PARRY: Choral Masterpieces Songs of Farewell / I Was Glad / Jerusalem

PARRY: Choral Masterpieces Songs of Farewell / I Was Glad / Jerusalem Naxos 8.572104

[1] I was glad when they said unto me He is thy gracious friend, I was glad when they said unto me, And, O my soul, awake! We will go into the house of the Lord. Did in pure love descend Our feet shall stand in thy gates, O Jerusalem. To die here for thy sake. Jerusalem is builded as a city, that is at unity in itself. If thou canst get but thither, O pray for the peace of Jerusalem, There grows the flow’r of Peace, they shall prosper that love thee. The rose that cannot wither, Peace be within thy walls, Thy fortress and thy case. and plenteousness within thy palaces. Leave then thy foolish ranges, Psalm CXXII For none can thee secure [2] Great Service: Magnificat But One who never changes, My soul doth magnify the Lord, Thy God, thy life, thy cure. and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the lowliness Henry Vaughan (16221695) of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth [5] I know my soul hath power to know all things all generations shall call me blessed. I know my soul hath power to know all things. For he that is mighty hath magnified me, Yet she is blind and ignorant in all. and holy is his Name. I know I’m one of Nature’s little kings, And his mercy is on them that fear him, Yet to the least and vilest things am thrall. throughout all generations. I know my life’s a pain and but a span: He hath shewed strength with his arm, I know my sense is mock’d in ev’rything: he hath scattered the proud And to conclude, I know myself a Man, in the imagination of their hearts. Which is a proud and yet a wretched thing. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble and meek. John Davies (15691626) He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent empty away. [6] Never weatherbeaten sail He remembering his mercy hath Never weatherbeaten sail more willing holpen his servant Israel, bent to shore. as he promised to our forefathers, Never tired pilgrim’s limbs affected slumber more, Abraham and his seed for ever. Than my wearied sprite now longs Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, to fly out of my troubled breast: and to the Holy Ghost. O come quickly, sweetest Lord, As it was in the beginning, is now, and take my soul to rest! and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Ever blooming are the joys of Heaven’s high Paradise, St Luke I Cold age deafs not there our ears [3] Great Service: Nunc dimittis nor vapour dims our eyes: Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace Glory there the sun outshines according to thy word. whole beams the blessed only see: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, O come quickly, glorious Lord, which thou hast prepared before the face and raise my sprite to Thee! of all people, to be a light to lighten the Gentiles, Thomas Campion (15671620) and be the glory of thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, [7] There is an old belief and to the Holy Ghost. There is an old belief, As it was in the beginning, is now, That on some solemn shore, and ever shall be, Beyond the sphere of grief world without end. Amen. Dear friends shall meet once more.

St Luke II.29 Beyond the sphere of Time SONGS OF FAREWELL And Sin and Fate’s control, Serene in changeless prime [4] My soul, there is a country Of body and of soul. My soul, there is a country Far beyond the stars, That creed I fain would keep, Where stands a winged sentry That hope I’ll ne’er forgo. All skilful in the wars. Eternal be the sleep, If not to waken so. There above noise and danger Sweet Peace sits crowned with smiles, John Gibson Lockhart (17941854) And one born in a manger Commands the beauteous files. [8] At the round earth’s imagined corners At the round earth’s imagined corners, blow Your trumpets, angels, and arise, arise

From death, you numberless infinities and it was dark under His feet. Of souls, and to your scatter’d bodies go! He rode on the Cherubim, and did fly, All whom the flood did, and fire shall overthrow, and came flying upon the wings of the wind. All whom war, dearth, age, agues, tyrannies, Despair, law, chance, hath slain, The Lord’s seat is in heaven, and you whose eyes His kingdom ruleth over all. Shall behold God, and never taste death’s woe. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on them But let them sleep, Lord, and me mourn a space, that fear Him, and upon them For, if above all these, my sins abound, that put their trust in His mercy ’Tis late to ask abundance of Thy grace, to deliver their soul from death. When we are there. Here on this lowly ground, Our soul hath patiently tarried for the Lord, Teach me how to repent, for that’s as good for He is our help and our shield. As if Thou’dst sealed my pardon with Thy blood. He delivered the poor in his affliction, John Donne (15721631) the fatherless and him that hath none to help him. He shall bind up the brokenhearted [9] Lord, let me know mine end and proclaim liberty to the captives Lord, let me know mine end and comfort to those that mourn. and the number of my days, He shall give them beauty for ashes; that I may be certified how long I have to live. the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Thou hast made my days as it were a span long; For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and mine age is as nothing, in respect of Thee, and as the garden causeth things and verily ev’ry man living is altogether vanity. that are sown to spring forth, For man walketh in a vain shadow, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and disquieteth himself in vain, and peace he heapeth up riches and cannot tell to spring forth before all nations. who shall gather themn. And now, Lord, what is my hope? The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Truly my hope is even in Thee. He hath not dealt with us after our sins, Deliver me from all mine offences nor rewarded us according to our wickedness, and make me not a rebuke to the foolish. for look how high the heaven is I became dumb and opened not my mouth, in comparison of the earth, for it was Thy doing. so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. Take Thy plague away from me, Look how wide also the east is from the west, I am even consumed by means of Thy heavy hand. so far hath He set our sins from us. When Thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, Thou makest his beauty to consume away, O praise ye the Lord, Like as it were a moth fretting a garment; Praise Him in the height. ev’ry man, therefore, is but vanity. Rejoice in His word Hear my prayer, O Lord, and with Thine ears Ye angels of Light; consider my calling. Ye Heavens adore Him Hold not Thy peace at my tears! By whom ye were made, For I am a stranger with Thee and a sojourner And worship before Him as all my fathers were. In brightness arrayed. O spare me a little that I may recover my strength O praise ye the Lord, before I go hence and be no more seen. Praise Him upon earth, In tuneful accord, Psalms XXXIX vv.515 Ye sons of new birth. Praise Him who hath brought you [10] Hear my words, ye people His grace from above. Hear my words, ye people, Praise Him who hath taught you give ear unto me all ye that have knowledge. To sing of His love. Let us choose to us judgement. O praise ye the Lord! let us know among ourselves what is good. Thanksgiving and song Behold, God is mighty and despiseth not any, To Him be outpoured He is mighty in strength and in wisdom. All ages along: Behold He is great, and we know Him not, For Love in creation, neither can the number of His years For Heaven restored, be searched out. For grace of salvation, The Lord’s seat is in heaven. O praise ye the Lord. Amen. Clouds and darkness are round about Him. Job. Isaiah. Psalms. Righteousness and judgement Psalm CL (adapted by H.W. Baker) are the habitation of His seat. He decketh Himself with light as with a garment, [11] Long since in Egypt’s plenteous land and spreadeth out the heavens like a curtain. Long since in Egypt’s plenteous land He layeth the beams of His chambers in the waters, Our fathers were oppressed; and maketh the clouds His chariots But God, whose chosen folk they were, and walketh upon the wings of the wind. Smote those who long enslaved them there, He bowed the heavens and came down, And all their woes redressed.

The Red Sea stayed them not at all, [12] Jerusalem Nor depths of liquid green; And did those feet in ancient time On either hand a mighty wall Walk upon England’s mountains green? Of waters clear rose at his call, And was the Holy Lamb of God And they passed through between. On England’s pleasant pastures seen? In deserts wild they wandered long, They sinned and went astray; And did the countenance divine But yet his arm to help was strong, Shine forth upon our clouded hills? He pardoned them tho’ they did wrong, And was Jerusalem builded here And brought them on their way. Among these dark satanic mills?

At last to this good land they came, Bring me my bow of burning gold! With fruitful plenty blest; Bring me my arrows of desire! Here glorious men won endless fame, Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold! Here God made holy Zion’s name, Bring me my chariot of fire! And here he gave them rest. I will not cease from mental fight, Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, Oh, may we ne’er forget what he hath done, Till we have built Jerusalem Nor prove unmindful of his love, In England’s green and pleasant land. That, like the constant sun, On Israel hath shone, William Blake (17571827) And sent down blessings from above.

C.H. Parry (from Judith)