A CHRISTMAS CAROL FOR THE AGES

Earlier today, on this warm and glorious Christmas morning in Wisconsin, I merely sought to draw your attention to Josh Groban’s masterful versions of “O Holy Night”, and "Ave Maria", and to again share the calm, beautiful, and peaceful experience of these classic masterpieces with all of you. I still heartily recommend that you do so, whether you are a Christian believer or not. But on my way to finding his videos on YouTube, I happened upon yet another version that simply stopped me in my tracks, and brought me, I am not ashamed to admit, to tears of gratitude, reverence, and joy — and leaving me in awe of the Creator God in the Highest, of my Mighty Lord, of my Emmanuel. This does not happen nearly often enough for myself, and, I suspect, for you, as well. If I may, let all of us, then, authentically and genuinely take the time to pause and reflect. Take a break for a moment from the chaos and celebrations to truly refresh, restore, and replenish, looking ever upwards and outwards, both singly and together, towards our Higher Power. This empowering video and inspired performance goes far towards that goal. Let it be my gift to you, one and all -- not only fellow Christians, but all men and women, boys and girls, of pure heart and open mind still seeking the love and loveliness, the peace and purpose, the truth and transcendence of this special time. Peace and love to all!

Today, I am honored to introduce you to an up-and-coming American pianist/cellist duo called The Piano Guys, and featuring an amazing and Spirit-filled 15-year-old young lady named Lexi Walker, performing a truly transformative and inspired mash-up, (together with a wonderfully artful and complementary black-and-white video) of "Ave Maria” and “O Holy Night”. To pull this off, as both a new piece, as a new arrangement with just piano, cello, and voice, and as an amazing video in its own right, takes quite a mastery, coordination, and interplay of classic forms, music theory, timeless hymns and carols, musical performance and phrasing, and a profoundly-artistic and deeply-felt cinematic technique.

Arguably, the most famous and beloved version of the transcendent hymn, "Ave Maria", was Franz Schubert’s original melody for “Ellen’s Third Song", from “A Lady in the Lake” opera, which was later given new words and a sparse-but-elegant arrangement by none other than J.S. Bach. Interestingly, the piano accompaniment for today's mashup is almost a note-for-note recapitulation of J.S. Bach's "Prelude in C Major" -- played underneath the main melody! Originally, the "Ave Maria" melody was intended for use by the Catholic Church as a sacred hymn to the Virgin Mary — literally, “Hail Mary”. The immortal ”O Holy Night”, by contrast, was originally penned by a rather-unknown local French Commissioner of Wines, and poet, Pierre Cappeau, who was asked by a nearby parish priest for a carol for the church’s Christmas Mass. In 1847, Cappeau gave the poem, “Cantique de Noel”, to Adolphe Adam, a famous local composer, to complete. It was an instant success. Ironically, the song was later banned by the French Church because it was discovered that Adam was a Jew, and that Cappeau was not a serious believer. It took the attentions and literary talents of American abolitionist and poet, John Sullivan Dwight, to bring the song to America, where it quickly gained fame. Unfortunately, I especially miss the words of his later verses that were mostly dropped in the current mash-up: “Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother; and in His name all oppression shall cease.” Today, you would most likely hear the Adam melody with the Dwight lyrics. Even to this day, however, the beloved song continues to evolve in both musical and lyrical versions and adaptations. For the believer -- and for any man and woman, boy and girl, of Good Will -- this "living" carol testifies to the ongoing cultural relevance, personal significance, and timeless message carried therein to the heart. In short, God's Word will not return to Him void. An especially touching modern version, for example, was recently performed by the Christian group, Gentri, which imagines Jesus as a homeless man, who was first ignored, but later recognized, by a busy father who was trying to go about buying a Christmas tree for his family "Oh Holy Night, (Gentri)". Complex but inspired lineage, indeed!

The new hymn/carol starts, innocently enough, with the familiar words and melody of “O Holy Night”. But as soon as Lexi starts to sing, as soon as the familiar words of “O Holy Night” are married to the utterly peaceful, holy, and calming strains of “Ave Maria”, you know something special is up. It is jarring at first, but you quickly learn to let go, to experience the performance as a child — innocently, wholistically, and with wonder. As the Eyes and Ears of Flesh recede into the background, and as the Eyes and Ears of Spirit open up and take over, transporting you to a higher and holier realm, do not fear. Do not resist. Seek the Star, which is both behind and in front of you. Give in to the Experience, to the Reality, to the Birth of Jesus, the Christ, into the world. God, our Emmanuel, is with you, and with your spirit. Similarly, this pattern is recapitulated as the Eternal Christ indwells you when you invite Him into your heart. It is you who are then born afresh of and through Spirit. And finally, it is this very same pattern which is majestically recapitulated when Jesus Christ, the First Fruits and New Adam, is resurrected on that "new and glorious morn", not only Christmas morn, but Easter morn as well. And it is Jesus Christ Himself who becomes the model and the means for our own resurrection.

