Shape-note tune from William Walker's Southern Harmony. From "Love is Born," December 2, 2018, First Congregational Church of Los Angeles. THE L.A. CHORAL LAB www.lachorallab.org
Ecstatically beautiful, the magnificence of male voices eventually overlaid by soaring female voices. I've listened over and over and over. So beautiful.
We could but for the molding of our culture, we are too self centered to project glory towards God in the manner of this hymn. Power, and heavenly ascent, not out of breath, sappy, horizontal sentiment. Note the absence of I, I, I, and me, me, me. Also please note the confidence and force of conviction, the hope of something greater than the present tense: STAR IN THE EAST American folk tune from "Southern Harmony", 1835 Reginald Heber, 1783-1826 Hail the blest morn, see the great mediator Down from the regions of glory descend. Shepherds, go worship the babe in the manger, Lo! for his guard the bright angels attend. Chorus: Brightest and best of the stars of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thy aid. Star in the east, our horizon adorning, Guide where our infant redeemer was laid. Cold on his cradle the dew drops are shining, Low lies his bed, with the beasts of the stall. Angels adore him, in slumber reclining, Wise men and shepherds before him do fall. Chorus Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion, Odors of Eden and offerings divine, Gems from the mountain and pearls from the ocean, Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine? Chorus Vainly we offer each ample oblation, Vainly with gifts we his favor secure; Richer by far is the heart's adoration, Nearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
@@isaacerickson6312 Thank you, I too feel moved by the Holy Ghost, such is the power of well sung hymns. You made me chuckle with your Jingle Bells comment; a song never intended for Christmas but more closer related to such modern pop songs like "My Little Deuce Coupe", crack you'll take the lead!
Buddy nailed it before I could formulate the answer. I read Psalms as part of my job, and I now realize that Robert Alter is so right - the attitude within the book is that praising God is our highest joy. What were born into. -- I call this, 'primary'. Great secular songs I call, 'precious'.
The discipline required to hold steady such a slow tempo is enormous. (I checked with a metronome, they gain only about 4 clicks from beginning to end.)
great blend of bright tone, vowels so spread and solid pitch. Foot stomping great. nice MENS SOUND, great acoustic... thank you. usually a step higher?
I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised to find out that it's simply the original shape-note hymnal arrangement. Try looking in The Southern Harmony.
Regardless of religious or spiritual beliefs, this piece commands reverence. Beautifully done, though, to be honest, I do prefer the Rose Ensemble's version. For many of us raised in rural areas, shaker music like this calls us back to our roots and welcomes us home with an empowering embrace. Thanks and peace be with you.
Me, too -- altho', to my ear, both groups are singing an almost identical arrangement. Is it by William Averitt, Marty Haugen, or some other arranger whose vocal score I haven't yet been able to find out there on the Internet? I wish I knew, as our local choir would love to sing this mesmerizing arrangement ourselves! Anybody out there know? Would appreciate it. Thanks!
It can be found in the Shenandoah Harmony. If you do perform it, it's best if the tenor and treble parts are sung by both men and women an octave apart.
Have you recorded other Sacred Harp Tunes. While the words of many of the songs are common in Christian Hymnals, the tunes and arrangements are very different. I find the harmonies, to be compelling..
It's the standard harmony from any copy of the Sacred Harp. They just added a part in each stanza: stanza 1: Tenor only stanza 2: Tenor and Bass only stanza 3: Alto, Tenor, and Bass stanza 4: all four parts
This is my favorite performance of this work. Magnificent. The Zoroastrian Magi knew their prophecy of the return of the Holy Sprirt revealed in Zoroaster. The "star in the East" was Zoroaster Who, through His prophetic teachings, guided them to Jesus Who, like Zoroaster one thousand years before, was to be born of a virgin mother in a grotto. The Magi came from Persia, which is East of Bethlehem. The physical star they witnessed in the sky was, from their perspective, in their Western sky. Had the star appeared in the Eastern sky relative to the Persian Zorastrian Magi, they'd have had to follow it around the globe to arrive in Jerusalem. When they say "We have seen His star in the East" they mean to say that they, being in the East (Persia) saw His star and followed it to Jerusalem. Also they may even have been of Jewish descent as there were many Persian Jews in that land in that time established there in the time of Nebuchadnezzar. Merry X'temmas.
