Speaking of copying, this morning I have to scramble a bit to present my composition teacher with a piece that fulfills his recent assignment given to me. I've been at a loss of sorts on the creative stuff (being sick, getting back into my routine after Hannah's film shoot, seeing Tweedy, etc.), so what to do, what to do?
Well, here's what I'm doing. I'm going to take this short Christian hymn (called "Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love") as raw material for my new piece. So it won't be "copying", as much as being a kind of "mine", which I explore for its precious tones and harmonic gestures. And, well, steal from. (Of course, not plagerize.)
Here's the hymn, btw, realized by yours truly this morning:
Whenever I get my new piece recorded, I'll put that up.
UPDATE: A quik google found this, written about the composer of this hymn, Tom Colvin:
"In every age the church has a double task, to speak God's Word and to live God's life.” This was the radical philosophy of Tom Colvin, author of "Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love." This philosophy led him to be a missionary in Malawi, Ghana and innercity London. He was also associated with the Iona community for nearly 50 years before he died in his hometown of Edinburgh in 2000. Part of this work was to help the African church express itself in its own musical language and then help them bring their own unique worship expressions to the world church. His most famous hymn, and the one which best summarizes his life's work is "Jesu, Jesu." Notice the radical overturning of social norms: Jesus is the Master who acts as a slave, our neighbors are of all colors and found both near and far.
Here are the lyrics:
Refrain: Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.
Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their feet, master who pours out himself for them. Refrain
Neighbors are rich and poor, varied in color and race, neighbors are near and far away. Refrain
These are the ones we will serve, these are the ones we will love; all these are neighbors to us and you. Refrain
Loving puts us on our knees, serving as though we are slaves; this is the way we should live with you. Refrain
Kneel at the feet of our friends, silently washing their feet; this is the way we should live with you. Refrain
