Merry Christmas

I had the opportunity to go to see the Washington Chorus Candlelight Concert this past weekend at the Kennedy Center and I heard the most amazing song. A 10 piece brass section, an organ and two timpani drums joined over 200 voices singing "The Dream Isaiah Saw" by Glenn Rudolph, text by Thomas Troeger. Overwhelmed by the music, I didn't at first pay attention to the lyrics. But a quick search on google showed that I was not the only person struck by this beautiful piece. Here's what I found out about it online:

Commissioned by the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh in memory of those who perished on September 11, 2001, The Dream Isaiah Saw refers to the 8th Century BC prophet Isaiah's vision of God's creation restored to peace and harmony through the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1-5). It is the panoramic view of the future Messianic Kingdom. Thomas H. Troeger, professor at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver Colorado and director of its homiletics program, wrote the poem “Lion and Oxen Will Sleep in the Hay” in 1994. The composer Glenn L. Rudolph (composer, conductor, and tenor soloist with many choral organizations in Pittsburgh) began to set this poem to music toward the end of July, 2001. Nineteen days after September 11th, he completed this choral work.

I found the lyrics (below) and a very amatuer video of another group's performance. (best if you just listen!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytQa5SB22Vg&feature=related

Here's a link where you can preview a portion of the song from the Washington Chorus's performance. It is also downloadable from itunes.

http://us.7digital.com/artists/the-washington-chorus-julian-wachner/christmas-with-the-washington-chorus/14-The-Dream-Isaiah-Saw/

I hope that you and the ones you love have a very Merry Christmas and peace and happiness in 2011!

Lions and oxen will sleep in the hay,

Leopards will join with the lambs as they play,

Wolves will be pastured with cows in the glade,

Blood will darken the Earth that God made.

Little child whose bed is straw,

Take new lodgings in my heart.

Bring the dream Isaiah saw:

Life redeemed from fang and claw

Peace will pervade more than forest and field:

God will transfigure the Violence concealed

Deep in the heart of systems gain,

Ripe for the judgment the Lord will ordain.

Little Child whose bed is straw,

Take new lodgings in my heart.

Bring the dream Isaiah saw:

Justice purifying law.

Nature reordered to match God’s intent,

Nations obeying the call to repent,

All of creation completely restored,

Filled with the knowledge and love of the Lord.

Little child whose bed is straw,

Take new lodgings in my heart.

Bring the dream Isaiah saw:

Knowledge, wisdom, worship awe.

—Thomas Troeger