Hymns: O love divine

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) composed the hymn tune DOWN AMPNEY, naming it for his birthplace where his father was vicar. I visited All Saints, Down Ampney parish nearly a decade ago. The text of this wonderful hymn is by Bianco da Siena, a 15th century Italian poet.  Come down, O Love divine, seek thou this soul

Hymns: There’s a wideness

I knew this hymn text from my Baptist days — from early in my life! But one of the alternate tunes in the Episcopal Hymnal 1982 makes this text come alive. ST. HELENA, by Calvin Hampton (1938-1984) is one of the most perfect pairing of tunes and texts I’ve ever heard. For the love of

Hymns: Praise, my soul

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;to his feet your tribute bring.Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,evermore his praises sing.Alleluia, alleluia!Praise the everlasting King! henry francis lyte, 1834 Thus begins the hymn that will one day open my own funeral mass, sung to the powerful hymn tune LAUDA ANIMA, by John Goss (1800-1880). I did not know

Hymns: Love Divine

I think that this week I’m going to simply share some favorite verses of hymns, with maybe a word or two of purpose. Finish then thy new creationPure and spotless let us be;Let us see thy great salvation,Perfectly restored in thee,Changed from glory into glory,Till in heaven we take our place,Till we cast our crowns

Altar

My home altar was bathed in beautiful light yesterday.

In memoriam

Leona Schaefer1946-2021 On this day her mortal remains will be interred in the columbarium at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City, following what promises to be a glorious, musical funeral service. The obituary: http://www.stmaryskcmo.org/leona.html.

Emily Skinner

The incomparable Emily Skinner, Tony Award nominee and local favorite, brought her latest cabaret show to the Blue Strawberry this past weekend. “A Broad with a Broad, Broad Mind” lived up to its title. Starting with Elton John’s “The Bitch is Back,” running through Mae West and Mr. Rogers and paeans to booze and vegetarianism,

#TBT: UK 1995

Leona Schaefer will be celebrated and memorialized on Saturday. A few days ago, I pulled my album from the 1995 UK tour, undertaken by the Mixed Choir of Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City. John Schaefer was Canon Musician; Leona Schaefer, the tour manager and knowledge-master. (I wrote a friend the other day that

In the kitchen

Hot sauce

I made a homemade hot pepper sauce last week. I started with Fresno chilies, brining them for a few days. Then came some food processor work with salt and sugar and a bit of olive oil.