Comments on: A Humble Example

By: Tom Smith

Tom Smith — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I like the hymn very much — I hope someone picks it up and performs it at some point.

Regarding the reverence during the recitation of the Creed, first off, it's technically a profound bow (from the waist). My smartass answer as to why we make a bow is that the people who came up with GIRM thought genuflexion was too hard for people to do (genuflexion used to be the norm for reverencing the Incarnation in the Creed and in all prayers that mentioned it specifically, including the Angelus and in the reading of the beginning of John's Gospel). But anyway, as near as I can tell, the reason that we make a reverence at the mention of the Incarnation is because we are giving a gesture of our adoration of the Word made flesh, as the Incarnation was the act by which the sacrifice of the Cross and ultimately, salvation, were made possible. Perhaps the genuflexion at the mention of the Incarnation in the Creed began as a reaction to early Christological heresies which either denied Christ's divinity or held that His human nature was, somehow, more prominent than His divine nature, but this last bit is all conjecture.

By: stuff

stuff — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I've been meaning to email you to let you know I've printed the music and played it through on the ol' piano a few times - the whole family likes it a lot. I'm trying to get our little schola to sing it; if it happens I'll let you know. Thanks for passing it along!!

By: Steve Nicoloso

Steve Nicoloso — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

So lemme get this straight gbm… you wrote this?! It's pretty good. You're asking for music for it? I could take as stab at it, tho' I'm more of a folk/country/rock musician, and this has celtic hymn written all over it. My initial guess was to use the tune of "As the Hart Longs for Flowing Streams" (a "Hart" for you younguns is a deer), same tune as "Tho' I May Speak with Bravest Fire". Either should be in any good, old hymnal. The tune would work perfectly for the stanzas, not sure what I'd do about the refrains (well whatever you call the two-line thingies.

My $0.02

By: gbm3

gbm3 — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

"You're asking for music for it?" -Steve Nicoloso

No.

The carol contest from which I received honorable mention was primarily for the music. I happened to write the lyrics too.

I also entered another contest with the same lyrics in a SATB/cello arrangement (to no avail). Let me know if someone would like this also.

I would be interested in your interpretation though. If you do arrange something with the lyrics, please forward the music to me c/o FD.

-