Song of the Day - 20th April

Happy Easter!

After Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, inevitably comes Easter Sunday, the day when Christians globally celebrate the miracle of Christ's resurrection from the tomb.

Easter traditions vary across the Christian world, and include sunrise services or late-night vigils, exclamations and exchanges of Paschal greetings, flowering the cross, the wearing of Easter bonnets by women and consuming Easter eggs. The Easter lily, a symbol of the resurrection in Western Christianity, traditionally decorates the chancel area of churches on this day and for the rest of Eastertide. Additional customs that have become associated with Easter and are observed by both Christians and some non-Christians include Easter parades, communal dancing (Eastern Europe), the Easter Bunny and egg hunting. There are also traditional Easter foods that vary by region and culture.

Today's Easter Song of the Day is a setting of a poem called "Easter" by American poet Fannie Isabelle Sherrick. Active from 1860 to 1880, not much is known about her early life, but her poetry was well-regarded and she became known for her emotional and heartfelt verses. She contributed to various periodicals and was part of the literary scene of her time.

I have set this poem homophonically, to be sung in the style of a hymn. The poet has conveniently repeated the Easter Bells" verse which allows the poem to be set to a verse/verse/chorus/verse/chorus structure.

Easter

By Fannie Isabelle Sherrick

Let all the flowers wake to life;

Let all the songsters sing;

Let everything that lives on earth

Become a joyous thing.

Wake up, thou pansy, purple-eyed,

And greet the dewy spring;

Swell out, ye buds, and o'er the earth

Thy sweetest fragrance fling.

Why dost thou sleep, sweet violet?

The earth has need of thee;

Wake up and catch the melody

That sounds from sea to sea.

Ye stars, that dwell in noonday skies,

Shine on, though all unseen;

The great White Throne lies just beyond,

The stars are all between.

Ring out, ye bells, sweet Easter bells,

And ring the glory in;

Ring out the sorrow, born of earth--

Ring out the stains of sin.

O banners wide, that sweep the sky,

Unfurl ye to the sun;

And gently wave about the graves

Of those whose lives are done.

Let peace be in the hearts that mourn--

Let "Rest" be in the grave;

The Hand that swept these lives away

Hath power alone to save.

Ring out, ye bells, sweet Easter bells,

And ring the glory in;

Ring out the sorrow, born of earth--

Ring out the stains of sin.