Counterpoint
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06/02/2022
The King's Counterpoint's concert at the Cathedral of St. Luke & St. Paul is only ten days away, on Sunday, 12th June at 2.00pm. The concert is entitled 'America's Music 1650-1899 - Choral Music that Shaped a Country.' The choir trace the changes that came about during this 250 year period, with many unique and rare works, discovered and re-written especially for the concert. Included is this beautiful piece by Jonathan Spilman.
Jonathan Edwards Spilman was a Kentucky lawyer, minister, and composer, and graduated from Illinois College in 1835. While at Transylvania Law School, 1837, he wrote the music for Robert Burns' "Flow gently, sweet Afton," the best-remembered of his seven melodies. An adaptation of this music was used in one of the tunes to "Away in a Manger." He was married to Mary V.J. Menefee, who died in 1843. Two years later, on 10 April 1845, he married Eliza Sarah Taylor (1822–1866), a niece of U.S. President Zachary Taylor. They had ten children, of whom six survived: Charles, Louise, William, Byrd, Clara, and Lewis. His wife Eliza died on 10 August 1866, as the result of a fire aboard the steamboat Bostona No. 3 in Maysville, Kentucky. Working as a lawyer for 18 years, he became Presbyterian minister at the age of 46. A Historical Marker was erected in the city of Greenville in his memory.
Tickets can be purchased from members of the choir or via the ensemble's website.
Flow Gently, Sweet Afton (1837) - Jonathan Spilman Jonathan Edwards Spilman was a Kentucky lawyer, minister, and composer, and graduated from Illinois College in 1835. While at Transylvania Law School, 1837, ...
Our sister choir in South Carolina, The King’s Counterpoint, say: “We are gearing up for our first rehearsal for our Trip to England, that will see the choir taking up residency at Canterbury Cathedral for a week from Monday, 11th July, through to Sunday, 17th July. Our singers have the privilege of singing the daily services for seven days, and one of the daily requirements is singing the psalms designated for each day. The choir greatly enjoys this discipline, and we can hear them singing here in St Luke & St Paul in Charleston, South Carolina, taken from one of their online concerts, streamed during the pandemic.”
PSALM 119.33-40
Legem pone
TEACH me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes : and I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law : yea, I shall keep it with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments : for therein is my desire.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies : and not to covetousness.
37 O turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity : and quicken thou me in thy way.
38 O stablish thy word in thy servant : that I may fear thee.
39 Take away the rebuke that I am afraid of : for thy judgements are good.
40 Behold, my delight is in thy commandments : O quicken me in thy righteousness.
PSALM 119.41-48
Et veniat super me
LET thy loving mercy come also unto me, O Lord : even thy salvation, according unto thy word.
42 So shall I make answer unto my blasphemers : for my trust is in thy word.
43 O take not the word of thy truth utterly out of my mouth : for my hope is in thy judgements.
44 So shall I alway keep thy law : yea, for ever and ever.
45 And I will walk at liberty : for I seek thy commandments.
46 I will speak of thy testimonies also, even before kings : and will not be ashamed.
47 And my delight shall be in thy commandments : which I have loved.
48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved : and my study shall be in thy statutes.
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