Mystical Hymns

Some of us had a Facebook conversation about the mystical texts of William Blake and how they feed our souls.


That conversation led me to think about the mystic Poet Christopher Smart

His words were  used by the amazing Benjamin Britten in his "Rejoice in the Lamb". 

I heard this oh so many years ago at All Saints' Church, Worcester, MA.  What a joy!

https://youtu.be/2JoTLDRhcH4 


Christopher Smart's "We Sing of God" is one of my favourite mystical texts.    It  is in the Episcopal Hymnal 1982.  


1 We sing of God, the mighty source of all things; the stupendous force on which all strength depends; from whose right arm, beneath whose eyes, all period, power, and enterprise commences, reigns, and ends. 

2 Tell them I AM, the Lord God said, to Moses while on earth in dread and smitten to the heart, at once, above, beneath, around, all nature without voice or sound replied, O Lord, thou art. 

3 Glorious the sun in mid career; glorious the assembled fires appear; glorious the comet's train: glorious the trumpet and alarm; glorious the almighty stretched-out arm; glorious the enraptured main:

 4 Glorious, most glorious, is the crown of him that brought salvation down by meekness, Mary's son; seers that stupendous truth believed, and now the matchless deed's achieved, determined, dared, and done. 


 Source: The Hymnal 1982: according to the use of the Episcopal Church #386

And what a splendid tune!  Beats the crap out of "Praise Music"

https://youtu.be/Wgz-mPJRQaY





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