If you think "I breathe," the "I" is extra. There is no you to say "I." What we call "I" is just a swinging door which moves when we inhale and when we exhale. It just moves; that is all. - Shunryu Suzuki

bend, my heart
breath, flow through
bow, my heart
to what is true

liturgies

bend, my heart (2023-10-13)

let me be a slow spun filament of love,
a filament for love to weave;
let me be a low hummed song to ease the pain:
the pain that only grace can ease.

Written in a Music that Makes Community composing workshop in Summer 2020.

filament of love (2020-06-23)

I wanna be holding on the pilgrim's way
holding to that road
I wanna be holding on the Holy One
who will share the load

hold on, hold on
holding to that road
hold on, Holy One
I will share the load

I got curious about how this song could enact or embody something that I find mysterious and beautiful in the Christian tradition. There's this idea that "when two or three are gathered" in the name of Jesus, Jesus is there. Even more concretely, the apostle Paul writes that the gathered community IS the Body of Christ; we are the hands and feet and heart of God acting in this world. 

I think this tune could work for a community as melody only, but I also envision a smaller group singing these interjected responses: "hold on," "I will share the load." As in, yes—hold on to the Holy One, and we will in turn hold on to you. Who will share the load? Certainly God will. But if there is a question in that "who," know that I will, we will, right here, right now.

holding on the pilgrim's way 2021-07-09

now be whole as this moment
broken as this moment
rooted as this moment 
that is blooming now

The idea being...this moment contains every phase or facet of life: in the seed. The wholeness of that life under the ground, the risky breaking open of a sprout, the tender shoot, the full blossom. We can be all these things at once.

this moment 2021-01-19

we are tending seeds that the spirit has planted,
the spirit of life, the earth's own breath;
we are tending seeds that the spirit has planted,
the spirit of life, rooting deeper than death

breathe into life, the earth's own breath
breathe into life, deeper than death

tending seeds demo 2023-11-17

Book of Love + Psalm 119 41-48 (demo)

Compline 2024-18-02 (complete office)

Psalm 119:41-48, with "Book Of Love" Antiphon (Magnetic Fields)

Chanted compline at All Saints Episcopal Church in Sunnyside, 10 March 2024.

Hymn: To thee before the close of day (adapted from 5th c. text)
Psalm: Selections from Psalm 22, with antiphon:
		Only love can break your heart, Neil Young (1945 - )
Motet: Nolo mortem peccatoris, Thomas Morley (1557-1603)
Anthem: Ave Verum Corpus, William Byrd (1543 - 1623)
Marian Antiphon: Salve Regina, unknown, 12th century

Singers:
Mithuna Sivaraman
Olivia Grugan
Matt Morello
Fr. Carl Adair

Psalm 22 And Neil Young, Only Love Can Break Your Heart

Compline 2024-03-10 (complete office)

In this season of Easter, when we have seen the magnolia trees heavy with blossoms and now flinging forth leaves that grow more each day, it is undeniable that life is "ever new." And so it felt appropriate to put Psalm 36: 5-10 in conversation with Beverly Glenn-Copeland's iconic track of that name. 

Welcome the spring, the summer rain
Softly turn to sing again
    Welcome the bud, the summer blooming flower

Welcome the child whose hand I hold
Welcome to you both young and old
    We are ever new, we are ever new

Glenn-Copeland is Black trans man whose pioneering electronic music has been rediscovered in the last decade. In Posy Dixon's recent documentary and in this moving profile (https://www.loudandquiet.com/interview/beverly-glenn-copeland-a-spiritual-transgender-ambient-artist-finally-recognised-for-his-trailblazing-in-music-and-attitudes/), Glenn's spiritual maturity is evident, especially in his child-like wonder in the ever-changing beauty of the world. 

It is a privilege to remix Glenn-Copeland's work in this context, where we share in his pursuit of that wonder, and to honor him as an exemplar of the courage, creativity, and open-heartedness that we also seek at the Episcopal Mission in Sunnyside.

Psalm 36 and Antiphon: Beverly Glenn-Copeland, "Ever New"

Compline 2024 - 04 - 28

episcopal priest; dad; goofball

These are mostly tunes that help me imagine the kind of simple, everyday moments of sacred connection that I yearn to share with others. Melodies that stay with me, words I need to hear. 

I would be honored if any of these tunes felt right for your gathering, or to be remixed or rewritten for your gathering: I ask only that you say you got some ingredients from me. I have some sheet music for a number of these tunes, if that's helpful. Best way to reach out is frcarlsunnyside [at] gmail.com.

fr carl

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