20100930

O Sacred Head Now Wounded

Today's selection is a contemplative, solo piano rendition of the ancient hymn, O Sacred Head Now Wounded. It hearkens back to the earlier days of Piano by Joel, when my offerings were informal and minimally edited; more spontaneous, as if we were sitting around the piano together.

Here are the first few verses:

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Click Here to Listen.

20100920

Shenandoah

I recently released the traditional folk song, Shenandoah. While there appears to be some dispute about the meaning of the lyrics, I think we can all agree that in conveys a sense of yearning, of longing. This is reminiscent of Hebrews 11:15-16:

If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

You can listen to it here.

Hit play, and read Hebrews 11.