"A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing / Ride On, Ride On in Majesty (Agincourt)"

This quirky medieval tune called The Agincourt Song (pronounced with with a soft g) was a fun one to work out on guitar. It also seems to me a better setting for the Palm Sunday text, "Ride On, Ride On in Majesty," than Winchester New (Crasselius), the one I have encountered most often. Agincourt aptly depicts the "lowly majesty" of the Lord riding on a plodding donkey, the rhythm almost tracing the hoofbeats themselves, and in this recording, the organ's attempt to urge the beast forward does not quite succeed, as v. 3 remains a step or two behind the organ.

Click through to your streamer of choice: 

What else is different or new here? Two verses: the first one borrowed from Bede's ancient Ascension hymn, which seems to fit Palm Sunday just as well, and the last one which is my own. Bede's verse speaks of Jesus' destination and enthronement on high, but the use of that verse here only reminds us that the way upward leads first to and through the final showdown with the arch-enemy, and downward into suffering, dereliction, death, and burial. 

With so many verses — all verses of "Ride On, Ride On" are present and accounted for and surrounded by two others — some sort of break strain seemed in order, so that too is my own. If the blatting lower brass compounds the clumsy, somewhat comical quality of the tune itself and the awkwardness of the donkey ride, the same instrumentation will return with (I think) greater grace and uplift in Track 11, "From Death to Life" (re: which, see previous post).

Here is an excerpt from the liner notes regarding that final verse:

Thinking then of [Jesus'] mission as the fulfillment of the oldest prophecy in the Bible, that of the showdown between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent (Gen 3:15) and with Johann Georg Hamann’s Biblical Reflections of a Christian in mind, along with Chapter 4 of the Scots Confession, I added this verse:

Now Death’s appointment with death has come.

The Lord of life, with true aplomb,

By mortal heel, immortal trust,

The serpent’s head will turn to dust.

 

"Enter the Arbiter: Songs for Holy Week" is now streaming

Now available through your choice of streamers:

Soli Deo Gloria!

P.S. Just remember that physical CDs will be available only for a few more weeks, after which they will be no more.  

Enter the Arbiter: Songs for Holy Week

 From the liner notes:

These songs for Holy Week are arranged roughly in terms of the sequence of days, from Palm Sunday to Easter sunrise, the exception being the instrumental prelude and postlude (Tracks 1 and 12), which I include as artifacts from their service as such in chapel worship ... While just two of these tracks (Tracks 3 and 11), are of my own musical composition (the latter piece opening with a brief quotation from the traditional tune “Eventide”), others include original modifications to old standards. On Track 5, the paraphrase of Psalm 61 (a “Year D” psalm overlooked by both the RCL and the daily lectionary) is mine, while the final musical phrase in the tune, ”The Bonnie Cuckoo,” replaces a more traditional repetition of the previous phrase; the final verse in the lyric of Track 2 is mine, inspired by my translation work on Johann Georg Hamann; the lyric for Track 10 is my attempt to fill a relative scarcity of hymn texts for Holy Saturday and “the harrowing of hell.”      

    Where the use of traditional material is concerned, I have attempted (in part as an example to worship students) to offer relatively fresh pairings of texts and tunes, as in the case of Rhosymedre, Noel Nouvelet, and Es Flog Ein Kleins Waldvögelein, but it is hoped that even the more familiar pairings will gain some new life by way of these guitar settings and (hopefully) fresh instrumentation. In each case I have relied on the guitar to provide most of the chords and have kept harmonies to a minimum, emphasizing melody lines throughout, both vocally and with other instruments, since the use of these tracks for online worship (the whole project being birthed while observing pandemic restrictions in late 2020 and early 2021) aims to encourage participants to sing. 

    I only hope this record will serve, however imperfectly, to remind the church and the world of all that we have to be grateful for in the ministry of the one Arbiter between God and humanity, the Judge who was willingly judged in our place, the Firstborn of a whole new creation, the last Adam who makes all things new and before whom all lying and accusing tongues should and shall cease. I also hope that somehow these songs in praise of Jesus, for all that he did during that Holy Week of the world’s redemption, may reach those who do not yet know him, that they may come to do so and “enter the Arbiter” by way of baptism — by dying and rising to new, eternal life in, with, and for him. — TMS

Sixth Sunday of Lent/Palm Sunday (D)

Deuteronomy 11:1-17 OR Isaiah 43:8-15

Psalm 94 OR 35

John 8:48-59

Romans 1:8-15 (16-17) 18-32; 2:1-11 OR Galatians 6:1-18

PRAYER OF CONFESSION [from GREATER ATTENTION: LERW, YEAR D]

O God our Creator, we confess we are without excuse, for though we know you in part, we often fail to honor you as God or give you thanks. We have allowed futility, senselessness, and darkness to overtake our thoughts, which are but an empty breath. Claiming wisdom, we have act foolishly, exchanging your glory for lifeless images, and the truth about you for the lies of the world. We have worshiped your creatures and our own creations rather you, our Creator, who alone are holy and blessed forever! Forgive us, O God, for our impurity and for every lapse into idolatry. Protect us, O God, against every temptation and every tempter. Rise up and contend with those who contend with your people, that we, with your help, might learn how to desire and choose the right, the good, and the true. For without you, O LORD, we have no hope of peace or prosperity; apart from you, we can do nothing.

Elements for the Offering for Palm Sunday (Year A)

PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS [from LIGHTNING FROM THE EAST: LERW, YEAR A]
All things temporal wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. But the Lord works wonders and performs great marvels, even with what the world rejects. Therefore, while we have the time and the temporary custody of our earthly treasure, let us readily and humbly offer our gifts of thanks to God.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION [from LIGHTNING FROM THE EAST: LERW, YEAR A]
Holy God, your glory reaches to the highest heaven, and the name of your Son exceeds all other names. Surely, one day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess Jesus as Lord. In keeping with this inspired vision and the hope of the future glory, we offer these gifts; may they be used, as we would be used, to exalt and praise you, the one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Andrew Klavan ...

on the Truth.