Voices Found

                                                                                     Kyrie by Hildegard of Bingen  Hildegard's Kyrie is published in Wonder Love and Praise, a  supplement to the Hymnal 1982 of The Episcopal Church . Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was the first woman to write liturgical music for the Western Church. Her music, notated in the neumes of her time, is preserved in two  manuscripts in Europe.   With the publication of Wonder Love and Praise,   my transcription of Hildegard's chant is available in modern notation for today's worship.    Now all can sing Hildegard's ethereal music . Kyrie  is ecstatic,  florid, and filled  with soaring melismas  best performed by a soloist or small group...

                                                       Voices Found # 142, Verse One   Bless now, O God the journey  that all your people make, the path through noise and silence,  the way of give and take. The trail is found in deserts  and winds the mountain round, then leads beside still waters,  the road where faith is found. Words: Sylvia G. Dunstan (1955-1993) Music: Ana Hernandez  Sylvia Dunstan's hymn text echoes the words of Micah appointed for the Fourth Sunday of Epiphany.  For any Sunday service, retreat, mission trip, or conventions the full hymn provides a powerful, rousing closing.  It would be lovely at a wedding. Ana Hernandez, composer and member of the Voices Found hymnal committee, sang  "Bless now," unaccompanied.  It is stunningly beautiful a cappella,  performed by a...

                                                                                                              Voices Found #147   There is a longing in our hearts, O Lord, for you to reveal yourself to us.  There is a longing in our hearts for love  we only find in you, our God. For healing, for wholeness, for new life: hear our prayer. In sickness, in death:  Be near, hear our prayer, O God.   There is a longing in our hearts, O Lord, for you to reveal yourself to us.  There is a longing in our hearts for love  we only find in you, our God. Lord save us, take pity, light in our darkness. We call you, we wait:   Be near, hear our prayer, O God . Words and Music: Anne Quigl...

                                                                                    Voices Found #67, verse 3 Cleansing waters once at Jordon closed around the One foretold, opened to reveal the glory  ever new and ever old. Words: Sylvia Dunstan (1955-1993) Music: Ellerton, Sharon Marion Hershey Matthew 3: 16-17 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.  17 And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, *  with whom I am well pleased.’ Cleansing waters. Crashing waters. Sylvia Dunstan reminds us of water power!   Early cleansing rituals involved still waters in placid pools.  For repentance, John chos...