Starting Today: The Heavenly Banquet

November 10, 2010

The Heavenly Banquet

This week in my American Art Song class we've been looking at the "Hermit Songs" of Samuel Barber. It is a beautiful and compelling cycle based around texts written by monks and scholars in early Christian Ireland that Barber had translated into English by a few of his poet friends--including W.H. Auden. Within this cycle is a song text attributed to St. Brigid (10th century), one of the patron saints of Ireland, and portrays an incredible scene of heavenly revelry, the likes of which I have never encountered...especially in my sober LDS upbringing! This particular text was so "outstanding" to me, I felt I had to share it with y'all...

The Heavenly Banquet

I would like to have the men of heaven in my own house;

with vats of good cheer laid out for them.

I would like to have the three Marys, their fame is so great.

I would like people from every corner of heaven.

I would like them to be cheerful in their drinking.

I would like to have Jesus sitting here among them.

I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.

I would like to be watching Heaven's family

Drinking it through all eternity.

WOW! What an interesting way to worship. Talk about inviting the spirit(s) into your home.

1 comment:

UnknownNovember 10, 2010 at 1:10 PM
This is one of my all time favorite songs - " I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings." Genius. I'm sitting here envying you your American Art Song class. I have SUCH a soft place in my heart for the genre.
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Starting Today

November 10, 2010

The Heavenly Banquet

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