Get all 16 Tim Stevens releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of The ace of hearts is high, The beauty of the way and the goodness of the wayfarers, There'll be some changes played, Later still, this autumn year, with whom you can be who you are, I'll tell you later in December, Media vita, and 8 more.
1. |
Procession
06:28
|
|||
Of the father's heart begotten,
Ere the world from chaos rose,
He is Alpha: from that fountain
All that is and hath been flows;
He is Omega, of all things
Yet to come the mystic Close,
Evermore and evermore.
By his word was all created;
He commanded and ’twas done;
Earth and sky and boundless ocean,
Universe of three in one,
All that sees the moon's soft radiance,
All that breathes beneath the sun,
Evermore and evermore.
He assumed this mortal body,
Frail and feeble, doomed to die,
That the race from dust created
Might not perish utterly,
Which the dreadful Law had sentenced
In the depths of hell to lie,
Evermore and evermore.
O how blest that wondrous birthday,
When the Maid the curse retrieved,
Brought to birth mankind's salvation,
By the Holy Ghost conceived;
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
In her loving arms received,
Evermore and evermore.
This is he, whom seer and sybil
Sang in ages lone gone by;
This is he of old revealèd
In the page of prophecy;
Lo! he comes, the promised Saviour;
Let the world his praises cry!
Evermore and evermore.
Sing, sing his praises;
Angels and Archangels, sing!
Wheresoe'er ye be, ye faithful,
Let your joyous anthems ring,
Ev'ry tongue his name confessing,
Countless voices answering,
Evermore and evermore.
Prudentius (b. 348), tr. R. F. Davies
|
||||
2. |
Stellar
06:02
|
|||
Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
How beautifully shines the morning star
full of grace and truth from the Lord,
the sweet root of Jesse!
You son of David from the line of Jacob,
my king and my bridegroom,
have taken posession of my heart,
[you who are] lovely,friendly,
beautiful and glorious, great and honourable,
rich in gifts,
lofty and exalted in splendour!
Ah my pearl, my precious crown,
true son of God and Mary,
a king of most noble birth!
My heart calls you a lily,
your sweet gospel
is pure milk and honey.
Ah my dear flower,
hosanna, heavenly manna,
that we eat,
I cannot forget you!
A joyful light from God comes to me
when with your dear eyes
you look on me as a friend.
Oh Lord Jesus, my beloved good,
your word, your spirit, your body and blood
refresh me within.
Take me like a friend
in your arms, so that I may become warm
with your grace
To your word I come invited.
Lord, God,Father, my mighty hero,
before the world you have
loved me in your son.
Your son has betrothed me to himself,
he is my treasure, I am his bride,
most greatly I rejoice in him.
Yes, yes.
Heavenly life he will give me
in the the world above!
My heart shall praise him for ever.
Pluck the strings on the harp
and let the sweet music
resound full of joy,
so that with dear Jesus,
my most beautiful bridegroom,
in constant love I may make my pilgrimage!
Sing, leap,
rejoice, triumph,
thank the Lord!
Great is the king of honour!
How full I am therefore of heartfelt joy
that my treasure is the alpha and the omega,
the beginning and the end;
To his reward he will
take me up to paradise,
and so I clap my hands
Amen! Amen!
Come, you sweet crown of joy,
do not long delay,
I wait for you with longing.
Philipp Nicolai
|
||||
3. |
Little one
05:56
|
|||
O little one sweet, O little one mild,
thy Father's purpose thou hast fulfilled;
thou cam'st from heav'n to dwell below,
To share the joys and tears we know,
O little one sweet, O little one mild.
O little one sweet, O little one mild,
with joy thou hast the whole world filled;
thou camest here from heav'n's domain,
to bring men comfort in our pain,
O little one sweet, O little one mild.
O little one sweet, O little one mild.
in thee Love's beauties are all distilled;
then light in us thy love's bright flame,
that we may give thee back the same,
O little one sweet, O little one mild.
