There is a Balm — July 31, 2020

Derived from a range of outstanding choral music, my themed Playlists are designed to be like concerts, of about an hour in length.

The music of this week’s Playlist expresses hope and the assurance of cure for all our ills, with music of Bach, Brahms, African-American spirituals and Jake Runestad’s comforting The Hope of Loving.

Listen on YouTube:

Listen on Spotify:

PROGRAM

Click the links for information on the pieces and texts/translations.

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf, Op. 74, No. 2

Translation

Performed by RIAS Kammerchor, conducted by Marcus Creed

 

J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

Es ist nicht Gesundes an meinem Leibe, BWV 25

Translations

Performed by Monteverdi Choir & English Baroque Soloists, conducted by John Eliot Gardiner

 

Arr. William Dawson (1899-1990)

There is a Balm in Gilead

There is a balm in Gilead,
to make the wounded whole,
there is a balm in Gilead,
to heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged,
and think my work’s in vain
but then the Holy Spirit
revives my soul again.

If you cannot sing like angels,
if you cannot preach like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus,
and say, “He died for all.”
                    African-American Spiritual

Performed by St. Olaf Choir & Marvis Martin, soprano, conducted by Anton Armstrong

 

Arr. Alice Parker (b.1925) & Robert Shaw (1916-1999)

My God is a Rock

Text

Performed by Conspirare, conducted by Craig Hella Johnson

 

Jake Runestad (b.1986)

The Hope of Loving

Yield to Love
Wild Forces
Wondrous Creatures
The Heart’s Vale (Instrumental)
My Soul is a Candle
The Hope of Loving

Background and Texts

Performed by Conspirare, conducted by Craig Hella Johnson

 

David Dickau (b.1953)

If Music Be the Food of Love

Text

Performed by University of Utah Singers, conducted by Brady Allred (Spotify)
St. Olaf Choir, conducted by Anton Armstrong (YouTube)