Recently, I saw a film on TV and there was a scene where a couple was on a park bench in London listening to a brass band playing a song. It was lovely, so pleasant to the ear. The song sounded familiar and I realized that I knew the tune but not the song so I looked it up.
It was Psalm 23 set to music. I have heard this done before, most memorably to me was from the TV show, "Vicar of Dibley" but this was not the same tune. (Many tunes have been written for this Psalm... you may see the full list just here.) With just a bit of research, I can tell you that what I heard from the brass band was written by Jessie Seymour Irvine around 1870, and the tune is called "Crimond" for the Scottish village where she lived! In my research, I think I remember that this is one of the few hymns where the music is written by a woman. The words are paraphrased from the 23rd Psalm from the Bible, written by David, of course!
(Of course, you also know I had to look up more about that village in Scotland...if you look at the same thing I did, you will rewarded by seeing an amazing clock! Here, look at this...Crimond.
The hour is coming.)
The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
My soul he doth restore again,
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
E'en for his own name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill;
For thou art with me; and thy rod
And staff me comfort still.
My table thou hast furnishèd
In presence of my foes;
My head thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God's house forever more
My dwelling place shall be.
My friends, I have noticed that several of my blogging friends are thinking of giving up writing on their blogs. I feel a sorrow over this that I find hard to express. If you are reading this and think you have decided to stop, then...think again! Even if you don't post very often, please...keep it up if you can! Okay? I am thanking you in advance of your decision!
Now, these dog days of summer are getting me a bit down, so hearing the song that I gave you above is very comforting to me.
And by the way, I really prefer it from a brass band but that is my "English heart" coming through, I guess. The Brits really do like a brass band!
Very comforting! The heat is enough to get anyone down, i hope it breaks soon.
ReplyDeleteThe skies were overcast here today so a bit of relief in the temperature. Thank goodness!
DeleteLovely music. I love the picture of all the flowers scattered near the bench. Hopefully your blogger friends will simply take a break. We periodically need to rest our brains.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the photo, I thought it went with the words of the psalm. The flowers had fallen like that, off a vine that was growing up a tree beside the lake. Yes, maybe they will read your comment and just take a break to rest, that sounds nice.
DeleteThe 23rd Psalm has always been my most favourite spiritual poem. It is always a comfort in difficult times. Even for those of us who aren't Christian!
ReplyDeleteYes, I should have put a link here to what I read about the 23rd Psalm, it said that it is the most well known Psalm and is loved by many, with or without religion.
DeleteYorkshire is famous for its brass bands, as you know :-) Several of my friends and relatives there play in one, and of course, O.K.'s village band is largely brass, too (although not in Yorkshire...).
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be wonderful if we knew the tune David had originally composed when he wrote the words we know today as Psalm 23? I imagine it a very soothing, gentle piece of music. He used to be a shepherd himself when he was a boy, after all, and knew what he was talking about.
I remembered that OK played the trumpet but I didn't remember that you had friends and relatives in brass bands in England! (You will have to tell me again, my mind is a sieve!)
DeleteI would like to know the song that David wrote. I read that he wrote the 23rd Psalm when he was an older man, and that does make sense when you study the words.
Hi Kay - lovely psalm and video to go with it - telling us about Crimond. Wonderful to see and the extra minute on the clock - a little bit of special Scottishness for Norman Cowie ... lovely - thank you ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi Hilary!
DeleteGlad you went to the link about Crimond! I thought it was very interesting, that clock was amazing...if you read a bit more about it, you will see that the extra minute was repaired, but the people wanted it kept the way it was, and changed it back! Cheers!
Psalm 23 is a favorite of mine for sure. Over my years of blogging I've lost many friends due to the fact that they've given up and gone to FB which is so sad. After reading blogs, you do become friends and hate to loose them. Summer here has taken on a cooler twist for a few days here. Very refreshing for sure, but the heat will come back they say...summer isn't over for quite a while now. Hang in there !
ReplyDeleteI mourn all the blogging friends who stopped blogging! You hate to lose them, that is true.
DeleteSummer will be here until at least the end of October! :-)
That is a beautiful Psalm. I think the one that most people know by heart. I have thought about giving up blogging, too, but instead I have cut back on posting. I would hate to lose all the great friends I have made in blogland.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great weekend- xo Diana
I don't post as much as I used to, not because I don't have tons of things I want to write about but because at the end of the day, I am old and tired and can't think well enough to put words together. That is the truth!
DeleteGlad to have found such funny, sweet friends in blogland like you, Diana! Take care! x
Lovely and very comforting melody. My favorite version of this psalm is Bobby McFerrin's surprising one. And for now, I am not planning to stop my blog. It is a little sad how the world of blogging has slowed down. But for now, I am keeping on keeping on and hope you are too, Kay!
ReplyDeleteYes, let's keep on keeping on even if we don't post as much as before! I think that Bobby McFerrin is great! He is one of those listed on that link I gave you! Anybody who works with symphonies and public broadcasting like Bobby McFerrin is more than okay in my book!
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn2zKKhhF3I
ReplyDeleteI also just watched Bobby McFerrin with Robin Williams singing "Come Together". What a talent! (Both of them, really. so sorry we no longer have Robin Williams.)
DeleteWell you are right in that I do love a good brass band. I recognise the psalm as well. I didn't realise that it had been set to different pieces of music.
ReplyDeleteGlad that I got it right about the Brits loving a brass band. You should, every one I have ever heard over there is excellent.
DeleteThank you for visiting me today!! I love the 23rd Psalms. I repeat it several times a day. It brings me so much comfort. I go back and forth with thinking about keeping or not keeping my blog. But I must do it for my family!! Come visit anytime!
ReplyDeleteHello Paula!
DeleteYou have a lovely blog, the whole world should know it! I sometimes feel as if my blog is yet another one of the many jobs that I have to do, but I very much enjoy writing it.
Same for you, please visit me anytime. :-)
This is the version of "The Lord Is My Shepherd" that I know. It's lovely to hear it in brass. Kay, you are the third of my blogging friends who has mentioned that some people are deciding to give up blogging. It's sad to think of. I've not been regular, although I usually hang in there with my northern posts. And I love getting around to visit my blogging friends. I certainly hope that you don't stop! My basic problem is how much time it all takes, but I can't imagine stopping. Sending you a big hug!
ReplyDeleteYou may ONLY give up blogging if you have written a book and you are on a tour over the USA and Canada doing your book signings!
DeleteTake care, Louise and I am sending that big hug right back at ya!