Several years ago I began to be drawn to the fragrant air of medieval time and thought, and found myself caught in the mist of a dreamlike time that lingers at the edges of our imagination... the threshold of wonder. For to the medieval mind, wonder itself is the miracle and all of creation are divine signs used by God to inspire and remind us of our own sacred mystery. Simultaneously strange and familiar, the natural world and beastiary kingdom are allegories for human relations; animal love but a mischievous mirror of spiritual love.
These songs come from early Christian, Jewish and Celtic communities from diverse regions around the Mediterranean. You can readily hear the intersecting influences of different cultures as people moved and shifted throughout the basin. King Nimrod, for example, is a case of identical melodies that emerged through both Christian and Jewish communities, each honoring their respective stories.
What is fascinating to learn is that many of the earliest songs were composed, sung and passed down orally by women long before the male troubadours took historic precedence. The songs were well known for both their sensuous and serious nature, in particular among the Mozarab Christians, (Spanish Christians living in Muslim communities.) By the 6th century religious councils were condemning the women’s songs as “lascivious and diabolical” and the witch hunt is on! Through this window of free spirited medieval thought, the exalted female is reverenced through the bountiful Mother Earth, the Mother of Christ, as well as through every woman, each seen as a vessel of her creative force and guardian of sacred knowledge.
When my path delightfully crossed Greg’s, a most wonderful creation began to take place between these ancient songs and his extraordinary 21st century musical vision. In seeing the convergence of different peoples, beliefs and times unified through song, perhaps the wind whispers that there is finally only One song that all people, persuasions, and longing hearts sing and that in looking back we are led to the grail right in front of us.

1. King Nimrod
Spanish origins. Versions sung by Sephardic Jews and Christians. Anonymous, oral tradition. Nimrod was the great grandson of Noah.

When King Nimrod went out into the meadow,
He looked at the sky and saw the starry vault.
He saw a holy light, descend unto the Earth,
Who had just been born? Abraham our Father.
A star was born, A star was born,
A star was born in Israel.
Let us now hail, the newborn Lord.
May He be marked, with a goodly sign.
This child, the prophet Elias,
Fortold us of its dawn, in each and every heart.
When Christ was born, when Christ was born,
When Christ was born in Israel.
Let us celebrate the blessings of this Earth,
Gifts of great delight, to recall us to our sight.
This hour, our Lord Jesus Christ, fortold us of its dawn, In each and every heart.
When Christ is born, when Christ is born,
When Christ is born in Israel
The Christ is born, the Christ is born,
The Christ is born in Israel.
Starlight is born, starlight is born,
Starlight is born in Israel.

2. Mortal Flesh
17th century French. Music by Piccardy, lyrics bassed on a Gerard Moultire hymn

Let all mortal flesh keep silent,
And with awe and wonder stand,
Ponder all the Earth’s great beauty,
Like the blessings from Her hands,
Christ our God in thee ascendeth,
To reveal starlight in us all.
Ray on ray the host of heaven,
Spread their vanguard hailing the way,
As the light of light ascendeth,
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish,
As the darkness clears away.
In rings of light the six winged seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry,
Allelujah, allelujah, allelujah,
Soul of light...

3. The Rose
Oral tradition of Sephardic Jews of Morocco and Balkans

The rose blooms
In the month of May,
My heart grows gloomy
With pangs of love.
The nightingale sings
And sighs of love,
And passion slays me,
Resounding my pain,
Resounding my pain,
Resounds my pain,
And passion slays me.
Come more speedily oh dove,
Come more speedily toward me,
Come more speedily oh thou my soul,
Or else I die!
Or else I die!
Or else I die!

4. Nightingale
13th century French anonymous

In May, in the sweet new season,
When meadows grow green again,
I sat down under a tree,
And heard the song of the nightingale.
Saderladon
How good it is to sleep near the wood.
When I was pensive,
I sat down near the little wood,
I fell into a short sleep,
To the sweet song of the little bird.
Saderladon
How good it is to sleep near the wood.
When I had awakened,
I implored the bird to give me his joy,
I shall be all the more cheerful
because of him.
Saderladon
How good it is to sleep near the wood.

5 The Dark One
Anonymous oral tradition of Sephardic Jews of Morocco and Balkans.

He calls me the Dark one, does the King’s son,
If he summons me again, I shall go with him.
They call me the dark one, but I was born fair of skin,
Because I went into the world, with my beauty.
Clad in green and scarlet,the betrothed girl dreams,
Of her lord and lover.
A ladder of gold and ivory was made,
So the betrothed could climb to find his love.
They call me the dark one, but I was born fair of skin
Because I went into the world with my beauty.
Tell me my lovely, would you like to come with me?
I hold onto my veils with all my strength,
I can not come with you.
He calls me the dark one, does the king’s son,
If he summons me again, I shall go with him.

6. Rivertrill
instrumental by Greg Harris

7. Mother of God
Spanish and Galatian origins. Attributed to St. Augustine, versions of this song are found from the 9th century on in Latin, Catalan, Spanish and Provencal.

Mother of God
Pray for us in this hour
Hail Mary, the Lord is with thee,
Blessed art thou among woman.
Mother of God
Pray for us in this hour.
Mother of God
Pray for us in this hour
Holy Gaia, Mother of us all,
Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, beauty.
Mother of God
Pray for us in this hour.

8. On This Shore
French, Gauthier de Coincy, 1178-1236

On this shore, at this cross,
We will each year in a loud voice,
Hail Earth, our Mother
She who looks after us mercifully,
And kept our damsel for us in this clear water.
Let us hasten to dance and sing,
And celebrate with a great feast,
Each year on this sacred shore,
If any cripple comes here and bathes in good faith,
Her love will enfold him and cause him to lose his afflictions.
Each year for this reunion,
We will come here in procession,
For the honored Mother of God
Who does not love her was born a fool,
She lights up all the country and all of the region.