Beautiful Music

On this Christmas Eve, I am especially thankful for two creative men who passed away in 2011.  Their creativity involved music that stirred my and many other souls.

I thank God for Chip Stam who died on May 1st.  He sent me and probably a hundred others his Worship Quote of the Week for the past 20+ years.  When I couldn’t remember the lyrics of a worship song he’d taught me in college, I emailed him and he sent along the link – even when he was wretchedly sick with lymphoma.  He introduced this hymn to me which has become one of my favorites at Christmas.  Feel free to sing along:

Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love’s sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love’s sake becomes poor.

Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
Heavenwards by thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man.

Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.

I thank God for Reynolds Price who died on January 20.  He was a genius. That’s basically all I can say.  He co-wrote songs with James Taylor including this one.

Source of all we hope or dread
Sheepdog, jackyl, rattler, swan
We hunt your face and long to trust
That your hid mouth will say again let there be light
A clear new day

But when we thirst in this dry night
We drink from hot wells poisoned with the blood of children
And when we strain to hear a steady homing beam
Our ears are balked by stiffled moans
And howls of desolation from the throats of sisters, brother, wild men
Clawing at the gates for bread

Even our own feeble hands 
Aim to seize the crown you wear
And work our private havock through
The known and unknown lands of space

Absolute in flame beyond us
Seed and source of Dark and Day
Maker whom we beg to be
Our mother father comrade mate

Til our few atoms blow to dust
Or form again in wiser lives
Or find your face and hear our name
In your calm voice the end of night
If dark may end
Wellspring gold of Dark and Day
Be here, be now

Thanks be to God for these saints.