A captivating song of warning, written by William Walker and a special hymn by Charlotte Elizabeth that has me thinking more about each line:

Soldier, go, but not to claim
Mould’ring spoils of earth-born treasure;
Not to build a vaunting name,
Not to dwell in tents of pleasure:
Dream not that the way is smooth,
Hope not that the thorns are roses;
Turn no wishful eye of youth,
Where the sunny beam reposes,
Thou hast sterner work to do
Hosts to cut thy passage thru;
Close behind thee gulfs are burning –
Forward, then there’s no returning.

Soldier, rest; – but not for thee
Spreads the world her downy pillow;
On the rock thy couch must be,
While around thee chafes the billow:
Thine must be a watchful sleep
wearier than another’s waking.
Such a charge as thou must keep,
Brooks no moment of forsaking:
Sleep as on the battlefield,
Girded – grasping sword and shield;
Those thou canst not name nor number,
Steal upon thy broken slumber.

317 CH The Christian Soldier

With my head in the Christian Harmony this week I wrote a Walker-styled piece called Charlotte with another poem by Charlotte Elizabeth Tonna, who, I found,  also published several anti-slavery hymns. I hope you enjoy.

 

Charlotte 7s. 6s. (Keillor)

A thoroughly Sacred Harp composition, 447, with a great rich texture. 

447 Wondrous Cross

360 CH

329 CH

Psalm 111 (Zoom recording)

Martyrs - St Mary’s

Camp DoReMi Europe 2017

281b CH Camp Doremi UK 2017

Here is, I guess, my favorite piece I wrote this year, called Willow, named for a small town in the Catskills. One of my favorite pieces in the Christian Harmony is Samanthra, for how it treats these amazing words by Joseph Swain. But I always found myself singing them to my own tune, which I later harmonized into this piece. I hope it finds you well! 

Thanks for the continued support. 

As a funnier side-note, with headphones one might here light chatter in the background, which is the sound of the pizza guy getting the door while I was singing the tenor line. My roommate intercepted the confused Philadelphia man, allowing me to finish the line, however I sang just one verse!

Here is the PDF link: [ https://drive.google.com/open?id=1vPgpbr68fzqSuayEIU91_nLgd820PjF8 ]
 
The words by Joseph Swain I selected:

1. O Thou, in whose presence my soul takes delight,
On whom in affliction I call;
My comfort by day, and my song in the night,
My hope, my salvation, my all.

2. Where dost thou at noon-tide resort with thy sheep,
To feed them in pastures of love?
For why in the valley of death should I weep,
Or alone in the wilderness rove?

3.O why should I wander an alien from thee,
Or cry in the desert for bread?
Thy foes will rejoice, when my sorrows they see,
And smile at the tears I have shed.

4.His voice as the sound of a dulcimer sweet,
Is heard through the shadows of death;
The cedars of Lebanon bow at his feet,
The air is perfumed with his breath.

5.He looks, and ten thousand of angels rejoice,
And myriads wait for his word;
He speaks--and eternity, filled with his voice,
Re-echoes the praise of the her voice.

329 CH

Michael Walker 34

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