Monthly Archives: February 2021

“Barbara Allen” #Music

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I first heard this 17th-century folk song as a child. Believe it or not, it was part of an Elementary School book and CD set we often used in music class. The version on the CD was sung a cappella by a solo tenor voice. It was hauntingly done, but I found the song disturbing, because of the
lyrics.
While I still think the song tells a bittersweet story, it’s a beautiful melody that never left me.

I hope you enjoy hearing “Barbara Allen” on Oriole (soprano) recorder and zither!

“I Surrender All” #Music

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You probably don’t recognize the name, Judson W. Van de Venter. I know I didn’t. However, you might recognize the hymn, “I Surrender All.” Written in 1896, it is one of his most famous hymns, still widely sung today. According to
Discipleship Ministries | History of Hymns,
this hymn was influential in the ministry of Rev. Billy Graham.

I hope you enjoy this contemplative arrangement played on lyre!

Deeper #Writephoto

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I’ve gone over the edge more than once. But who among us hasn’t? We all come to a bridge, a cliff, a drop, a precipice sometime–or many times–in our lives. It will happen, guaranteed.

You will reach a point, and another point, where it’s either stay or go, sink or swim, leap into the unknown or stay in your current situation. Stay, that is, until it becomes impossibly intolerable. And there you are again, faced with the same choice.

Do you enter that deep, dark water? Or do you remain on land, supposedly safe, yet unfulfilled?

In all kindness and hopefulness, I hope you jump into that water, even if you’re terrified! And I hope you swim deeper, ever deeper, to the fulfillment of your truest desires and the coming true of your dreams!

—
My response to Sue Vincent’s
Thursday #Writephoto Prompt: Deeper.

“I Gave My Love a Cherry” #Music

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This English folk song is often known as “The Riddle Song.” However, it is just one of many such riddle songs, often sung as lullabies or ballads. It has become popular throughout the English-speaking world, since its possible 16th-century origin. According to
Song Facts,
some sources claim there are hidden messages in the lyrics, but there is no such mystery. At the end of the day, it’s a simple folk song, though it can indeed be a hypnotic melody.

I hope you enjoy this arrangement with a verse on ukulele and viola, one on ukulele and alto recorder, and 2 lyre verses in the middle!