Comments on: Blest Be the Lord (AOV 1/179) https://www.sixmaddens.org/blest-be-the-lord-aov-1179/ Blogging Catholic Liturgical Music Wed, 13 Mar 2019 15:50:30 +0000 hourly 1 By: Janis B https://www.sixmaddens.org/blest-be-the-lord-aov-1179/#comment-63018 Wed, 13 Mar 2019 15:50:30 +0000 http://www.sixmaddens.org/?p=1718#comment-63018 I really love your tempo with this song. I also think Dan Schutte’s original version is a touch too brisk. Thank you for posting the music and the lyrics to go along with it.
It’s a beautiful psalm of praise to God, and never fails to lift my spirit to a better place.

]]> By: admin https://www.sixmaddens.org/blest-be-the-lord-aov-1179/#comment-55358 Sun, 18 Feb 2018 02:32:57 +0000 http://www.sixmaddens.org/?p=1718#comment-55358 In reply to Marsha Perkins.

A good question! Schutte is paraphrasing a psalm.

Psalm 91 (RSV)

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; 4 he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your habitation, 10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. 11 For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. 14 Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

The Good News Bible generalises the arrows into “sudden attacks during the day”.

I suppose the Psalmist is using what he thought would be the terrors that resonate with the people of the time and without night vision equipment arrows are difficult at night, but there are certainly other nocturnal dangers. There is also some nice poetry there.

It’s one of those passages that suggests that the evil are vanquished and the righteous protected, which doesn’t have a lot of evidence in its favour as an idea.

The best I can come up with is that living in an era when lives were short and were routinely ended by disease and violence it was important not to fear death and get on with living. (from the Gospel according to Shawshank)

We need that too but our fears might be of a different nature – social isolation, etc – take your pick.

cheers

Geoff

]]> By: Marsha Perkins https://www.sixmaddens.org/blest-be-the-lord-aov-1179/#comment-55353 Sat, 17 Feb 2018 21:32:14 +0000 http://www.sixmaddens.org/?p=1718#comment-55353 Okay, I understand “I shall not fear the dark of night”.
But the follow on lyrics “Nor the arrows the flies by day” is enigmatic.
So is the composer saying he has no fear of arrows after day is gone?
Clearly arrows fly at any time, and I would think one would be concerned (fearful) of arrows flying at any time, night or day.

What’s up?

]]> By: jay Sandifer https://www.sixmaddens.org/blest-be-the-lord-aov-1179/#comment-44972 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 17:22:09 +0000 http://www.sixmaddens.org/?p=1718#comment-44972 planning to sing for the first time this weekend!

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