"Sunday Morning Bells": A Communion Lullaby by David Franks

"Sunday Morning Bells": A Communion Lullaby

Eric Mithen recorded this video live at St. John's in Ellicott City, Maryland. Like the "happy ending" of "Musical Words" --it uses chords & notes within them (harmonics) to spell out a word or words -- in this case -- "B.A.B.E" caps for major.

If you listen to "Musical Words", you will see and hear that the 4th movement is exactly the same "happy ending" -- "B.A.B.E" -- except that music consists of two tracks of Celeste (a very small piano like instrument) with one track an octave higher than another. It has a "music box" sound which is what I wanted since it is a lullaby.

The lyric, sung by Aleta Greene & Emmy Lou Harris, who also sing in the opening chorales along with Richie Havens etc, in "Musical Words" consists of approximations of infantile utterance -- those sounds that infants make when they are most at peace --

the open throat back vowel sounds: "ah--oh--ooo", the nursing sounds, ""peh", "beh", "meh" & the dental sounds "deh" & "teh" --

I like to think of these sounds as my most mature lyrics!

While in the second version, the melody line remains exactly the same -- "B.A.B.E." the celestes, played by Richard Lake, are replaced
by the adult bell choir of St. Johns Church, and the melody sung by
Emmy Lou and Aleta is replaced by flute.

The titled is also changed to : "Sunday Morning Bells; A Communion
Lullaby", and is now part of the part of the cannon. This performance was conducted by Nancy Stavely, Musical Director, and, recorded live by Paul Bensel,

June 21, 2007, Ellicott City and Columbia, Maryland.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• David Franks
• Sunday Morning Bells
• church
• bell
• choir
• Episcopal Church
• Ellicott City
• Maryland
• Mithen

[bootgirl1970]

Oh David !!! how Beautiful and lovely and gentle and powerful . How veryvery you.