From the brilliant and assured heights, to the softest and sweetest depths, Lexi's voice, together with the incredibly-rich yet-simple arrangement, carries you to powerful new experiences and emotions. Her angelic presence (even though angels are typically portrayed in the Bible as looming and fearsome creatures), and her up-close, beatific, focused, and compassionate gaze somehow pierces your very soul, beckoning you into the Everlasting Waters. Into the shallows where you are cleansed. Into the waters where you are baptized. Into the depths, right around the bend, where you meet the Eternal Christ. And finally, upwards and outwards, where you meet the Everlasting God. At some point, you realize you have been standing upon Holy Ground all along. And that is the point. Her final gaze upwards to God, and her glorious Amen -- especially including the sublime sonorities, subtle vibrato, and resonant heights of her God-given voice -- blooms, not merely in our own ears, hearts, and souls, but into the Heavenlies themselves. Holy, indeed.

With some subtle and inspired tweaks to the melodies, some minor-but-necessary modifications of the words of “O Holy Night", and some professional and artful re-phrasings of the final lyrics by Ms. Walker, the wonder begins. The mashup itself; the elegant, sparse-yet utterly-rich arrangement; the flawless, sensitive, and interacting performances of the talented musicians; and the soulful and deeply-inspirational video and cinematography; enable the piece to flow seamlessly as a truly fresh, unique, and sacred hymn of praise. Unlike many of its forebears, moreover, this classic Christmas carol becomes an unapologetic and unadulterated praise of the Everlasting Father. It is of one fabric, and is focused, like a laser, upon the glorification of God in the Highest, much like His Son is intent on glorifying God from Jesus' vantage point here on earth. It now truly belongs to the ages as an addition to the Sacred Repertoire.

Especially considering this convoluted and unlikely history of both earlier source-pieces, spread across multiple authors, composers, cultures, and time periods, the sublime beauty and majesty of this contemporary piece, performance, and process cannot wholly be explained by mere human talent and technique alone. The elephant in the room, I am afraid, must finally be acknowledged. Despite how uncomfortable it may be to broach the topic of religious or spiritual inspiration, we should at least make that attempt. No matter how undeniably and supremely talented are the composers, performers, and producers, in their own right, the final, deeply-personal and morally-convicting impact on heart, mind, conscience, and soul - nay, the collective judgement of history itself -- cannot be fully explained without first observing and testifying to the truth that the very experience of this masterpiece is at once inspired -- felt and expressed in and through the authors, composers and performers -- and inspiring -- experienced and revealed in and through the audience. But what -- or, more precisely, Who -- is the Source, the Cause, and the Purpose of that inspiration?

Clearly, many have been deeply affected by this sacred work of art. For me, at least, this heavenly masterpiece and performance provides unequivocal evidence of the very Spirit of God at work, not only in the artists themselves, but in the listeners as well. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it is often claimed. Still, it can also be cogently argued that objective standards of truth, beauty, and goodness can be discovered, or deduced, or applied. It is all for you to decide. In the final analysis, how does this work of art affect you, the audience? How does this performance speak to you, the individual listener -- or does it at all?

There is so much more to say about this piercingly-beautiful video, but I hesitate to go further or deeper. But for now, let the Spirit do its work within your soul, without, in any ways, allowing mere Reason or Sense to ruin your experience. Kindly let me advise, however, to please slow down, turn off your phone and television, and enter reverently and humbly and wordlessly into the joyous experience of this mystical and prayerful space without any assumptions or presuppositions. Surrender yourself fully — especially your natural mind of Sense and Reason and Criticism -- to be swept upwards and outwards, by the eternal Spirit of Grace and Love itself, and prepare to be transported from this fragile and feeble shell of flesh, into the immortal realm of the Heavenlies, and the wings of angels, into the Deep, where the Eternal Christ beckons you to follow Him further still into the Unknown: to learn, to grow, and to become who you already are, through Him. Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a Blessed, Holy, and Healing New Year.