MY MOTHER DIED AND LEFT ME
We begin with a rare Gospel Blues from Mississippi. We also quiz the nature of Gnosticism through several songs, one especially well known. According to the canonic Gospels, the Holy Ghost (the "Comforter" or Paraclete, as John calls him) has replaced Jesus until the Second Coming, while the Father remains above, with Jesus (the Holy Trinity of three persons in one God). Yet Gnosticism empowers each person to be Jesus (though there are different forms of Gnosticism). Instead of being a Christian one becomes a Christ. Anyway, as the German philosopher, Nietzche once observed, "The last Christian died on the cross."Among many Christians (especially Americans), Jesus is a person they speak with and walk with. This can be viewed as a Gnostic idea; Jesus says prayers should be directed to the Father. (The most famous Christian prayer is called the Our Father.)
Mother reads from the Bible, sent me to Sunday School. Now she's gone and left me, don't want to break my mother's rule. Yes, now I go down on my knees, talk to Jesus 'til I am pleased. Oh heavenly Father stand by me. Sometimes, supposed to be in company, then again I want to be alone, worried 'about my mother. Oh once had her in my home, yes, now I go down on my knees, talk to Jesus till I am pleased. O heavenly Father stand by me.
IN THE GARDEN
We know there were four Jesus's: the historical Jesus (prophet, rabbi), the crucified Jesus (God's sacrificed lamb), the Resurrection Jesus (the Jesus who appeared to some disciples and others for 40 days after his death), and the Ascension Jesus (the Jesus who sits at the right hand of God, ready to judge the world; see the Messianic Psalm 110). There is also the Parousia Jesus, the Jesus of the Second Coming. Many Americans prefer a Resurrection Jesus, apparently someone to talk to and walk with, as the following famous Gospel song shows:
I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses and the voice I hear falling on my ear, the sound of God discloses: And he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am His own and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.We know there were four Jesus's: the historical Jesus (prophet, rabbi), the crucified Jesus (God's sacrificed lamb), the Resurrection Jesus (the Jesus who appeared to some disciples and others for 40 days after his death), and the Ascension Jesus (the Jesus who sits at the right hand of God, ready to judge the world; see the Messianic Psalm 110). There is also the Parousia Jesus, the Jesus of the Second Coming. Many Americans prefer a Resurrection Jesus, apparently someone to talk to and walk with, as the following famous Gospel song shows:
GENESIS
The Gnostic idea (as also the idea in the main imagery of John's Gospel of Light) goes back to Genesis, and the light before the sun and the moon, which Gnostics try to reclaim for their own. The difference is, for John this can only be through faith in Jesus. The importance of Light is wonderfully expressed in Haydn's setting of the Genesis verse from his Creation:"And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light."
REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAY(S)
This is a setting of (Paul's letter to the) Philippians 4:4-7, by Henry Purcell, the greatest English composer (apart from the German-born Handel) before Edward Elgar and Benjamin Britten.
Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men; the Lord is at hand. Rejoice in the Lord always, etc. Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord. This is a setting of (Paul's letter to the) Philippians 4:4-7, by Henry Purcell, the greatest English composer (apart from the German-born Handel) before Edward Elgar and Benjamin Britten.
IN THE BEGINNING
We have also studied musical settings of Bible texts through every musical style, including Renaissance, Colonial hymnody, classical hymns, bluegrass, pop, Broadway, New Age, Soul, Gospel, classical, blues, Country and Western, etc. Today we'll explore Bible settings through the music of jazz. We'll hear several jazz settings of the Christian Mass, as below: This jazz setting of the biblical canon by Duke Ellington expresses the joy in the Law so wonderfully expressed in Psalm 119:
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Samuel, Kings, Kings, Chronicles, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Michah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, Corinthians, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, Peter, Peter, John, John, John, Jude, Revelation.We have also studied musical settings of Bible texts through every musical style, including Renaissance, Colonial hymnody, classical hymns, bluegrass, pop, Broadway, New Age, Soul, Gospel, classical, blues, Country and Western, etc. Today we'll explore Bible settings through the music of jazz. We'll hear several jazz settings of the Christian Mass, as below: This jazz setting of the biblical canon by Duke Ellington expresses the joy in the Law so wonderfully expressed in Psalm 119:
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father which art in Heaven. Hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done. Hallowed be Thy name.THE LORD'S PRAYER (1)
Lord, way down here, in this sinful world, no-one can help us but you Lord above. Begging you Jesus, give me more grace, I need your power to help me to run this race. DAVID DANCED BEFORE THE LORD
This is the famous scene where David dances almost naked before the Ark, after which he is scolded by his wife, Micah.
David up and danced before the Lord, he danced before the Lord with all his might. David up and danced, David danced before the Lord, he danced before the Lord with all his might. Sultry timbrels, harps and cymbals ring out loud and clear, shouting singing, trumpets bringing love to every ear. David up and danced, well David danced, he danced before the Lord, he danced before the Lord with all his might.This is the famous scene where David dances almost naked before the Ark, after which he is scolded by his wife, Micah.
Vince Guaraldi, a respected jazz pianist and composer, became famous for settings of the Peanuts television specials. This is from his jazz Mass, with introductory words by an Episcopalian bishop:
Together, through the power of the ground of our being, in the bruised body and poured out blood of one who was obedient, one who cared not for his reputation, one who took the form of a servant that we may affirm and witness what it is to be part of this cause in the world. Not conforming to the world, which could be translated out of the New Testament to be not being a square. Not conforming but being transformed and transforming it.
LORD HAVE MERCY (KYRIE ELEISON)
The "Kyrie Eleison" (Lord Have Mercy) is the first part of the ordinary (basic) Mass. The words come from three psalms, the most famous of which is David's Miserere ("have mercy") after his encounter with Uriah's wife, Bathsheba (Psalm 51), one of the Seven Penitential Psalms in Christian tradition, type for all contrition:
Lord have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us. (Repeat)The "Kyrie Eleison" (Lord Have Mercy) is the first part of the ordinary (basic) Mass. The words come from three psalms, the most famous of which is David's Miserere ("have mercy") after his encounter with Uriah's wife, Bathsheba (Psalm 51), one of the Seven Penitential Psalms in Christian tradition, type for all contrition:
THEME TO GRACE
Hallelujah.NICENE CREED
This is the Anglican version of the Nicene Creed (named after the city of Nicea, where the Creed was formalized (325 CE; finalized at Chalcedon, 451), to oppose heretical (Gnostic, etc.) beliefs. A major threat to Nicene Christology was Arianism (named after Arius), which believed that Christ was "created," "not begotten," so not equal to God the Father. Other "heresies" were also opposed in this creed: Thus, "one God," "only begotten Son," the historical Jesus (who was crucified and truly suffered, not merely seemed to suffer, as Docetism taught), etc. There's a shorter creed, called the Apostles Creed, used at baptism (see below).I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, Begotten, not made, Being of one substance with the Father, By whom all things were made; Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from Heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man, And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: Whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord and giver of life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen.
AGNUS DEI
Taken from the Baptist's announcement of Jesus in the Gospel of John (JOHN 1:29b). John has Jesus crucified on Passover (rather than Passover Eve, as in the Synoptics). The point is, Jesus is the sacrificed Passover Lamb. (Whether the Last Supper was a Passover Meal or not has been debated.) Once again Jesus fulfills Moses: "Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, 'This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words'" (Exodus 24:8). Jesus, as the perfect blood of the perfect sacrifice, also allows the deliverance from slavery to freedom.
O Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.Taken from the Baptist's announcement of Jesus in the Gospel of John (JOHN 1:29b). John has Jesus crucified on Passover (rather than Passover Eve, as in the Synoptics). The point is, Jesus is the sacrificed Passover Lamb. (Whether the Last Supper was a Passover Meal or not has been debated.) Once again Jesus fulfills Moses: "Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, 'This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words'" (Exodus 24:8). Jesus, as the perfect blood of the perfect sacrifice, also allows the deliverance from slavery to freedom.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
And now as our Savior Christ hath taught us, we are bold to say, Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day out daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and forever. Amen.Lalo Schrifen is most famous as a film composer (Cool Hand Luke and others). Yet he is also a jazz composer, as his setting of the Christian Mass shows:
KYRIE ELEISON (LORD HAVE MERCY)
Lord, Lord have mercy. GLORIA
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, Almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God. You who take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.SANCTUS
The Sanctus comes from the vision of God, in chapter 6 (3b) of Isaiah.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.The Sanctus comes from the vision of God, in chapter 6 (3b) of Isaiah.
AGNUS DEI
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.MARY LOU'S MASS
Mary Lou Williams was a great jazz pianist who converted to Catholicism and wrote several jazz masses:
Praise the Lord.Mary Lou Williams was a great jazz pianist who converted to Catholicism and wrote several jazz masses:
THE LORD SAYS
From the same mass, comes this setting of Jeremiah 29:11-12:The Lord says, the Lord says, I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction. You shall call upon me and I will hear you. And I will bring back your captivity from all places. Lord you have favored your land, you have restored the well-being of Jacob. Thank you [x].
