender Begier:Ach, könnt es doch nur bald geschehen,
Den Heiland selbst zu sehen!
7. Recitative (Duet) S A
Meanwhile we sigh
with burning desire:Ah, could it only happen soon,
to see the Savior ourselves!
8. Arie A
Saget, saget mir geschwinde,
Saget, wo ich Jesum finde,
Welchen meine Seele liebt!
Komm doch, komm, umfasse mich;
Denn mein Herz ist ohne dich
Ganz verwaiset und betrübt.
8. Aria A
Tell me, tell me quickly,
say where I can find Jesus,
whom my soul loves!
O come, come, embrace me;
for without You my heart is
completely orphaned and wretched.
9. Rezitativ B
Wir sind erfreut,
Daß unser Jesus wieder lebt,
Und unser Herz,
So erst in Traurigkeit zerflossen und geschwebt,
Vergißt den Schmerz
Und sinnt auf Freudenlieder;
Denn unser Heiland lebet wieder.
9. Recitative B
We are delighted
that our Jesus lives again,
and our hearts,
which first dissolved and floated in grief,
forget the pain
and imagine songs of joy;
for our Savior lives again.
10. Chor
Preis und Dank
Bleibe, Herr, dein Lobgesang.
Höll und Teufel sind bezwungen,
Ihre Pforten sind zerstört.
Jauchzet, ihr erlösten Zungen,
Daß man es im Himmel hört.
Eröffnet, ihr Himmel, die prächtigen Bogen,
Der Löwe von Juda kommt siegend gezogen!
10. Chorus
Praise and thanks
remain, Lord, your hymn of praise.
Hell and devil are conquered,
its gates are destroyed.
Rejoice, you rescued tongues,
so that you are heard in heaven.
Open, o heavens, your magnificent drawbridges,
the Lion of Judah approaches in triumph!
Possibly Picander
Translation by Pamela Dellal

Come Healing – Leonard Cohen & Webb Sisters

27 Thursday Mar 2014

Posted by Brian in Music

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Lent, Leonard Cohen, Webb Sisters

Live in Helsinki, Finland 2012.

Waterfall Lenten Meditation

21 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by Brian in Music

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Lent, meditation, music

The Waterfalls:
Takkakaw Falls, Yoho National Park, B.C.
Tower Falls, Yellowstone National Park, MT
Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, CA
Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite National Park, CA
Mistaya Canyon Falls, Banff National Park, Alberta
Johnston Canyon Falls, Banff National Park, Alberta
Tangle Falls, Jasper National Park, Alberta
McWay Falls, Big Sur, California
Lake Agnes Falls, Lake Louise, Banff National Park
Virgina Falls, Glacier National Park, Montana
Athabasca Falls, Jasper, National Park Alberta
Sunwapta Falls, Jasper, National Park Alberta
Panther Falls, Jasper National Park Alberta

In High Definition (1080p)

Jesus Culture – Kim Walker

11 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by Brian in Music

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music

Lead singer from Jesus Culture band.

Chris Tomlin Burning Lights RedRocks – Live

11 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by Brian in Music

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music

Lots of energy here.

Jim James – All is Forgiven

13 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by Brian in Music

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Jim James, music, My Morning Jacket, religious overtones

Son of man
Was born in Bethlehem, called God
All us plan
Same old hallway to man
With words from God
Who said that all is forgiven
All is forgiven, oh Lord
Who said that all is forgiven
All is forgiven
Oh Lord

Oh show all to path
That rarely leads
To the promised land, oh Lord
I follow all the wrong dreams
Lost in man’s schemes
Oh Lord
I pray that all is forgiven
All is forgiven
Oh Lord
I pray that all is forgiven
All is forgiven
Oh Lord

I pray that all
I pray that all

All
All

Sting – Dead Man’s Rope

13 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by Brian in Music

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music, religious overtones, Sting


A million footsteps, this left foot drags behind my right
But I keep walking, from daybreak â??til the falling night
And as days turn into weeks and years
And years turn into lifetimes
I just keep walking, like I’ve been walking for a thousand years

Walk away in emptiness, walk away in sorrow,
Walk away from yesterday, walk away tomorrow,

If you’re walking to escape, to escape from your affliction
You’d be walking in a great circle, a circle of addiction
Did you ever wonder what you’d been carrying since the world was black?
You see yourself in a looking glass with a tombstone on your back

Walk away in emptiness, walk away in sorrow,
Walk away from yesterday, walk away tomorrow,
Walk away in anger, walk away in pain
Walk away from life itself, walk into the rain

All this wandering has led me to this place
Inside the well of my memory, sweet rain of forgiveness
I’m just hanging here in space

Now I’m suspended between my darkest fears and dearest hope
Yes I’ve been walking, now I’m hanging from a dead man’s rope
With Hell below me, and Heaven in the sky above
I’ve been walking, I’ve been walking away from Jesus’ love

Walk away in emptiness, walk away in sorrow,
Walk away from yesterday, walk away tomorrow,
Walk away in anger, walk away in pain
Walk away from life itself, walk into the rain

All this wandering has led me to this place
Inside the well of my memory, sweet rain of forgiveness
I’m just hanging here in space

The shadows fall
Around my bed
When the hand of an angel,
The hand of an angel is reaching down above my head

All this wandering has led me to this place
Inside the well of my memory, sweet rain of forgiveness
Now I’m walking in his grace
I’m walking in his footsteps
Walking in his footsteps,
Walking in his footsteps

All the days of my life I will walk with you
All the days of my life I will talk with you
All the days of my life I will share with you
All the days of my life I will bear with you

Walk away from emptiness, walk away from sorrow,
Walk away from yesterday, walk away tomorrow,
Walk away from anger, walk away from pain
Walk away from anguish, walk into the rain.

Chants Easter by Chanticleer

31 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by Brian in Music

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Chanticleer, Chants, Easter

VI. “Easter”
11. Gloria in excelsis 2
12. Alleluia 5. Pascha nostrum immolatus est Christus
13. Sequentia: Victimae paschali laudes immolent Christus
14. Offertorium: Iubilate Deo
15. Agnus Dei 17

VII. “In Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
16. Alma redemptoris Mater
17. Ave Regina caelorum
18. Regina caeli
19. Salve Regina

Kings of Leon

02 Friday Nov 2012

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Newsboys

17 Monday Sep 2012

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The Cover Art

Jan Van Eyck, “The Adoration of the Lamb” 1432 from the Ghent Alterpiece. Detail: The red altar where the lamb stands reads, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world” and “Jesus the way, the truth, and the life”, both quotes from Gospel of John. In this image and in the book of Revelation the Lamb is Jesus. Directly around the Lamb on the altar are angels who are carrying the instruments in the Passion scenes, like the cross and crown of thorns.

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There's beauty in sacred spaces; from the stories they tell in architecture, stained glass windows and icons; to the rituals and liturgy that arises our soul. Inside a shrine, the angels and saints praise God with us. I hope to relay the message for the kingdom, power and glory of God, now and forever.

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