Dear St. Andrew’s,
Over the next few weeks I will be making recordings with my wife Laura Brandt and sending them out to you. In the words of Robert Browning, my hope is that one “who hears music, feels his solitude peopled at once.” “Lord of all Hopefulness” is a text by Jan Struther set to the traditional Irish tune Slane (think: “Be Thou My Vision). I thought that presenting a traditional Irish tune would be a nice nod to St. Patrick’s Day, and as I read more about the tune Slane it became clear: this was the perfect choice. In hymn books, when traditional tunes are used they are sometimes attributed to the place from where they originated. In this case the melody, Slane, is named after the Hill of Slane where St. Patrick lit an Easter fire in defiance of the Pagan King and brought Christianity to Ireland. The text of this piece is the perfect message for these uncertain times:
“Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, Whose trust, ever child-like, No cares could destroy, Be there at our waking, And give us, we pray, Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, At the break of the day. Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith, Whose strong hands were skilled At the plane and the lathe, Be there at our labours, And give us, we pray, Your strength in our hearts, Lord, At the noon of the day. Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace, Your hands swift to welcome, Your arms to embrace, Be there at our homing, And give us, we pray, Your love in our hearts, Lord, At the eve of the day. Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm, Whose voice is contentment, Whose presence is balm, Be there at our sleeping, And give us, we pray, Your peace in our hearts, Lord, At the end of the day.”
Yours in music,
Evan Mounce Director of Music Ministries
