Happy to be presenting three (3) pieces featuring my niece Connie and her amazing voice! We were fortunate to have her visit last week, and knowing her skill with singing I really wanted to record her with some of her favorites. What a talent – these songs were all recorded in one evening’s session! Without further ado….
O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go
A classic hymn written in 1882 by George Matheson and still found in most modern hymnals, this rendition is a modern setting based on an arrangement from Craig Curry:
O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee. I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be. O Light that follows all my way, I yield my flick’ring torch to thee. My heart restores its borrowed ray, that in thy sunshine’s blaze its day may brighter, fairer be. O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee. I trace the rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not vain, that morn shall tearless be.
Handel’s He Shall Feed His Flock
Here is the famous soprano solo from The Messiah by George Handel, styled as a soprano voice backed by an ensemble of two violins, a viola, a cello (from Native Instruments’ Cremona Quartet), and a contrabass, in a small chamber. The song text comes from biblical texts from Isaiah and Matthew:
He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; and He shall gather the lambs With His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. Come unto Him, all ye that labour, come unto Him that are heavy laden, and He will give you rest. Take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him, for He Is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Fauré’s Pie Jesu
From Requiem in D Minor by Gabriel Fauré, this is perhaps the definitive Pie Jesu from the turn of the last century. This rendition is styled as a soprano voice backed by an orchestra in a performance hall. Translated as “Pious Jesus”, the lyrics are a simple plea:
Pie Jesu, Domine, dona eis requiem
dona eis requiem sempiternam requiem
("Merciful Jesus, Lord, grant them rest
grant them rest, eternal rest.")