ACT OF CONTRITION
Oh my God I detest all the sins of my life. Sorry for having offended Thee who art our Lord. I resolve with the help of Thy grace, oh, my God, never to sin again. KYRIE ELEISON (LORD, HAVE MERCY)
For our lack of faith, Lord have mercy. For our lack of hope, Lord have mercy. For our failure to care, Lord have mercy. For letting ourselves be paralyzed with fear, Christ have mercy. For our division, Christ have mercy. For our jealousies, Christ have mercy. For our hatred, Lord have mercy. For not being peacemakers, Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy on our souls. Have mercy! Lord have mercy! (Repeat)GLORIA
Glory to God above all things. Peace on earth to men, loved by God. We praise You, we bless You, we thank You because You are who You are. (2) Lord, God, King, Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Lord, God, Lamb of God, Lord, Christ, Son of God. We praise You, we bless You, we thank You, because You are who You are.PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. (JOHN 14:27) Alleluia!LAZARUS
There was a selfish rich man who clothed himself in purple and fine linen. There also was a beggar man named Lazarus who lay at the gate of the rich man's door, full of sores and hungry, begging crumbs from the rich man's table. Even his dogs came to lick his sores. The rich man showed no pity to Lazarus' plea and scorn was Lazarus's lot. So God took pity on poor Lazarus and gave him peace. He sent his angels to carry poor Lazarus into the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried and as he burned in Hell he saw the beggar man Lazarus safe in the bosom of Abraham and he cried. "Have mercy Father send Lazarus to cool my parched tongue, cause I didn't mean all the misery I caused and all the bad things I have done. Have mercy on me father, send Lazarus to cool my tongue, cause I didn't mean all the misery I caused and all the bad things I done."
But the Lord said, "Son in your time you received all the good things in life. Poor Lazarus, beggar, has seen nothing but pain and strife. Poor Lazarus is comforted and you are burning in the halls of flame and there's no way for you to cleanse your deeds for God never knew your name."
"Lazarus, Lazarus, Lazarus, cool my parched tongue cause I didn't mean all the misery I caused and all the bad things I have done. Father, Father, Father send Lazarus to my house that he may warn them about the flames and what it's all about."
Then Abraham said, "They have Moses, let them hear his cry. For if they don't repent their evil ways, they will surely die."
"Lazarus, Lazarus, Lazarus, cool my parched tongue, cause I didn't mean all the misery I caused and all the bad things I have done."
CREDO
This is the shorter Apostles Creed, supposedly from the time of the 12 apostles, but dated as late as the 4th century:
And I believe in the Father Almighty and in one God who made Heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, conceived by the Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. And on the third day he rose again, ascended into Heaven, sitting at the right hand of the father and he will come to judge the living and the dead. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy sanctifying apostolic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection of the Body and the life everlasting. Amen.This is the shorter Apostles Creed, supposedly from the time of the 12 apostles, but dated as late as the 4th century:
HOSANNA
This, from the last of the six Hallel Psalms (113-118) is also quoted in the Gospels. This Hallel psalm was almost certainly the psalm Jesus sang with his disciples after the Last Supper, probably a Passover meal.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.This, from the last of the six Hallel Psalms (113-118) is also quoted in the Gospels. This Hallel psalm was almost certainly the psalm Jesus sang with his disciples after the Last Supper, probably a Passover meal.
AMEN
Glory to God and to Jesus Christ. Amen.THE LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father who art in Heaven. Hallowed by Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.LAMB OF GOD
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lord have mercy.TO HOPE!
LORD, HAVE MERCY (KYRIE)
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord have mercy.ALLELUIA
Alleluia sing! The light shines on in the darkness. A darkness that did not overcome it. Alleluia, sing!HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest! (2) Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. WHEN WE EAT THIS BREAD
When we eat this bread and drink this cup we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus until you come again in glory.
AMEN
Amen.LAMB OF GOD
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us. (2) Grant us peace. GLORIA
Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly king, Almighty God and Father. We worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Gloria, gloria! Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us. You are seated on the right hand of the Father. Receive our prayer. Gloria!A JAZZ MASS
(1) Lord have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us. (2) Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest. (3) Hosanna in the highest (repeat). Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord (x). Hosanna, etc. (4) Hallelujah (repeat). Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us therefore let us keep the feast. Hallelujah. (5) Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world have mercy on us. (x)GUIDE US (ME) O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH
We can study difference in musical styles by listening to these brief excerpts from two performances of this famous hymn; the first done by a concert choir, the second by a Southern Sacred Harp in lining hymn (response) style. Both have their individual beauties: the unison harmony of the first as well as the divided harmony of the second:
(1) Guide us O Thou Great Jehovah, guide us to the Promised Land.We can study difference in musical styles by listening to these brief excerpts from two performances of this famous hymn; the first done by a concert choir, the second by a Southern Sacred Harp in lining hymn (response) style. Both have their individual beauties: the unison harmony of the first as well as the divided harmony of the second:
(2) Guide me O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land.
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