Rising – Convery, Young Jesus Sweit
Robert Convery – Young Jesus Sweit
Sunrise, Friday May 15
Everyone up! The Sun is waiting!
For us, it’s a day of anticipation, as we celebrate the release of a single from our upcoming CD, Carthage. (The full thing comes out next Friday!)
It’s turned out to be a week full of nature at Rising w/, so this single, James Primosch’s Gloria,* fits beautifully: it begins with the line “Praise the wet snow/falling early.”
Speaking of snow...we’re thinking about Christmas. We’re imagining (missing) The Crossing @ Christmas and the unique gathering it is – will be! We’re thinking of that time each year where we pause and consider our place in the world, most often through questions, sometimes through ritual, and occasionally through the lens of “mother and child.”
Bob Convery’s Young Jesus Sweit comes to mind.
Christmas in May.
The knees of my heart shall I bow
Why not? If we’re exploring “moments we love because we love singing together,” then this is a great place to return...
And sing that true Balulalow!
Why a carol in May? Sentimental? No. The opposite. We’re frustrated. Too much holler and howl on the Tweet thing. Absent of courage. Empty of understanding. Religion as weapon.
We respond.
And I shall rock thee in my heart
We’re deciding to go quietly into this good weekend. While the loud men in the big white buildings normalize chaos and formalize fear, we’re going to revisit a moment of communal agreement. We love to sing this piece because, while it’s a rare break from the technical challenges we face, it demands we listen. It demands we let go and allow it to lead us. It doesn’t feel like singing. More like we’re asking a big question together.
And never more be parted from thee
We don’t mistake this for pretty; we’re seeking something here.
In Bob’s music. In the sound we make.
We want.
Collectively.
- The Whole Team @ The Crossing
*Listen to “Gloria” from the Mass for the Day of St. Thomas Didymus,
now streaming on Spotify.
Click here for more info on the full release
Carthage, music of James Primosch.
The recording of Carthage was made possible through major support from an anonymous donor.
Young Jesus Sweit
music by Robert Convery
words by James, John, and Robert Wedderburn
recorded live in concert at The Crossing @ Christmas,
December 17, 2017 at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill
The Jeffrey Dinsmore Memorial Concert
audio by Paul Vazquez of Digital Mission Audio Services
video art by Beth Haidle
* * *
a modern English translation follows
O my deir hert, young Jesus sweit,
Prepare thy creddil in my spreit,
And I sall rock thee in my hert
And never mair from thee depart.
But I sall praise thee evermore
With sangis sweit unto thy gloir;
The knees of my heart sall I bow,
And sing that richt Balulalow!
________
O my dear heart, young Jesus sweet,
Prepare thy cradle in my spirit,
And I shall rock thee in my heart
And never more be parted from thee.
But I shall praise thee evermore
With songs sweet unto thy glory;
The knees of my heart shall I bow,
And sing that true Balulalow! (Lullaby)