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You Came, But Not In Splendor Bright by Noel Project [Email]
Genre: Holiday

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SONG STATS:
Hits: 1683
Comments: 29
Votes: 15
Plays: 260
Last Played: Oct 30, 2008 - 01:39:34 AM
Downloads: 130
Fans: 6
Uploaded: Oct 31, 2005 - 09:31:45 AM
Last Updated: Nov 30, 2005 - 11:11:58 AM
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Description:
This is the title song from our holiday CD, "Splendor Bright." It is not a Christmas carol. It is, instead, an adaptation of an ancient hymn (9th Century) for Advent. Added to the church calendar in about 600 AD, Advent always includes four Sundays before Christmas. Originally, in the Eastern Church, Advent focused on the Annunciation (when the angels told Mary that she would bear a son); but in the West it now centers around the birth of Jesus: the first “coming” at the Nativity, as well as the future coming at the end of time, and the present coming, through grace, to each heart.

Advent is a time of spiritual preparation, a time for calm and thoughtfulness before the commercial ‘chaos’ of Christmas.

The setting is an arrangement of a plainsong, Mode 4, known in Latin as Conditor alme siderum.

Vocals: Mystified
Arrangement, keyboards: Tom Atwood

splendor bright cd
now available
the lost records™

Lyrics:
Creator of the stars of night
Your people’s everlasting light
O Christ, redeemer of us all
We pray you hear us when we call

In sorrow that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe
You came, O Savior to set free
Your own in glorious liberty

When this old world drew on toward night
You came, but not in splendor bright
Not as a monarch, but the child
Of Mary, blameless mother mild.


Hardware:
Casio Privia PX-300
G5


Software:
GB2
Jampack 4: Symphony Orchestra
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oooh... &mdash 10/31/05 - 11:24:17 AM
... I like the "minimal" accompaniment....nice and sparse. Voice is
great... what's not to like? Looking forward to the CD. You are
not going to upload all the Noel Project tunes, are you?

[ Reply to This ]
oooh... &mdash 10/31/05 - 11:50:36 AM
Thanks, Eric. Actually, our plan is to post all cuts from the CD on MJ, although
we hope to have the CD finished first (by Dec 1), and post songs from it
between now and Christmas, so we can spread them out a bit. Do you think
this is a bad idea? Thanks again!



[ Reply to This ]
oooh... &mdash 10/31/05 - 12:27:41 PM
No... not a bad idea... It's good that you will spread them out, though.
We all know that posting a lot at once is not good for the sake of
feedback.

[ Reply to This ]
a fresh take? &mdash 10/31/05 - 11:25:40 AM
on holiday music???? it can't be!...spiritual music that doesn't
preach...so beautiful...

this is very good indeed


z

[ Reply to This ]
a fresh take? &mdash 10/31/05 - 11:52:47 AM
Thanks z. I doubt if either Mysti or I will be doing much preaching on this CD.
Glad you enjoyed this piece.

[ Reply to This ]
Really lovely &mdash 10/31/05 - 03:46:17 PM
Well done guys! This is a really interesting and enjoyable track..I look
forward to the next installment of the Noel Project
Steve

[ Reply to This ]
Really lovely &mdash 10/31/05 - 04:18:36 PM
Thanks Steve. Looks like the next NP track will come from MidiOrleans.

[ Reply to This ]
Wow &mdash 11/01/05 - 06:05:29 AM
What a wonderful project! This one is pretty simple, but very very
beautiful! I love it!

thanks for sharing.

- Hawks

[ Reply to This ]
Wow &mdash 11/01/05 - 07:56:33 AM
Thanks, Jem. It is a very simple piece, a lovely old tune. Thanks for listening
and for those kind words.

[ Reply to This ]
Quiet &mdash 11/01/05 - 07:05:36 AM
Quiet.
Singing voice and piano single sound.
Organ.

This is a beautiful song.
The xylophone rang.
And, silence was remarkable.

[ Reply to This ]
Quiet &mdash 11/01/05 - 08:06:34 AM
Always glad you when you stop by and drop a verse, Tadashi. I have done
many collaborations with Mystified now, but this is one of my favorites.
Maybe it is because this is a hymn sung at my church each year during
advent, and to me, symbolizes the ancient beauty of Christianity. Mystified
purposely 'chanted' the lyrics, micmicking a boy soprano sound. She does a
lovely job, as usual. Such a talent!

Sorry for rambling on, Tadashi. Thanks again!

[ Reply to This ]
Holy.... &mdash 11/01/05 - 08:37:06 AM
I was downloading "You Came, But Not In Splendor Bright" by Noel
Project and clicked over to "Off" (great).. The Off track began playing
and the "You came"(beautiful), finished downloading into my itunes
and they both began playing.... HOLY.... I mean wow talk about
Participation picks! you all have to try it! SWEET with a beat... Totally
mystifying.
I don't mean to step on anyones creativity it was just a total contrasting
immersion.. Yee hew made my day. Maybe I have an angel in my
computer...

[ Reply to This ]
Holy.... &mdash 11/01/05 - 09:37:50 AM
Thanks sky. And I appreciate your 'discovery.' It is an interesting combination.
The Project is in communication with ronnie notch about a possible
collaboration, a fusion of New Age, hip-hop and just plain old age.

[ Reply to This ]
How to comment... &mdash 11/01/05 - 08:56:24 AM
on something so beautiful. It taps into everything I felt about church
and God as a child, the ancient connection everyone shares and
mystery, majesty, beauty of the world.

