Recorder Ensemble

 I fell in love with this recorder ensemble this week – check out the Bass, Contra Bass and Sub-Contra Bass recorders in this fabulous piece: Diligam te Domine (I love You O Lord) by Ascanio Trombetti (1544-1590). Trombetti was an Italian Renaissance composer from Bologna. It is said that his family took the surname Trombetti because of their great ability in playing wind instruments.

The Latin text for this piece is:

Diligam te, Domine, fortitudo mea.

Dominus firmamentum meum,

et refugium meum,

et liberator meus.

Protector meus et cornu salutis meae,

Deus meus adjutor meus,

et sperabo in eum.

Translation:

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.

Lord is my rock,

refuge and my fortress,

and my deliverer.

My protector and the horn of my salvation,

God is my helper;

and I hope in him.

(From Psalm 18)

Take a little time to listen to this with headphones on:

Click here for the link

Or...for some the video link will work:

Excruciating

When we say that something is "excruciating," we are actually referring to a word that can be traced back to Latin:

"ex" was used to intensify a verb, and "cruciare" meaning to torture or crucify. "Ex" can also mean "out of." 

In other words the english word "excruciating" hides this beautiful mention of the cross (Latin: "crucis" or "crux") There was no word to describe the horrors of the cross, so the word "excruciating" came to mean the harshest and most horrific torture known to man.

The Gospels don't go into details of the horror of the cross - just the power of the cross. We are called to focus on the victory of calvary. It never ceases to amaze me that the Lord became my sin and took the excruciating punishment upon HImself - all so that I can live life without the penalty I deserve.

2Cor. 5:21 For He made HIm who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
 That were a present far too small;
 Love so amazing, so divine,
 Demands my soul, my life, my all.

- Isaac Watts -