HE IS RISEN! Alleluia, Alleluia!

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains which He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
Now He rules, eternal King, Alleluia!
Where angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal, as God's love; Alleluia!
Sing in praise, you heavenly host,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

Latin carol, 14th century
Lyra Davidica, London 1708
Psalmodia Evangelica, London 1789
Stanza 4: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

in Just- spring...

Morning has broken,
like the first morning.
Blackbird has spoken,
like the first bird.
Praise for the singing!
Praise for the morning! Praise for them springing,
fresh from the Word

Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven.
Like the first dew fall
on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness
of the wet garden.
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning.
Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, Praise ev’ry morning.
God’s recreation of the new day!

Written by Eleanor Farjeon in 1931 and published in The Children's Bells anthology under the original title "A Morning Song (For the First Day of Spring)" published by Oxford University Press in 1957. It was written to fit the traditional Gaelic tune "Bunessan".

P.S. The post title is of course from ee cummings

No Patty Fingers in the Holy Water, Please…It’s St. Patrick’s Day!

I may not be Irish, but today, in my house we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, keeping alive our very own traditions. There’ll be no corned beef and cabbage but rather a very hearty Guinness stew followed by Irish soda bread. While the stew braises, the CDs in the background will be:

• Irish Heartbeat-Van Morrison with the Chieftains Big favorite in our house since we're both big fans of Van Morrison and the Chieftains. Favorites are "Carrickfergus" and "She Moved Through the Fair"
• Celtic Woman Some good stuff and some insufferable
• The Chieftains 4 Any Chieftains CD is a winner but this one includes the absolutely gorgeous and haunting “Mna Na Heireann” (Women of Ireland) used by Stanley Kubrick in his 1975 movie Barry Lyndon
• The Irish Isle-James Keane Traditional instrumental Irish tunes including a lovely "Carrickfergus" with harp
• Windham Hill Samplers-We play the Celtic Christmas III and IV on St. Patrick’s Day; the music transcends the season
• Gaelic Storm You might recognize this band as the Irish party band in the 1997 movie Titanic
• Herding Cats-Gaelic Storm This one has a personal meaning as my copy of the CD was given to me by the band, while I was studying music at Edinboro University in PA. I assisted the band in multiple ways when they performed at the school. In other words, I was their "roadie" for the night. I fondly recall Patrick asking me if I wanted to go to the Pub with them after the concert. Unfortunately, I had to turn him down, as I was 2 months shy of turning 21
  
  We’ll toast my Aunt Maria’s beloved Richard, who died two months before they were to be married, with the leftover Guinness from the stewmaking. And then, of course, there’ll be the annual watching of Richard’s favorite film, The Quiet Man. We'll recite the dialogue along with the movie in our pathetic Irish brogue imitations, sing along to “The Wild Colonial Boy” and tap along to the infectious "Gary Owen" theme.
  
  Favorite lines from a movie with a treasure trove of great ones:
  Mine: “Who taught ya to be playin' patty fingers in the Holy Water??”
  Aunt Maria’s: “So the I.R.A. is in this too, is it?”
  ”If it were, Red Will Danaher, not a scorched stone of your fine house would be standing".
  Richard's: "It's a nice soft night, so I think I'll join me comrades and talk a little treason."

Music for the Lenten Season

Music for Lent doesn't always have to be restrictive and funereal. While we are in a penitential state of mind, our music can reflect that state. The Alleluia may be omitted, but our voices raised in song can still inspire us to spiritual introspection. As we journey through these forty days, here is a an excellent website to help with your Lenten music meditations: Cantica Nova. Don't forget to click on the link at the bottom of the their page for a very comprehensive listing of links of suitable choral pieces for Lent with accompanying reviews and specifications.

Hey Now...It's Mardi Gras!

Before we enter into the solemnity of Lent, how about a little party music for Fat Tuesday. Here's what I'll be listening to while I enjoy my Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo followed by King Cake:

• Absolutely The Best of Cajun & Zydeco, Vol. 1&2
• Mardi Gras Party

• Very Best of the Meters

  Very Best of Dr. John

  Very Best of the Neville Brothers

And if you're celebrating Carnivale, you can samba to this classic:

• Black Orpheus Soundtrack

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!

(P.S. The King Cake and Sugar Mardi Gras Mask Pictured at the top of this post are my Aunt's from our joint blog, Diva Delights Cake and Sugar Art: Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez! and More Mardi Gras Madness)