Wonderous, you two.

[ Reply to This ]
How to comment... &mdash 11/01/05 - 09:40:50 AM
Thanks, Lisa. Mysti and I were not sure if this piece would go over well or not.
It is a little odd, slow, and I was afraid - self-indulgent. But if it helped you
'tap in,' then I guess that is what matters?

[ Reply to This ]
How to comment... &mdash 11/01/05 - 12:20:19 PM
Also, you and Cat frighten me. Your output of such high-quality music is
scary!

[ Reply to This ]
How to comment... &mdash 11/01/05 - 12:42:33 PM
Don't be frightened little debutant. We have actually been working on these
Christmas pieces for weeks. Mystified is a stern taskmyster, too, so I have to
keep up my end or else face her...mist.

[ Reply to This ]
Hey now! &mdash 11/01/05 - 11:29:25 PM
Me?
Taskmyster! (where IS that spellcheck program?)
Au contraire! It's Tom's fault. He's the one who keeps creating these
brilliant tracks. Pffft.
I simply have no choice but to sing to them.

(Just wait 'til you hear our next piece -- Poe's "Carol of the Bells, Bells, Bells,
Bells, Bells, Bells, Bells!")
...or did we decide not to do that one, Tom?

[ Reply to This ]
Really beautiful &mdash 11/01/05 - 09:32:16 AM
Not a Christmas track that I was familiar with before hearing your
version (& I know a fair few) but I will certainly not forget it now. I
love the arrangement and the performance – a very effective
combination. Thanks for this. I've voted, fanned, sort of
downloaded (I'm not going to explain but I think you two will have
worked out what I mean) and it's gone onto one of my (many)
Christmas playlists on iTunes. Lovely.

[ Reply to This ]
Really beautiful &mdash 11/01/05 - 09:46:41 AM
If by 'sort of downloaded,' you have engaged in any illegal activity, the Project
will certainly look the other way - this time. If 'sort of downloaded' involves
Rebsie (who is one of our most esteemed members, relaxing with a cup of tea
in the Project's library annex as I write this), then you have nothing to worry
about.

And thanks for the kind words, EP. I give your comments 10-10-10-10!

[ Reply to This ]
Really beautiful &mdash 11/01/05 - 09:50:29 AM
meant 'EG'. the shaky gibbon...

[ Reply to This ]
Really beautiful &mdash 11/01/05 - 10:01:25 AM
By 'sort of downloaded,' I mean via Rebsie, your esteemed member, as
opposed to via illegal activity. Honest, guv!

Thanks for the straight 10s on my comments but unfortunately someone
took exception to them because they just got 1-bombed on
MacComments.com (We be commentin.). Doh!


---
"You never say please. You never say thank you."
"Please don't be an idiot. Thank you."
-- Bayliss and Pembleton

[ Reply to This ]
Is jealousy allowed? &mdash 11/03/05 - 06:33:08 AM
I know, season of goodwill and all that.

Believe it or not I used to be a head choirboy before something big and
hairy stole my voice. Humiliatingly I was half way up the aisle soloing
to Once In Royal when it happened. It never recovered. Great singing,
anyway Mysti.

I'm also so impressed by this arrangement. It's so unfettered by
conventions, but does exactly what an arrangement should do; support
the song. This is a style you've been working towards over the months I
know, Tom... part minimalist, part textural, but given the freedom of a
pre-existing melody to carry the song aong, it's really allowed you to
make the most of this style which - though very modern sounding -
fits the ancient so well.



[ Reply to This ]
Is jealousy allowed? &mdash 11/03/05 - 08:32:16 AM
Given flattering comments like the above, the Project may have no choice,
mando, but to give you a promotion. Move you out of the Project mailroom
and onto the first floor. Perhaps reception? Do you have skills? I have been
told to watch you, though, keep you away from the till. Something about
sticky fingers? Do you have references?

[ Reply to This ]
...wow... &mdash 11/03/05 - 08:02:56 PM
Harmonically rich... emotionally rewarding... space is beautiful...
love it....

[ Reply to This ]
...wow... &mdash 11/06/05 - 11:24:37 AM
The Noel Project thanks you, Mr. I.Spike, for your comments on this (and other)
songs we've posted.
Glad to see you are enjoying the songs...and more to come!

Thanks, again.

[ Reply to This ]
Fruition &mdash 11/07/05 - 10:53:29 AM
Not merely haunting, the marimba evokes hammers, the signature
Atwood flying flute-synths evokes angels, the strong soprano voice
evokes fortitude and faith, but it is the middle piano solo that cuts the
deepest, turning one's soul inside out, laying bear the tragedy that is
mortality, giving all the rest a context ripe with meaningfulness. Ah,
beyond words, truly.

[ Reply to This ]
Very interesting! &mdash 11/15/05 - 03:23:14 PM
I say interesting because I've never heard 'plain song' before. Be that as it
may, I was captivated by this piece. The voice was almost ethereal and the
flute work that matched the voice was awesome. "You Came, But Not In
Splendor Bright" evoked the beauty and majesty that is Christ Jesus.


[ Reply to This ]
Merry Christmas! &mdash 12/25/05 - 07:48:27 AM
Thanks for listening to this rather dark and somber Advent piece. It
became the title song for the CD, and one of our favorites.

[ Reply to This ]
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