Sunday, December 23, 2012

Sure On This Shining Night



Sure on this shining night
Of star made shadows round,
Kindness must watch for me
This side the ground.
The late year lies down the north.
All is healed, all is health.
High summer holds the earth.
Hearts all whole.
Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder wand'ring far
alone
Of shadows on the stars.
                                        -James Agee

Music by Morten Lauridsen

I came across this at a holiday concert this month. Beautiful music and I was moved to realize that one of my favorite writers ever wrote the poem that Lauridsen used. It isn't actually a winter song, but I think it works.

I hope your winter holidays were or will be good ones.
 

5 comments:

  1. Beautiful, thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas.- Janet

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  2. Peter and Janet, finding new music to listen to is one of the great things about the season. Merry Christmas to both of you!

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  3. Having sung this piece at the holiday concert you were at, Seana, I can attest to its beauty. And for me, it was especially wonderful that this secular song (among so many religious ones) was so powerful.

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  4. It was a beautiful rendition, Leslie. You should count yourself proud to be a member of that group.

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