Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Danny Boy" (Celtic Women)

Mora na maidine dhuit!!!  Or as our brothers in Ireland might say... "Top of the mornin' to you"!!!  Welcome to Tuesday, March 17th, 2015 and a glorious St. Patrick's Day to ye lads and lasses.  "May there always be work for your hands to do, May your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane, May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you, And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you."  Welcome to the St. Patrick's Day edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  We hope the above blessing describes the day and the week to come for you and those around you.  But for today let's surround ourselves with sounds of the Celtic ancients as we regale a tune that is as old as the island in which it resounds. 

"Danny Boy" - Celtic Women

The haunting melody of the Irish classic Danny Boy has its origins in a tune that has been traced as far back as 1792.  Originally published in 1855 by music collector George Petrie in The Ancient Music of Ireland, "Londonderry Air" would become a theme embraced by a nation.  Numerous lyrics have been applied to the Celtic melody, both "secular" and "sacred".  The most famous is today's featured song, "Danny Boy".

Originally penned as a poem in 1910, "Danny Boy" would be modified to fit the melody lines of "Londonderry Air" after its author, Fredric Weatherly heard his sister-in-law singing the tune of the song.  After its initial recording in 1915, "Danny Boy" quickly became one of the most prominent songs of the new century.  Since then, over 60 recordings have been made of this Irish favorite.  Glen Miller, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, Conway Twitty, and even The Beatles are among  artists from virtually every genre of popular music that have been drawn to the mellifluous strains of this ancient song.  The highest charting to date for "Danny Boy" came in the form of one of Duke Ellington's singers.  Al Hibbler went to #9 on the US Rhythm & Blues charts with the song in 1950.  Hibbler got his start by singing in a choir at the Arkansas School For The Blind in Little Rock.  

Today is celebrated in Ireland as well as across the world as St. Patrick's Day.  It usually arrives with the feel of spring and the air of Easter surrounding it.  Both of these seasonal themes are befitting the legend of its namesake.  Patrick was 16 when he was abducted from Briton by Irish pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland.  He served as a shepherd until his escape back to Briton.  During his slavery he converted to Christianity. The joy of salvation portends the same newness of the spirit as the blossoming of new life in Spring.  Upon returning to England and his family, he soon surrendered to the calling of the ministry.  This calling would eventually lead to Patrick becoming a missionary to the very land of his slave hood.  He is venerated as having brought Christianity to the Celtic people who populated the island and is revered as a saint by the churches of the land. Thus bringing about a revival in the land and telling of the salvation of Jesus and His Resurrection.  (Patrick, however, has never been recognized as a saint by any pope.)  

Patrick was alive around 400 years after Jesus ascension into heaven and his story may seem familiar as it mirrors some of the patriarchs of the Bible.    Like Joseph, he was sold into slavery into a foreign land.  Like Abraham he became closer to God while being obedient in that foreign land.  Like Jesus, he came into a foreign world to tell of love and salvation.  

These themes from the Bible and St. Patrick's life resonate within the hearts of every man, woman, boy and girl, because we have been created in the likeness of a Father who loves us dearly.  Genesis 1:27 " So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."  In fact, His love for us extends throughout the Biblical account as we see time and again His redemptive acts for His people.  2 Chronicles 7:14 - "^... if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."  Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  His extreme love for His creation was put on display as His son was tried, convicted, tortured and had the worst form of capital punishment ever meted out to a human being via a crucifixion cross on a hill in Israel called the place of the skull.  Jesus went through this so we could be perceived as righteous by God. 

Luke 23:33 "When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left."  (pictured is a traditional location of Golgotha just north of the city of Jerusalem, Israel.)  His final act of love was demonstrated as Jesus was raised from the dead and seen by a multitude of folks in the area.  "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,  and that he appeared to Cephas,and then to the Twelve.  After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,  and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born." 1 Corinthians 15: 3-8  

 

When we believe that Jesus did all these things, God sees us as righteous.  Phillipians 3:7 - " But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,  and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

1 Corinthians 1:30 - "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption."  Jesus has promised us that if we believe in Him, meaning His virgin birth, His sacrificial death, and His victorious resurrection, we will be saved from being separated for all eternity from God when we die.  

John 11:25-26 - "Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;  and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”  

 

According to the historical account, this was a question that the man whose death we honor today, St. Patrick answered with a resounding YES!  What is your answer today when Jesus asks..."Do you believe this?"  

"He Looked Beyond My Faults" - Prestonwood Baptist Church

'Til Tuesday,

Serving HIM by serving you,Randy