Hilton Kean Jones

Feuilles Volantes #1 – Duparc

Today’s example of French music in honor of Simone Weil, the saintly figure of center of this coming 4th Sunday of Lent service is Feuilles Volantes #1 by Henri Duparc. He’s best known for his songs. Here’s an example sung by Measha Bruggergosman: Chanson triste. The following video is the first of a set of short piano pieces by Duparc, all very intimate.

Priére Des Orgues – Satie

This coming 4th Sunday of Lent the saintly figure around whom the service is centered is Simone Weil, so as you might expect the music will be all French. The composer for this morning’s post is Erik Satie. Many people have heard his Gymnopédies. A few have heard his Gnossiennes but may not know their names. But, very few know his Messe des pauvres (Mass for the Poor), As mesmerizing as Satie’s more well-known works are, the Prière des orgues (Organ Prayer) is mesmerizing in an entirely different way, and entirely different emotion, one for which I cannot find an adequate word. This recording is from my organ CD of long ago, “Time Grown Old.”

Je T’appartiens

This coming 4th Sunday of Lent the saintly figure around whom the service is centered is Simone Weil, so as you might expect the music will be all French. This beautiful pop song by Gilbert Bécaud, is one of my favorites: Je T’appartiens.

Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley

I keep feeling like I play this a little too “finger snappin’ cowboy Jesus whistlin’ down the road,” but one undeniable feature of African-American music, of which this song is one, is that no matter how dire the suffering expressed, there is a note—always!–of optimism.

Holy Manna

An arrangement based on the tune, Holy Manna, from Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion, compiled by William Walker and published in 1835.