Category: Liturgy and Music

My buddy Dave Alexander blogs some interesting comments about liturgical dancing. Just one quick comment; I thought the joke was suppose to go “Why don’t young Baptist newlyweds consummate their marriage standing up?”

I’m in San Antonio this week attending the Usenix technical conference, so
this is a good time for me to give a listen to an album by the San Antonio
Vocal Arts Ensemble, an early-music group based in this city.
“Ancient Echoes” (from World Library Publications — yes, the missalette publisher) is an attempt to present some very early music: Jewish music as it might have been heard in the time of our Lord. Some of it’s good, and some of it’s not quite as good. Let’s start with a sample.

Virgin-born, we bow before thee Setting by R. Vaughan William – click to download MP3

1. Virgin-born, we bow before thee:
Blessed was the womb that bore thee;
Mary, Mother meek and mild,
Blessed was she in her Child.
Blessed was the breast that fed thee;
Blessed was the hand that led thee;
Blessed was the parent’s eye
That watched thy slumbering infancy.
2. Blessed she by all creation,
Who brought forth the world’s salvation,
And blessed they – for ever blest,
Who love thee most and serve thee best.
Virgin-born, we bow before thee;
Blessed was the womb that bore thee;
Mary, Mother meek and mild,
Blessed was she in her Child.

(Thanks to Una Voce Venice.) More photos here.