How painful that the raised 6th is missing! Ugh! It completely destroys the color of this great tune. This performance seems to be modeled on the rose Ensemble is much more interesting and stylistically appropriate a performance at the 2012 Tolosa Choral Contest. Why? The group that performed it, the rose Ensemble, is in St Paul Minnesota. Not closely connected with the still vibrant Shape note singing tradition. I don't ever recall hearing anyone stumping while singing.
Ecstatically beautiful, the magnificence of male voices eventually overlaid by soaring female voices. I've listened over and over and over. So beautiful.
Absolutely Beautiful!
I listen to this again and again. No words.
a bit slow… but that makes the beauty of this hymn last longer... ;;) thanks
Agreed. Set playback to 1.25 speed and the tempo is perfect
My favorite Christmas song of them all. It has the perfect feeling and meaning.
Perfect in every way! Why can't we write excellent Christmas songs like this anymore?
We could but for the molding of our culture, we are too self centered to project glory towards God in the manner of this hymn. Power, and heavenly ascent, not out of breath, sappy, horizontal sentiment.
Note the absence of I, I, I, and me, me, me. Also please note the confidence and force of conviction, the hope of something greater than the present tense:
STAR IN THE EAST
American folk tune from "Southern Harmony", 1835
Reginald Heber, 1783-1826
Hail the blest morn, see the great mediator
Down from the regions of glory descend.
Shepherds, go worship the babe in the manger,
Lo! for his guard the bright angels attend.
Chorus:
Brightest and best of the stars of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thy aid.
Star in the east, our horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant redeemer was laid.
Cold on his cradle the dew drops are shining,
Low lies his bed, with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore him, in slumber reclining,
Wise men and shepherds before him do fall.
Chorus
Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,
Odors of Eden and offerings divine,
Gems from the mountain and pearls from the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?
Chorus
Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gifts we his favor secure;
Richer by far is the heart's adoration,
Nearer to God are the prayers of the poor.
@@buddyroeginocchio9105 yes, I feel moved by the Holy Ghost when I listen to this. I don't feel that way when I listen to jingle bell rock.
@@isaacerickson6312 Thank you, I too feel moved by the Holy Ghost, such is the power of well sung hymns.
You made me chuckle with your Jingle Bells comment; a song never intended for Christmas but more closer related to such modern pop songs like "My Little Deuce Coupe", crack you'll take the lead!
Buddy nailed it before I could formulate the answer.
I read Psalms as part of my job, and I now realize that Robert Alter is so right - the attitude within the book is that praising God is our
highest joy. What were born into.
--
I call this, 'primary'.
Great secular songs I call, 'precious'.
Honestly, this is my favorite Christmas song. I have trouble singing the last verse without crying, it’s so beautiful 😭
The simplicity is beautiful.
Love this performance so much.
The discipline required to hold steady such a slow tempo is enormous. (I checked with a metronome, they gain only about 4 clicks from beginning to end.)
Spine-chilling! ❤️❤️❤️! Christ is born - praise Him!
Stunning!
BEAUTIFUL, UTTERLY BEAUTIFUL!
yes, no words
Beautifully sung- 2022 Peace on earth
OMG
Outstanding!
This was wonderful!
Wow, just wow!
great blend of bright tone, vowels so spread and solid pitch. Foot stomping great. nice MENS SOUND, great acoustic... thank you. usually a step higher?
shape note tunes aren't composed with a fixed pitch in mind, a keyer reads the room and vocalists and pitches the song from there
A really good rendition of this tune! I like the shape-note performance best, but I like this, too.
