Vox Harmonia - Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Vox Harmonia performing at Barnes and Noble December 6, 2008

Category:

Music

Tags:

• vox harmonia
• barnes and noble
• dixieblaze
• choral choir

[burkardhanis]

not a Christmas song...it a Eucharistic hymn based on Liturgy of St James. Shame on a "teacher" for not knowing.

[bsg111987]

@burkardhanis It really is troubling that even a cursory glance at Wikipedia will show that this is a Eucharistic Hymn and this director blatantly ignores that. With the exception of "descends to earth" and "born of Mary" this text says nothing of Christmas. It is entirely Eucharistic and to sell it as anything but is sad. (This leaves aside the ghastly Amens tagged on the end.)

[TheBeautifulXsorrow]

Being Orthodox, I know this piece was originally sung during Holy Communion in St. Jame's Liturgy (and one can see it came from St. Jame's Liturgy in tiny print in Episcopalian Hymnals). However, I find the song beautiful and can understand why people wanted to sing it for Advent and I think condemning it's use during that time is silly. What harm is it to sing the praise of God at whatever season? However the teacher probably should've researched a little better but *shrugs*. No one's perfect.

[JTB1956]

@bsg111987 Of all the errors, yours is the worst. Rather than congratulate and encourage the singing of an ancient hymn..in these days when that which masquerades as music blasts and assaults our ears from all sides...you instead nitpick and find fault with every aspect of these young folks efforts. A pox on "Hymn snobs" who like the ancient Pharisees take great pains to avoid seeing blessings. You young folks keep right on singing. Nevermind the tares.

[sblackmun]

This is an Advent hymn! Many Christians start singing Christmas carols as soon as December begins. It's best to sing the Advent hymns--this one, Lo! How a rose e'er blooming, and others right up to Christmas Eve and then burst into the joyful hymns of Christmastide.

[bsg111987]

@anna10116 Quaint. So a widespread abuse legitimizes the error?

[anna10116]

@bsg111987 This song is commonly sung at Lessons and Carols services, which are evidently Christmas services. He isn't "blatantly ignoring" the song's heritage; he probably knows more about it than you do, with your "cursory glance at Wikipedia."

[Catachrest]

@Lives4Christ73 I think the issue is - as with many sacred pieces sung by secular choirs - the singers are not singing from depth of conviction, but concentrating on the mechanics. If you stop for a moment to contemplate the words - even with the omissions, as a hymn about the incarnation - then the depth will express itself naturally in the performance. For pure performance, I'd far rather choirs used the original French "Jesus Christ s'habillle en pauvre"- a carol rather than a hymn.

[smurray36]

I know we sing this in our choir (traditional Roman Catholic) at Christmastide, but I'm sure it can be sung during the year.

[smmclaug75]

@bsg111987 There are a great many Protestants who adore this song and either 1) do not give two thoughts to the actual text, or 2) know the meaning of the text and have the insufferable gall to change the words to suit their theology. See for example Jack Marti's otherwise commendable rendition on YouTube. He says in the comments that he only changed the words after "prayerful consideration," but that doesn't make it any less offensive, ignorant, and self-indulgent.

[cossheisnmzenna]

I reckon it would sound really nice, if there was huge choir that just hummed the tune