Comments on: Pilgrims of Hope

By: Sherry Watson

Sherry Watson — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 05:36:57 +0000

Thanks for the discussion, Geoff and Chris. I tend to agree with Geoff that it doesn’t immediately strike me as something that would “take off” with suburban or regional Australian assemblies.
Chris, even the odd passing D can be a struggle for our lot early on a Sunday morning.
Thank goodness for Capos and electronic keyboards with transpose buttons!
Great find the D major version Geoff, and it can be raised a bit as well of course.
I also agree with Chris that it could do with speeding up.
I’ve played it through from the official web site in various languages, and the Arabic version is really interesting as it it doesn’t use traditional “church” instruments and adds in some percussion. The Italian version sounds right to me as well.
My thinking at the moment is to use it maybe Geoff’s version as an instrumental (Mancini notwithstanding!) during the First Collection, just to give it some exposure. Then I’ll think about it some more.

By: Chris Wroblewski

Chris Wroblewski — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 22:54:36 +0000

In reply to maddg.

I was hoping it was an alternative opinion rather than corrective!!!

I have started gently introducing Michael Herry’s new Mass of St. Ambrose, initially with the Gospel Acclamation over the past four weeks, then the Lamb of God over the next four. Our pianist’s initial thought was that it was a dirge, but after increasing the speed a bit had a 180 degree turn and now thinks it’s really nice.

To help stop it feeling mournful, I think the Holy Year hymn needs to be played a little faster than the composer suggests, and in the higher “less sensible” key: the top note is still only an occasional passing D, which I don’t think is an unreasonable ask of people. Could similar comments be made about Kevin Bates AOV hymn “A Trusting Psalm”, particularly as it was originally recorded?

As an aside, it is disappointing that there has been so little local promotion of the upcoming Holy Year. I wouldn’t have known about this hymn were it not for this site, so thank you for that!

By: maddg

maddg — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 21:13:29 +0000

In reply to Chris Wroblewski.

Glad you like it, Chris.

I think the translation has given us a pretty good text, but the tune sounds like a lament. I’m such a miserable so and so I would probably get right into a Jubilee Year of Lament, but the maestro’s tune does not sound hopeful to me.

With a pipe organ and SATB choir and sung “with confidence” in the original key in Italian in Italy maybe it is a hopeful hymn.

With minimal music resources in the suburbs and the country in Australia, it will be a struggle to make this an anthem of hope. I hope I am wrong.

Thank you for your corrective commentary, Chris. I am always in need of other opinions. I’d be happy to hear other peoples take on this hymn as well.

Geoff

By: Chris Wroblewski

Chris Wroblewski — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 12:04:07 +0000

For the life of me I can’t see why there would be a problem singing this in suburban/country churches, or indeed, why it needs to be inculturated for Australia, as it uses imagery that I would describe as universal as the Holy Year celebration. I’m not saying the text is perfect, (“my/I” instead of “our/we” for starters!) but I find the tune mesmerizing, and I’ll consider using this as a Procession of Gifts hymn next year when hope is a theme.