This is beautiful. I’m particularly impressed at how graceful the leader’s movements are.
Love this! Keep singing praises to Jesus
Glory to Jesus! Glory to God in the highest!
Same to you .
Nicely done!
Great job ! Merry 2021 Christmas .
Another wonderful performance from the LA Choral Lab. My former student Joe Santoni sings with this group sometimes. Whose arrangement is this?
I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised to find out that it's simply the original shape-note hymnal arrangement. Try looking in The Southern Harmony.
Does anyone know if this arrangement is published and for sale? I would like to buy. Thank you.
anyone know where I can buy and or download this rendition?
Regardless of religious or spiritual beliefs, this piece commands reverence. Beautifully done, though, to be honest, I do prefer the Rose Ensemble's version. For many of us raised in rural areas, shaker music like this calls us back to our roots and welcomes us home with an empowering embrace. Thanks and peace be with you.
Me, too -- altho', to my ear, both groups are singing an almost identical arrangement. Is it by William Averitt, Marty Haugen, or some other arranger whose vocal score I haven't yet been able to find out there on the Internet? I wish I knew, as our local choir would love to sing this mesmerizing arrangement ourselves! Anybody out there know? Would appreciate it. Thanks!
Sorry, this isn't Shaker Music, it is Shape-Note. I understand the confusion. Either way, both are powerful styles of American Music.
It can be found in the Shenandoah Harmony. If you do perform it, it's best if the tenor and treble parts are sung by both men and women an octave apart.
Have you recorded other Sacred Harp Tunes. While the words of many of the songs are common in Christian Hymnals, the tunes and arrangements are very different. I find the harmonies, to be compelling..
Where might one find a copy of the sheet music of this arrangement?
It's the standard harmony from any copy of the Sacred Harp. They just added a part in each stanza:
stanza 1: Tenor only
stanza 2: Tenor and Bass only
stanza 3: Alto, Tenor, and Bass
stanza 4: all four parts
This is my favorite performance of this work. Magnificent. The Zoroastrian Magi knew their prophecy of the return of the Holy Sprirt revealed in Zoroaster. The "star in the East" was Zoroaster Who, through His prophetic teachings, guided them to Jesus Who, like Zoroaster one thousand years before, was to be born of a virgin mother in a grotto. The Magi came from Persia, which is East of Bethlehem. The physical star they witnessed in the sky was, from their perspective, in their Western sky. Had the star appeared in the Eastern sky relative to the Persian Zorastrian Magi, they'd have had to follow it around the globe to arrive in Jerusalem. When they say "We have seen His star in the East" they mean to say that they, being in the East (Persia) saw His star and followed it to Jerusalem. Also they may even have been of Jewish descent as there were many Persian Jews in that land in that time established there in the time of Nebuchadnezzar. Merry X'temmas.
Love this version! Is there sheet music?
It's in The Hymnal: A Worship Book (Mennonite hymnal) but probably other places in the public domain, like hymnary.org
I have it my copy of Southern Harmonies.
It's also in Shenadoah Harmony. As for Southern Harmony, I think there is a facsimile online.
The Shenandoah Harmony is available here: www.shenandoahharmony.com/
I can't say for that particular arrangement.
Southern Harmony available here: imslp.org/wiki/The_Southern_Harmony_(Walker,_William)
Why not sing in trad shape note style….it has much more power than this polished approach. The foot stomp is too dominant as well
How painful that the raised 6th is missing! Ugh! It completely destroys the color of this great tune.
This performance seems to be modeled on the rose Ensemble is much more interesting and stylistically appropriate a performance at the 2012 Tolosa Choral Contest. Why? The group that performed it, the rose Ensemble, is in St Paul Minnesota. Not closely connected with the still vibrant Shape note singing tradition. I don't ever recall hearing anyone stumping while singing.
Hush now, the probably got it from a book and never have been to a Singing.