Everybody knows there’s power in music. It’s just as powerful at the altar as anyplace else.
I’m developing a soundtrack for my altar time.
- Surely He Died On Calvary by Rev. James Cleveland (not sure why, except that it makes my hair stand on end; it’s partly the wailing harmonies in the background as Rev. Cleveland sings. But the rest of it is: Jesus knows.)
- Satan, We’re Going to Tear Your Kingdom Down by Shirley Caesar
- “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel?” – haven’t selected a version yet, but it’s a good old spiritual with a proud universalist message.
- Lord, Do It by Rev. James Cleveland (…while this candle’s still burning, Lord!)
(I like to add: Black candles gonna burn your kingdom down!)
I’m still considering:
- You Can Make It by Shirley Caesar – pay close attention to the lyrics.
- How I Got Over by the Clara Ward Singers
- Or maybe by Mahalia Jackson
- And something by the Swan Silvertones or the Golden Gate Quartet, haven’t made up my mind yet.
That James Cleveland version of “Surely He Died on Calvary” is awesome. My favourite Shirley Caesar song is “No Charge.” I recommened “Oh Mary Don’t You Weep” by the Swan Silvertones, my favourite version of that oft-covered song. “Keep Your Hand on the Plow” by Mahalia Jackson is another good altar song. And, to change genres a bit and have a smile, you will not find a weirder-nicer candle magic song than “There’s a Light Lit Up in Galilee” (a variation on “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone” with added chorus) by the great Ernest Stoneman and his rather eccentric-voiced wife who sings sharp on the final “ee” in Galilee every time. I say this to prepare you; if you have above-average ptch recognition, she’ll lift you up out of your seat every time — so HOLD ON YOU YOUR CHAIR-ARMS; also, if you have a dog and you decide to sing aloud along with her, matching her accent and tone, pitch for pitch (which is the only known way to stop the electrical seat-lifting phenomenon), the dog may howl, so be very careful when listening to this song. http://www.we7.com/#/track/Theres-a-Light-Lit-Up-in-Galilee!trackId=2041681
I take it back. Sometimes she sings flat and then sharp. It’s the uncertainly of it all that is so maddening. –cat
Miss Cat, what a pleasure to have you be all six-of-Pentacles with your erudition on my little blog! I surely will look out for a chance to download “There’s a Light Lit Up in Galilee” for my very own (Harry is playing it now). Gosh, this takes me back to my parents’ old guitar-and-banjo duets.
Sister Stoneman does make my neck hairs stand on end, but my pitch recognition isn’t sharp enough to know why; I appreciate the dissertation.
I’m not quite spiritually strong enough to appreciate “No Charge” yet; ham-fisted preachers often use such themes as an excuse for guilt-tripping the congregation, and I’ve suffered a lot in that way. Nothing like repenting for the things you’ve done *right* to drive you away from Brother Jesus. But I am on my way home.
Speaking of lady singers, Miss Cat – Who is the penetrating soprano who sings with Rev. Cleveland’s Voices of Tabernacle? (You can hear her on “Surely He Died on Calvary” and many others.