This is the day that commemorates England's national patron, Saint George. It is also the day on which William Shakespeare was born and died, and it is my English mother's birthday. For all our readers from Englsh-speakng nations, and those who love and trace their lineage to what Churchill called the "island race," a very happy Saint George's Day!
The following video was made by Deacon Greg Benton, author of the beautiful Piddingworth blog, and features the moving hymn "Jerusalem," from the poem by William Blake, with music composed by Sir Charles Hubert Parry.
The following video was made by Deacon Greg Benton, author of the beautiful Piddingworth blog, and features the moving hymn "Jerusalem," from the poem by William Blake, with music composed by Sir Charles Hubert Parry.
Jerusalem is a world class song with an interesting story behind it:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_did_those_feet_in_ancient_time
I learned it from the ELP's Brain Salad Surgery: heroic lyrics, a singable tune.
Two summers ago I was in a Dover pub where locals were singing popular songs around the bar. I asked for them to do Jerusalem...no-one was sure how it went, but if I'd start, they'd pick it up. I wound up doing it all alone, which was fun, but nobody knew enough of it to join in.
Thanks so much, kkollwitz. I've been to Glastonbury and seen the thorn that is said to have sprouted from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea and which blooms at Christmas, but I never connected the Blake lines to that legend or knew that they referenced a visit by a young Jesus. Very interesting and thank you.
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks for posting about it.
ReplyDelete'Jerusalem' is the answer I would give to any who would ask me, "What is England?"
Thank you, Dan, for the video. That is one of my favorites.
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