Day is A’Breaking in My Soul — January 29, 2021
Derived from a range of outstanding choral music, my themed Playlists are designed to be like concerts, of about an hour in length.
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PROGRAM
Click the links for information on the pieces and texts/translations.
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
From All-Night Vigil, Op. 37, “Vespers”
Blessed is the Man
Gladsome Light
Lord, Now Lettest Thou
The Great Doxology
Today Salvation Has Come
Thou Didst Rise from the Tomb
To Thee, the Victorious Leader
Performed by Phoenix Chorale & Kansas City Chorale, conducted by Charles Bruffy
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1833-1897)
There Shall a Star from Jacob (from Christus, Op. 97)
There shall a star from Jacob come forth,
and a scepter from Israel rise up.
And dash in pieces princes and nations.
Numbers 24:17; Psalm 2:9
As bright the star of morning gleams,
So Jesus sheddeth glorious beams
Of light and consolation!
Thy Word, O Lord, radiance darting,
Truth imparting, gives salvation;
Thine be praise and adoration!
Original German by Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608)
Performed by Ex Cathedra, conducted by Jeffrey Skidmore
Jake Runestad (b.1986)
Why the Caged Bird Sings
Performed by Conspirare, conducted by Craig Hella Johnson
Ola Gjeilo (b.1978)
Across the Vast, Eternal Sky
Sunlight shines on my face;
This is my grace, to be
Restored, born again,
In flame.
When I was young I flew in the velvet night;
Shining by day, a firebird bathed in light!
Grey now my feathers, which once were red and gold;
My destiny to soar up to the sun.
Do not despair that I am gone away;
I will appear again
When the sunset paints
Flames across the vast, eternal sky.
Charles Anthony Silvestri (b.1965)
Performed by The Choir of Royal Holloway & 12 Ensemble, conducted by Rupert Gough
Arr. Shawn Kirchner (b.1970)
Bright Morning Stars
Bright morning stars are rising.
Day is a’breaking in my soul.
O, where are our dear fathers?
They are down in the valley praying.
Day is a’breaking in my soul.
O, where are our dear mothers?
They have gone to heaven shouting.
Day is a’breaking in my soul.
Appalachian Spiritual
Performed by St. Charles Singers, conducted by Jeffrey Hunt
Arr. F. Melius Christiansen (1871-1955)
O Day Full of Grace
O day full of grace which we behold,
Now gently to view ascending,
Thou over the earth thy reign unfold,
Good cheer to all mortals lending,
That children of light in every clime
May prove that night is ending.
How blest was that gracious midnight hour,
When God in our flesh was given;
Then flushed the dawn with light and power,
That spread o’er the darkened heaven;
Then rose o’er the world that sun divine
Which gloom from our hearts hath driven.
Yea, were every tree endowed with speech,
And every leaflet singing,
They never with praise God’s worth could reach,
Though earth with their praise be ringing.
Who fully could praise the light of life
Who light to our souls is bringing?
With joy we depart for the promised land,
And there we shall walk in endless light.
Nicolai F. S. Grundvtig (1783-1872); Translated by O. H. Smeby, G. T. Rygh, C. Doving
Performed in live concert by St. Olaf Choir, conducted by Anton Armstrong
