E'en So Lord Jesus Quickly Come

The Holy Innocents Choir of St. John Cantius singing E'en So Lord Jesus Quickly Come at the Festival of Lessons and Carols at the Shrine Our Lady of Mt. Carmel December 16, 2007.

I hope you enjoy!

(Merry Christmas Ashley and Carolyn!)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• religious

[timeus2009]

No one has commented about the origins of this piece. A mother & father were holding vigil in the hospital over their gravely ill child. They took turns--alone in their grief--while one wrote the music & the other wrote the words. Long after the child miraculously recovered, they put the music and words together & realized how beautifully they meshed. The parents felt even more strongly that God's grace had shone upon them in their darkest hour and that the resulting beautiful music was proof.

[sheppard281]

Thank you for posting that Timeus, I should put that in the description. :)

[wswansonbln]

It's no wonder that your friend found comfort in this, Timeus2009. Paul and Ruth Manz wrote this out of their conviction of the promised Resurrection in light of the expected death of their son (as always, clear, good Lutheran theology shining through from both) and not as a triumphalistic celebration of their Son's survival.

[wswansonbln]

That gifted couple was Paul and Ruth Manz. Paul died in October, 2009, Ruth some time ago. Wonderful, gifted people.

[jv04jm]

That mother and father were Ruth and Paul Manz. Paul Manz, the accomplished organist, composer and teacher just passed away on October 28, 2009, preceded by his wife in 2008.

[timeus2009]

Hi, Sheppard281: My tiny choir sang this years ago, around the time that a friend had lost her only child, a little 5-year-old daughter. Although the child of the composer and lyricist lived and my friend's child did not, I still felt that the piece offered such comfort. It translates well as an Advent piece as well. I get chills every time I hear it. It's hauntingly beautiful.