I woke, turning over in my mind the latest research idea, debating with myself what I could do with it. I’m wondering if a mind-map would help!
But Saturday morning means organ practice, so I have to put thoughts of twentieth century music publishing to the back of my mind. In the run-up to Easter, I have three extra services AND two funeral services next week. Yes, I booked a couple of half day holidays!
And here’s my workplace this morning! After that, home to make choral scores and transcribe a modern Scottish tune for an organ arrangement – there’s no rest for the wicked, as they say!
Daffodils out in time for EasterPractice done!Tracker action, late Victorian organ I love it when the sun pours inNeilston Parish Church
When I’m not occupied as a researcher or a librarian, I’m the organist at Neilston Church of Scotland. I’m not exactly a serious composer, but I do compose occasional Christmas carols, both lyrics and music. This year, because the church choir is few in numbers, I felt that a bit of instrumental backup would help. The Salvation Army band led Wednesday night’s carol service, so I politely requested two cornets to accompany me on the organ. Wow! That certainly brightened things up.
Neilston Parish Church
By and large, the carol was well-received. Although I sensed from one comment that I need to make next year’s effort more upbeat! Someone else thought it sounded Scottish. I suppose there IS a gapped scale in the verse part of the melody, though I didn’t set out to use a Scottish idiom!
Women at the Inn in Bethlehem
My composition was inspired by my thoughts that the traditional story focuses on men – shepherds and wise men – but there must have been women in the Inn. There must! In Biblical times, women didn’t generally have a high profile. Who helped Mary give birth in the stable? Hard to imagine that Joseph manfully rolled his sleeves up to help, if there were women around.
Neilston used to be a weaving village, so my allusions to the warp and weft of fabric are a gentle reference to the past of our locality.
By the flickering light, they were led to the stable, In Bethlehem simply by order of Rome; Did the swaddling bands come from the innkeeper’s wife, Kindly showing compassion to a girl far from home? CHORUS Oh, sing for the maidservant fetching the linen, Oh, sing for the woman who’d worked at her loom, Their linen scraps swaddling the Christ-child so helpless, With the Virgin young mother at the inn with no room.
Not the greatest of starts, in a stable so lowly, The carpenter’s wife cradling Jesus with care, Such a fragile young life, and dependent on strangers, With shepherds and kings paying homage right there. CHORUS
For that flickering light lit a life so amazing, His radiance the whole world could not fail to see, And the linen bands foretold the grave-clothes they gave Him, Before on the third day, rising triumphantly. CHORUS
4. For the warp and the weft, Careful hands moving deftly, Made linen our Saviour to wrap and enfold, As we pause to reflect how the humblest endeavours Can be holy in ways that could scarce be foretold. CHORUS
Karen McAulay, Musicologist 