Sunday music: New Jerusalem

My last year of school was at an Episcopalian high school where we sang a hymn in assembly every morning before classes. I grew to love their hymns. I think they have some of the best music of all the churches. (I'm not counting Bach's sacred music or the classical Masses of Mozart and the other great composers some of which is the most beautiful music ever written.)

My favorite Episcopalian hymn is "New Jerusalem." The words were written by the poet, William Blake,(1757-1827) and the poem was set to music by C. Hubert H. Parry (1848-1918.) Blake is one of my favorite poets. He also wrote:

Auguries of Innocence

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.

Blake was also a graphic artist. Here's is his depiction of God as an architect:























And this is his depiction of Jacob's Ladder:






















Here is the poem:

"New Jerusalem"

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among those dark Satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spears o'clouds unfold
Bring me my chariot of fire

I will not cease from mental fight
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
'Til we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.

Here's a video (a snippet from the movie, "Chariots of Fire) featuring the hymn: