Morten Lauridsen’s “Sure On This Shining Night” Needs No Season

Last updated on: May 20, 2015 at 11:30 am by Joseph Susanka

Morten Lauridsen’s “Sure On This Shining Night” Needs No Season 2015-05-17T20:33:04-06:00 Joseph Susanka

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

View image | gettyimages.com

I stumbled across this piece a few months ago as I was researching my post on Morten Lauridsen and his love for Mary. I think it’s part of his “Mid-Winter” song cycle (or at least it’s usually featured on a CD with his Mid-Winter song cycle), so it might not be exactly seasonally appropriate. But I love it, so here.

The song’s lyrics come from a poem written by James Agee, which also inspired a setting by Samuel Barber:

Sure on this shining night
Of star made shadows round,
Kindness must watch for me
This side the ground.
The late year lies down the north.
All is healed, all is health.
High summer holds the earth.
Hearts all whole.
Sure on this shining night
I weep for wonder wand’ring far alone
Of shadows on the stars.

Definitely Lauridsen-y, right? But that’s hardly a criticism (at least when coming from me).

As I re-read the words, it doesn’t seem particularly specific as to season, just as to time of day (and to the luminosity of the aformentioned time). It does say “late year,” but it also says “high summer.” So I’m going with “seasonally appropriate enough for posting.” …with an implied “because this is my blog and I’ll do what I want.”

Also-also, I’m in Wyoming, so saying that it’s not seasonally appropriate because Not Winter might actually jinx something. I’d better watch it. (It might be a nocturne, though, which would be safe, right?)

Attribution(s): Lauridsen photo courtesy of Getty Images, which allows the use of certain images “as long as the photo is not used for commercial purposes (meaning in an advertisement or in any way intended to sell a product, raise money, or promote or endorse something);” “Colorful Winter Skyline” provided by Nelly Volkovich via Unsplash and their Creative Commons Zero approach. Check ’em out; they’re awesome.

Music

Quodlibets

Previous Post

May 18, 2015

SSF: "A Short Love Story In Stop Motion"

Next Post

May 22, 2015 SVS: "Seven Chances"

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Baseball Faith Family Lenten Music Movies Music No Commentary Necessary Parked By the Jukebox Photography Politics Quodlibets Streaming Video Suggestions Summa Short Films Television The Man Behind the Booth Through a Lens, Darkly

Select a Month December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 July 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz