repertoire
PART II
looking upward
Amazing Grace
arr. C. Leonard Raybon
This is a departure for this beloved hymn. In most cases, a complete thought is achieved when leaving out the fourth line of each verse. At the end, the “forgotten” last lines emerge to bring the piece to a peaceful close. Listeners may be disappointed that the “ten thousand years” verse does not appear in SH for this hymn. Don’t worry, though; that verse appears in another hymn in our project!
The Female Convict
arr. C. Leonard Raybon
This poignant lullaby is the final communication from a soon-to-be executed mother to her baby. One can infer that this she-wolf has done something that earned her a Scarlet Letter. The chest-voice/head-voice yodels written for the tenors and basses add to the rawness and angst of the scene.
Rock of Ages
arr. C. Leonard Raybon
The text for this hymn in SH is perhaps different than expected. Most of us remember, “Rock of Ages, cleft for me.” Here, it is, “Rock of ages, shelter me.” Our twenty-first century sensibilities are offended by the phrase, “When my eyestrings break in death,” but what an impact!
“Rock of Ages” excerpt, first rehearsal, December 2017, Felicity Church
The Romish Lady
arr. C. Leonard Raybon
This song takes Catholic bashing to a whole new level! Originally containing eleven verses, some judicious edits allow for a complete story in just seven. A young woman has an epiphany: she needs to stop worshiping Catholic idols and become something more Godly, a Protestant. She tells her mother, and as loyal mothers tend to do, she tattles to the Pope, who has the daughter burned at the stake. What a heart-warming tale! (Pardon the pun). In this arrangement, a joyful madrigal structure is used, and a “fa la la” refrain juxtaposed to the grotesque subject matter.
