Brother Sun, Sister Moon

For my mother, who is a saint



One of my first recordings, in my living room with a cheap tape recorder.

Jesus, Joy Of Man

A hymn medley.


The first is based on the traditional Welsh tune.  The second is an ancient Irish melody, best known by this title in the Protestant hymnbooks.  It's a favorite of mine.  The music is older, but the words were writte around 750 AD and are at­trib­ut­ed to Dal­lan For­gaill,  (Rob tu mo bhoile).  It was trans­lat­ed from an­cient Ir­ish to Eng­lish by Ma­ry E. Byrne, in "Eriú," Jour­nal of the School of Ir­ish Learn­ing in 1905, and versed by El­ea­nor H. Hull, 1912.

"Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul's Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heaven's Sun!
..Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
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The hymn, "Morning Has Broken" originally appeared in the second edition of Songs of Praise (1931), to the tune "Bunessan", composed in the Scottish Highlands.   English poet and children's author Eleanor Farjeon had been "asked to make a poem to fit the lovely Scottish tune". A slight variation on the original hymn, also written by Eleanor Farjeon, can be found in the form of a poem contributed to the anthology Children's Bells, under Farjeon's new title, "A Morning Song (For the First Day of Spring)", published by Oxford University Press in 1957.
     Before Farjeon's words, the tune was used as a Christmas carol, which began "Child in the manger, Infant of Mary", translated from the Scottish Gaelic lyrics written by Mary MacDonald. The English-language Roman Catholic hymnal also uses the tune for the Charles Stanford hymns "Christ Be Beside Me" and "This Day God Gives Me", both of which were adapted from the traditional Irish hymn St. Patrick's Breastplate.

   The familiar piano arrangement on Cat Stevens' recording was performed by Rick Wakeman, a classically trained keyboardist best known for his tenures in the English band "Yes".  On a documentary aired on British television Wakeman stated that he felt Stevens's version of "Morning Has Broken" was a very beautiful piece of music that had brought people closer to religious truth. He expressed satisfaction in having contributed to this.


Morning Has Broken (original Welsh version)/ Be Thou My Vi

 A simple and tender tune.  Adapted from Simon and Garfunkel's song, 1970 or thereabouts.

Old Friends

Andy McKee's wonderful tune with variations.

The photo is Edmund Burke, a noble man.

Variations On The Life Of A CPA

My take on Will Ackerman's tune with variations

Turning, Turning

 A tune for the exiled Irish who left their country (for France and Spain) after the fall of Limerick in 1691.  Written down finally by the Irish harper Patrick Quinn in 1803.
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   When I was a child growing up on a farm in Chester County (Southeast Pennsylvania, USA), we had our milk and other dairy products delivered.  The milk came in bottles from the "Wawa Dairy" which was close by (it's since grown into the national chain of convenience stores!).  Printed in red on each bottle was "Wawa, to the American Indian means wild goose, to you it means the finest in milk".   The indians in the area were Lenape.  We used to find arrowheads by the shoe-boxful in the fields of my dad's farm.

The Wild Geese

A late medieval hymn, "O Filii et Filiæ", was written by the eloquent preacher, Jean Tisserand in the 15th century, although it is believed that the tune dates as early as the 1100's. 


It's most popular in France, and is known as "The Joyful Canticle". It's actually an Easter hymn, celebrating the mystery of the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This was beautifully arranged by James Nailon, liturgical guitarist from Omaha, Nebraska, USA. I think I had my AER amplifier turned up a bit too high. I wanted to create a sort of cathedral effect, which comes through wonderfully live, but there's some distortion with the recording and upload to YouTube. I used a Zoom H4 recorder.
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Ye sons and daughters of the Lord,
the King of glory, King adored,
this day Himself from death restored.

O filii et filiæ
Rex cælestis, Rex gloriæ
Morte surrexit hodie. Alleluia

All in the early morning gray
went holy women on their way,
to see the tomb where Jesus lay.

Alleluia

Of spices pure a precious store
in their pure hands these women bore,
to anoint the sacred Body o'er.

Alleluia

The straightaway one in white they see,
who saith, "seek the Lord: but He
is risen and gone to Galilee."

Alleluia

This told they Peter, told John;
who forthwith to the tomb are gone,
but Peter is by John outrun.

Alleluia

That self-same night, while out of fear
the doors where shut, their Lord most dear
to His Apostles did appear.

Alleluia

But Thomas, when of this he heard,
was doubtful of his brethren's word;
wherefore again there comes the Lord.

Alleluia

"Thomas, behold my side," saith He;
"My hands, My feet, My body see,
and doubt not, but believe in Me."

Alleluia

When Thomas saw that wounded side,
the truth no longer he denied;
"Thou art my Lord and God!" he cried.

Alleluia

Oh, blest are they who have not seen
their Lord and yet believe in Him!
eternal life awaiteth them.

Alleluia

Now let us praise the Lord most high,
and strive His name to magnify
on this great day, through earth and sky:

Alleluia

Whose mercy ever runneth o'er;
Whom men and Angel hosts adore;
to Him be glory evermore.


Ye Sons And Daughters

Why Ask Why

Time And Tide

Some original stuff.
  I started with a simple melody from Steve Hackett of the band "Genesis".

For Absent Friends (variations)

John O'Dwyer O' The Glen/  Plains of Boyle

    For Kathryn

"Whoso findeth a good wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD"
    --Proverbs 18:22 (KJV)

Played on my Collings DH2G guitar.

Composed by brilliant guitarist, Derek Patton
Derek's alum "Bright Grey" is wonderful:   http://derekpatton.com/id11.html

Derek's site:  http://derekpatton.com/



To Have And To Hold

 Fingerstyle solo guitar.  
 
My furniture making site: http://www.lineandberry.com/

      This is a partial list.  These tunes are all live recordings which can be seen (along with all my other tunes) on my YouTube Channel:   https://www.youtube.com/user/wfbrown1234

  Thanks for listening!

I l started playing guitar because of John Fahey and Leo Kottke, and enjoy playing music based on their styles, as well as various and sundry folk and classical pieces, traditional and original.

I make 18the century period furniture:  http://www.lineandberry.com/

william francis brown

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