Percy Dearmer (1867–1936)
|
||||
4. |
Forty
10:29
|
|||
Bethlehem Down
"When he is King we will give him the Kings' gifts,
Myrrh for its sweetness and gold for a crown,
Beautiful robes", said the young girl to Joseph,
Fair with her first-born on Bethlehem Down.
Bethlehem Down is full of the starlight
Winds for the spices, and stars of the gold,
Mary for sleep, and for lullaby music
Songs of a shepherd by Behlehem fold.
When He is King they will clothe Him in gravesheets,
Myrrh for embalming, and wood for a crown,
He that lies now in the white arms of Mary
Sleeping so lightly on Bethlehem Down.
Here he has peace and a short while for dreaming,
Close huddled oxen to keep Him from cold,
Mary for love, and for lullaby music
Songs of a shepherd by Bethlehem fold.
Bruce Blunt (1899-1957)
When to the temple Mary went
When to the temple Mary went, And brought the Holy Child
Him did the agèd Simeon see, As it had been reveal'd.
He took up Jesus in his arms and blessing God he said;
In peace I now depart My Saviour having seen
The Hope of Israel, the Light of men.
Help now thy servants, gracious Lord, That we may ever be
As once the faithful Simeon was, Rejoicing but in Thee;
And when we must from Earth departure take, departure take,
May gently fall asleep, and with thee wake.
Peter von Hagen, English version by Rev J. Troutbeck
|
||||
5. |
Cheerful noise
05:04
|
|||
Personent Hodie
On this day, earth shall ring
With the song children sing
To the Lord, Christ our King,
Born on earth to save us;
Him the Father gave us.
Id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o-o-o,
Id-e-o, gloria in excelsis Deo.
His the doom, ours the mirth,
When He came down to earth,
Bethlehem saw His birth;
Ox and ass beside Him,
From the cold would hide Him.
Id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o-o-o,
Id-e-o, gloria in excelsis Deo.
God's bright star, o'er His head,
Wise men three to Him led,
Kneel they low by His bed,
Lay their gifts before Him,
Praise Him and adore Him.
Id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o-o-o,
Id-e-o, gloria in excelsis Deo.
On this day angels sing;
WIth their song earth shall ring,
Praising Christ, Heaven's King,
Born on earth to save us.
Peace and love He gave us.
Id-e-o-o-o, id-e-o-o-o,
Id-e-o, gloria in excelsis Deo.
Latin text from Piae Cantiones; English adaptation by J. M. Joseph
|
||||
6. |
Following
11:53
|
|||
No text for 'Les mages'
Videntes stellam
Videntes stellam Magi
gavisi sunt gaudio magno:
et intrantes domum
obtulerunt Domino aurum,
thus et myrrham.
When the wise men saw the star,
they were filled with joy.
They went into the house
and offered the Lord gold,
frankincense and myrrh.
|
||||
7. |
||||
Saviour of the nations, come;
Virgin's Son, here make Thy home!
Marvel now, O heaven and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.
Not by human flesh and blood;
By the Spirit of our God
Was the Word of God made flesh,
Woman's offspring, pure and fresh.
Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child
Of the virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned,
Still to be in heaven enthroned.
From the Father forth He came
And returneth to the same,
Captive leading death and hell
High the song of triumph swell!
Thou, the Father's only Son,
Hast over sin the victory won.
Boundless shall Thy kingdom be;
When shall we its glories see?
Brightly doth Thy manger shine,
Glorious is its light divine.
Let not sin overcloud this light;
Ever be our faith thus bright.
Praise to God the Father sing,
Praise to God the Son, our King,
Praise to God the Spirit be
Ever and eternally.
Martin Luther, tr. William Morton Reynolds
|
Tim Stevens Melbourne, Australia
Improvising piano player and composer, Melbourne, Australia
Streaming and Download help
If you like Tim Stevens, you may also like:
Bandcamp Daily your guide to the world of Bandcamp