Awake, glad heart!

Scoring: SATB divisi, organ
Written: Worcester, UK (2007)
Duration: 8'30
Publisher: Edition Peters
Cost: £4.50

Jim wrote this piece for the choir of Worcester Cathedral whilst he was a lay clerk in the choir; it was first performed during the annual Advent Carol service in December, 2007.

Christ's Nativity - Henry Vaughan (1621-1695)

Bracketed text omitted

Awake, glad heart! Get up, and sing!
It is the birthday of thy King.
Awake! awake!
The sun doth shake
Light from his locks, and all the way
Breathing perfumes, doth spice the day.

***

I would I had in my best part
Fit rooms for Thee! or that my heart
Were so clean as
Thy manger was!
[But I am all filth, and obscene;
Yet if Thou wilt, Thou canst make clean.]

Awake, awake! hark how th' wood rings,
Winds whisper, and the busy springs
A consort make;
[Awake! awake!]
Man is their high-priest, and should rise
To offer up the sacrifice.

***

Sweet Jesu! [will then;] let no more
This leper haunt, and soil Thy door!
Cure him, ease him,
O release him!
And let once more, by mystic birth,
The Lord of life be borne in Earth

I would I were some bird, or star,
Flutt'ring in woods, or lifted far
Above this inn
And road of sin!
Then either star, or bird, should be
Shining, or singing still, to Thee.