I start this month’s program with The Musical Priest, a favorite Irish fiddle tune perfect for celebrating St. Patrick’s day. A musical priest in his own right, St. Patrick’s prayers became the bases of the favorite Celtic hymn Be Thou My Vision.
“Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
not be all else to me, save that Thou art;”
Vision or eyesight is a theme in Irish music, from the favorite When Irish Eyes Are Smiling to the famous blind Irish harper Trulough O’Carolan whose melodies turned up in my very first harp lesson.
Vision isn’t just about the eyes but about where we are looking. In songs like Carrickfurgus, the Irish immigrant looks back with sorrow, while in jigs like Blarney Pilgrim a traveler is dancing with excitement to get to his destination. In one of my favorite tunes, Marie’s Wedding, a whole village gets excited about walking up to see Marie get married.
As a harpist, I play a lot of weddings and I notice that a couples’ “vision” or perspective determines a lot of how much they enjoy their wedding. Sometimes, people spend so much time looking at the details that they get stress wrinkles all around their eyes. But other couples keep their eyes on the person that they are marrying and their weddings are as full of fun as Marie’s.
St. Patrick’s vision doesn’t really begin with St. Patrick’s Day but with the other holiday at the very end of March; Passion Week and Easter. Easter changes our perspective on everything. Christ’s sacrifice says that no matter where we come from, we are loved. Christ’s resurrection promises that no matter how hard the road, we have a destination. When we fix our eyes on Jesus, or as the song says, “When I survey the wondrous cross,” distressing details disappear, and storm clouds fade. On my last CD Hymns and Variations, I included the Celtic hymn How Can I Keep From Singing which says in it’s chorus,
“What though the tempest round me rolls, when to this rock I’m clinging?
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?”
So whether you are looking at a stormy sky or a rough road, may this St. Patrick’s Day and this Easter give you a vision of your destination with Christ.
“Be Thou my best thought by day and the night,
both waking and sleeping, Thy presence my light.”