Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

 

John Stainer (1840-1901)

Kevin Bryant, tenor

 

 

Refrain: There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.

 

1. Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain,

but then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.

Refrain

 

2. Don’t ever feel discouraged, for Jesus is your friend,

and if you lack for knowledge, he’ll not refuse to lend.

Refrain

 

3. If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul,

you can tell the love of Jesus and say, “He died for all.”

Refrain

 

Text: African American spiritual

Music: African American spiritual; arranged by Melva Wilson Costen, 1989

This African American spiritual offers a long-delayed answer to the prophet Jeremiah’s question, “Is there no balm in Gilead?” (Jeremiah 8:22). No earthly remedy can compare with the healing that comes from a sense of God’s presence; nothing else can heal “the sin-sick soul.”

 

Joys and Concerns

 

Charles Gounod (1818-1893)

Text by Cecil Frances Alexander (1818-1895)

Kevin Bryant, tenor

 

 

 

1. What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,

what wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

 

2. When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,

when I was sinking down, sinking down,

when I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,

Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,

Christ laid aside his crown for my soul!

 

3. To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing,

to God and to the Lamb, I will sing;

to God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM,

while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;

while millions join the theme, I will sing!

 

4. And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;

and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;

and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,

and through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;

and through eternity I’ll sing on.

 

Text: American folk hymn, c.1811

Music: Walker’s Southern Harmony, 1835; harm. Carlton R. Young, 1965

With its ballad-like repetitions before and after each stanza’s central narrative lines, this meditative text needs performance in order to be effective. Its haunting melody proves the means of convincing us that the only adequate response to “wondrous love” is to “sing on.”

 

 

POSTLUDE “Fuga in G Major” Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)