What we will be singing in Church for Jesseʻs Celebration of Life on 3/11
Here are the five hymns that we will all be singing – we are still working on the sequence. Jesse will be very pleased if we all sing out with the confidence of having checked it out in advance – although discovering these for the first time as you sing them is also cool – but will probably require a hanky.
1) The most somber one is “Commit Thou All That Grieves Thee” in an arrangement by J.S. Bach featured in his St. Matthew Passion. Here is a piano version over the sheet music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U40dKLf7b7c
Some of you might recognize the adaptation by Paul Simon in his “American Tune”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHZ72yHQ0K8
2) “In Christ There is No East Nor West” is sung in unison https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu-IF_p6W7Q – This version is on guitar by John Fahey – there are lyrics in the comments.
3) “Lord of All Hopefulness” also known as “Slane” is an Irish tune – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIkmUeKRwV0. A piano version over the sheet music by the same guy in the first video.
4) “Sleepers Awake” – Last but not least, by J.S. Bach from his Cantata by the same name. This is the most challenging piece we will be doing. It has an instrumental counter-melody along with a chorale. Here are three versions:
a slow and stately one with a young menʻs choir from Milwaukee singing in German – https://www.youtube.com/watch…
A zippy a cappella version by the Swingle Singers – in Englishhttps://www.youtube.com/watch…
And a saxophone octet version – (I like the tempo on this best) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lgcs1lKOeJ4
Right now it is looking like we will be going with a simpler version with out the counter melody – although we will probably start in unison and then add harmonies – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfTj9eouYgA
At the gravesite we will be singing Ekolu Mea Nui – this is one that Jesseʻs Baldwin classmates all know. This is a pretty upbeat version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGvymVv4Wgo
REHEARSAL – We are looking at Thursday evening March 9th at St. Johnʻs Church probably around 5:30 p.m.
Jesse Ryan Fisher 